I'm no expert but i can give you my own opinion
The Baume and Mercier is a good entry level luxury brand owned by the Richemont company. In terms of branding, in my personal opinion i would say this might be the better brand than Oris, although thats just my opinion. Both watches has the Chronograph option except the Riviera 8724 model you have chosen has also the diving bezel option with 200m water resistant. Which means the 8724 can be used as a Chronograph and for diving as well. With 200m that is the absolute minimum for recreational scuba diving, basic coral diving or easy wreck diving. The Oris is only a 100m water resistant which normally i would not suggest going swimming with as 100m is done in labotary conditions and after years of use i would be hesistant to test that guy underwater.
Having said that, in my personal taste point of view, the Oris TT3 watch looks nicer, more modern and you have options in terms of casing colour and strap choices. Both have sapphire crystal top glass and is both nearly the same size.
I think you have to make a personal decision based on:
- whether you can accept a 2 year old pre-owned watch as opposed to a new watch, meaning is the feeling of buying a brand new watch important to you? the condition of the 2 year watch?
- Do you value the extra function of the Baume and Mercier 8724 diving function? Would the benefit of the extra water resistant level mean anything to you?
- Do you want a more popular brand that everyone will recognize like Oris or a more low profile but also solid good brand like Baume and Mercier?
- And the absolutely most imporrtant thing for me is what is your personal taste in terms of the dial and shape of the case. I hope im looking at the correct 8724 model, because to me they're both very different watches and don't look alike at all. The TT3 as compared to the 8724 is modern looking dial with the nice red coloured numbering on the dials, and more improtantly the 8724 has a more hexagon looking case as opposed to the rounded case of the TT3.
For me, if i take away the branding and just go purely for looks i prefer the TT3 looks. But everyone taste is different here.
