W&W2021 - HAMPTON NOVELTIES

Hampton, a symbol of renewal

The Hampton Collection, both creative and elegant

This philosophy is expressed through one of its iconic collections: Hampton is a famous watch with a rectangular case that was unconventional and avant-garde when it was launched. It was designed in tribute to Art Deco, the famous artistic movement of the early 20th century. It is now exactly one century later, and the context has changed; what remains is a desire to enliven the everyday, to pay homage to art, and to assert one’s aesthetic side. The Art Deco movement is still a symbol of renewal and hope. This year, Hampton reveals four silhouettes in step with the times: these jewelry watches offer a procession of materials, shapes, contrasts and colors, featuring a broad variety of interchangeable straps to suit every whim. Unexpected creativity mingles with the elegance of this collection, which continues to stand the test of time while constantly renewing itself. Leave the classic codes behind and dare a personal, artistic touch to embrace the world and live to the fullest!

Four new feminine silhouettes

Art Deco artists created a revolution in the art world by challenging the codes of their times. Following the volutes and unstructured organic shapes of Art Nouveau, symmetry became the byword for luxury. Rounded lines came to the fore, playing on right angles. Baume & Mercier was among the pioneers of the watch industry in claiming these codes for itself. The refinement and aesthetic of Art Deco are naturally embodied in a rectangular watch, with soft curves that allow the light to filter between the hands. The Hampton emerged, in different sizes, playing on radiant colors.

Now, 70 years later, Baume & Mercier revisits an icon. The design of the Hampton collection now offers a streamlined look, echoing the original design. A return to the source in a version that reflects the present time. The Art Deco elements remain distinctive, yet they blend into each piece, allowing them to be personalized and adapted on a whim. The new Hamptons are subtle: all four feature a small case equipped with a long-lasting quartz movement and a solid case back. Asserting artistic sensitivity while standing for the present day. These wrist adornments complete a woman’s style by becoming an extension of her state of mind.

Topping off the refinement is a semi-precious stone set into the cabochon-shaped crown on each watch. Known for their therapeutic virtues, these colored stones provide a touch of uniqueness and elegance. Each offers its own benefits.

Which Hampton expresses your personality?

Artistic

This Hampton reveals a synthetic blue spinel set into its delicate cabochon-shaped crown. This structured stone in the cubic crystal system is renowned for its energy associated with knowledge. It is also known to ward off negative energy. The polished steel case brings the piece a contemporary character. Its small size, 35 x 22.2 mm, 6.9 mm thickness, and finesse, make it a delightful, airy watch to wear. Its wrap-around strap lightly embraces the wrist and fastens with a delicate pin buckle. Its domed sapphire crystal is a subtle reference to the rounded curves characteristic of Art Deco. The grained texture of the opaline silver dial accentuates the shape of the case, of which the concentric rectangular designs create an illusion of depth. The dial features Arabic numerals at 12 and 6 o’clock as well as riveted rhodium-plated indexes, creating a perfect symmetry for the “glaive” hands that gracefully sweep along them. Its edge is adorned with a midnight blue minute track which coordinates with the hue of the calfskin strap topped with Art Deco designs.  

Bold

This slightly offbeat model offers a contemporary interpretation of the Hampton collection. A black agate is set into the cabochon-shaped crown. The virtues of this stone include focusing scattered energies and providing stability and self-confidence. This variation is based on the same rectangular polished steel case and has the same finesse, but the effect is very different. The rectangle, echoed several times on the dial by a sun satin-finished opaline green, provides the ultimate geometric Art Deco effect. Its look is enhanced by a double minute track in frosted silver. Its shine brings an unprecedented depth to what remains a streamlined piece. Riveted rhodium-plated digits and indexes add the watchmaker’s touch. The black canvas strap emphasizes the true uniqueness of this watch, far from traditional codes. However, it is possible to mount the watch case on a metal or calfskin strap, since the interchangeability system is available on all the collection’s pieces. Each woman has her preferences, each her own kind of elegance.

Refined

Hampton presents a diamond-set model. The cabochon-shaped crown is set with a green chrysoprase, a stone symbolizing new beginnings that is known for fostering sweetness, good intuition and luck. The polished steel case is featured here in its small version, 35x22.2 mm. Fine, feminine and graceful. As an ultimate touch of refinement, each side of the case is set with a total of 28 diamonds, which extend down to elegantly emphasize its rounded horns. The grained opaline silver dial features Arabic numerals at 12 and 6 o’clock as well as riveted rhodium-plated indexes, creating a perfect symmetry for the “glaive” hands that gracefully sweep around them. A gray minute track runs around the edge for a more understated look. The watch is presented with an integrated three-row strap in polished / satin-finished steel topped with a triple folding clasp. Like the other new pieces, it offers a simple interchangeability system that allows for creativity, for example by opting for one of the many radiant colors of calfskin.

Elegant

This refined watch features a red agate, set into the cabochon-shaped crown. This semi-precious stone is known for its grounding properties, providing stability, harmony and relief. The small watch case in polished 18K pink gold asserts its finesse with a titanium back that protects the long-lasting quartz movement. The grained texture of the opaline silver dial adds a soft, slight contrast. The domed sapphire crystal allows the light to filter between the gold-tone hands, revealing the Arabic numerals at 12 and 6 o’clock, as well as riveted rhodium-plated indexes in a matching gold tone. The gray minute track discreetly emphasizes the rectangular shape characteristic of the Hampton watches. The tone-on-tone overstitched orange calfskin strap brings out the beauty of the gold case. As in the other pieces from the collection, a straight spring-bar system makes it possible to change the supple strap easily, on a whim.