Hands-on Review: Baume et Mercier Hampton Big Date Dual Time 10523

Review of the Baume & Mercier Hampton Big Date Dual Time 10523 with pics, price and specs. A watch of rare elegance and great character.

Here at Time and Watches we love rectangular watches. They have a unique appeal and they are hard to beat in terms of elegance. This is also the case of the beautifully executed Hampton Big Date Dual Time 10523 that Baume et Mercier launched earlier this year (you can read about the three new Hampton models here), a model that we had the possibility to test and wear for a few days.

The headline model of the line, the Hampton 10523 comes in a 48 mm x 31 mm stainless steel case with polished finish that is 11.1 mm high, including the beveled and slightly domed sapphire crystal. The slim crown is embossed with the Greek letter Phi, symbol of the golden ratio or divine proportion and the brand's logo. The watch is water resistant to a pressure of 5 bar (approximately 50 metres / 165 feet).

The sculpted lines of the case are rich of details that lovers of good design will certainly appreciate, the perfect frame for a dial that is clearly inspired to the distinctive style of the 1920s Art Deco movement.

The riveted indexes, the "12" Arabic numeral and the sword-shaped hands have a black ruthenium finish and clearly stand out against an opaline and grained silver-coloured background. A bicolour black / grey minute track defines the outer edge of the dial. 

This model features a large date at 12 o’clock, just below the brand logo, and a second time zone display with day/night indicator at 6 o’clock. Legibility at first glance is excellent.

All functions can be easily controlled via the crown: in position 0 it winds the movement, in position 1 it sets the second time zone if you turn clockwise or the date if you turn anticlockwise, and in position 2 it adjusts the time.

When you turn the watch, a sapphire crystal porthole reveals the movement, the self-winding Soprod TT651 that beats at the frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) and offers a power reserve of 42 hours. 

The movement and its oscillating weight are enhanced by "Côtes de Genève" and "perlage" decorations.

The watch sits very nicely on the wrist secured to it by a black all square scales alligator straps with grey stitching and a triple folding clasp with security push-pieces. The strap can be changed very easily and without needing any tool thanks a system of bars with lug, a very useful feature that all straps should have.

A watch of rare elegance, the Baume et Mercier Hampton Big Date Dual Time 10523 has a price of Euro 3,950 / US$ 4,050 that seems pretty appealing considering the distinctive style of the watch, its functions and the prestige of the brand. baume-et-mercier.com