The Baume family had been watch makers for years, but in 1834, some of the Baume Family began the Societe Baume Feres in Les Bois, in the Swiss Jura. One of the watches made by the Baume family in 1893 won the timing competitions at the Kew-Teddington Observatory with a score of 91.9 out of a possible 100. In 1912, William Baume met the watchmaker and jeweler Paul Mercier at the Geneva watch and jewelry shop in Haas. After meeting, Baume and Mercier signed an agreement on the 26th of November in 1918 to begin Baume et Mercier in Geneva. This proved to be a very successful enterprise, and in 1921 they won the coveted Poincon de Geneve. In 1937 William Baume retired from active watchmaking, shortly followed by his partner Paul Mercier, opening the door for the jeweler Constantin de Gorski to join the company accompanied by his master jewel-setter. Baume et Mercier has long emphasized their specialty in mens watches, sports chronographs and ladies' jewelry watches. The Piaget family bought a controlling share of Baume et Mercier in 1965. Also in the same year the new owners switched to electronic tuning fork movements, and from 1970 onward increased investments in quartz movements. Since 1993 the Cartier group became sole owners of both Piaget and Baume et Mercier.