Baume et Mercier - Hampton 10522, 10523, 10528

Rectangular watches are less diffused than round ones but in terms of elegance they are hard to beat. This is also the case of the Hampton collection by Baume et Mercier: Hampton Automatic 10522, Hampton Automatic Small Seconds / Date 10528. Hampton Automatic Big Date / Dual Time 10523. Full details, specs and prices.Baume&Mercier

Rectangular watches are less common than round ones but in terms of elegance they are hard to beat.

This is also the case of the Hampton collection by Baume et Mercier, whose timepieces express the distinctive style of the Art Deco.

Among several novelties, the Swiss brand presented three new models that caught our attention for their sculpted lines, easily reminding the architectural movement of the 1920s.

The medium sized case of the Hampton Automatic 10522 measures 43 mm x 27.5 mm with a thickness of 10 mm. Crafted from stainless steel with a polished finish, it frames an opaline and grained silver-coloured dial that makes the sword-shaped black ruthenium hands really stand out. The result is a dial of great character and perfect legibility, well protected by a domed sapphire crystal. Contemporary Arabic numerals emphasized by riveted indexes and a bicolour black / grey minute track define the structure of the dial.

Based on the ETA 2671 and offering 38 hours of power reserve, the  4Hz (28,800 vph) automatic movement is visible through the sapphire crystal porthole of the caseback, secured with 4 screws. Finishes include: bridge with circular-grained decor, sandblasted plate with snailed decor, and oscillating weight with "Côtes de Genève" and snailed decors. The caseback also offers the possibility to personalise the watch by engraving a name, a text or a special date. This model has a price of Swiss Francs 2,200 / Euro 2,400.

The Hampton Automatic Small Seconds / Date 10528 comes in a larger case (48 mm x 31 mm and 9.35 mm thick) in stainless steel and offers the same style of the 10522 but with a small seconds sub-dial (instead of central seconds) and a date aperture at 6 o’clock. The movement of choice is the 4 Hz automatic ETA 2895 with an autonomy of 42 hours. Price: Swiss Francs 2,400 / Euro 2,550.

The headline model of the line is the Hampton Automatic Big Date / Dual Time 10523, housed in a 48 mm x 31 mm stainless steel case that is slightly thicker than reference 10528 at 10.8 mm of height. This model features a large date at 12 o’clock and a dual time zone with day/night indicator at 6 o’clock.

Also visible through the sapphire crystal porthole on the case back, the automatic movement is based on the 4 Hz Soprod TT651 movement whose power reserve is 42 hours. Price: Swiss Francs 3,650 / Euro 3,950.

Water resistant to 50 metres / 165 feet, the new watches are matched to black all square scales alligator straps with grey stitching and triple folding clasps with security push-pieces. The straps are easily interchangeable thanks to a system of bars with lug that allows to change the strap without tools. The new Baume et Mercier Hampton ref. 10522,  ref. 10523 and ref. 10528 are immediately available. baume-et-mercier.com