By symbolically breaking with the aesthetic codes of the times and revolutionizing the steel shape watch upon its launch in 1994, the Baume & Mercier Hampton Collection and its famous rectangular case superbly illustrate the transmission of designer spirit which has characterized the Brand since it was founded. The visionary intuition and artistic watchmaking approach of Paul Mercier – who partnered with the watchmaker William Baume in 1918 – lasted long after Mercier’s departure from the Brand in 1937. His successors carried on the work that he had begun, pursuing the legacy through different collections and variations thereon: ensuring that form and function correspond, upholding Swiss watchmaking savoir-faire, and asserting a strong, free, bold visual distinctiveness.
The Hampton Collection is one of the most illustrious timepieces in watchmaking. Its delicate case takes the form of a very studied rectangle with a streamlined profile, rounded corners, and curved lugs. The proportions are slender and harmonious. The eye is captured by the flowing movement and formal balance of its contours, the careful attention brought to its details, and the proud, architecture-inspired vertical orientation.
Inspired by an iconic 1960s model, the Hampton’s 1920s Art Deco style lends itself to all sorts of variations which are particularly flattered by its rectangular shape: a case in steel or gold; a dial available in a very broad color scheme, both simple and diamond-set; a strap in leather or steel, available in classic and bright colors, integrated, interchangeable, with a simple or wraparound design. For men and women alike, it is the epitome of watch elegance, and it adapts to the trends.