Baume & Mercier collaborated with Pierre Soulages to create the Hampton Polyptyque Edition, Musée Soulages 10th Anniversary. Price €6,900
After the creation of the Hampton "Hommage à Pierre Soulages" Limited Edition presented in 2022, Baume & Mercier collaborated again with Pierre Soulages, one of the world's greatest living artists, and is now revealing its second timepiece based on one of the great master’s works.
The Hampton Polyptyque Edition, Musée Soulages 10th Anniversary watch draws inspiration from the painting 'Peinture 324 x 362 cm, 1986, Polyptyque I,' an oil on canvas consisting of four overlapping elements, each measuring 81 x 362 cm.
Polyptychs are works made up of several panels. This format gave Pierre Soulages the opportunity to bring discontinuity to the surface through contrasting textures, overlapping horizontal and vertical strokes to be revealed by the light.
The artist actively involves the spectator, as the artwork's appearance transforms with shifts in light and texture as observers move around.
Limited to 328 timepieces, the new special edition watch also commemorates the 10th anniversary of the Musée Soulages in Rodez, the painting's home.
With a streamlined rectangular case and dial comparable to a canvas, the Hampton Collection offers a proper space for the reproduction of Peinture 324 x 362 cm, 1986, Polyptyque I.
From the exploration of the colour black to the transposition of light effects, the design was a considerable technical and aesthetic challenge which required the use of innovative 3D printing technology to miniaturize such a large surface – faithfully reproducing a painting that spans 324 x 362 cm onto a dial of 48.11 x 31 mm with a thickness of just 10 mm.
The use of laser-cut brass and Levant stone create a gentle matte finish. Employing electrolysis enables precise colouring of the dial, with a thickness of merely 0.2 microns. A layer of semi-matte protective glaze, 10 microns thick, is additionally applied. These materials and processes contribute to the display of captivating alternating dark-and-light effects.
The dial of the “Hampton Polyptyque Edition – Musée Soulages 10th Anniversary” watch is a black composition in the image of this painting, which juxtaposes vertical and diagonal strokes. The black hour and minute hands are tipped with hemispheres in 750/1000 rose gold, which the artist himself chose to imprint the design with his creative force and figurative vision of time.
The 48.11 mm x 31 mm x 10 mm rectangular case in DLC steel is sandblasted and coated with hydrogenated amorphous carbon ions through plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition (PACVD) in a thickness of 2 microns, providing a hardness of 6,000 Vickers. It is protected by a scratch-resistant domed sapphire crystal, treated on both sides with an anti-glare coating.
“Baume & Mercier” lettering appears as a metallic engraving on the underside of the sapphire crystal. The caseback is also protected by a sapphire crystal, secured with four screws. A “Hommage à Pierre Soulages n° xxx/328” engraving appears above it.
The chosen movement is the self-winding ETA 2892-A2 calibre, beating at 28,800 vibrations per hours and offering 42 hours of power reserve. The movement and its black oscillating weight are enhanced by "Côtes de Genève" and "perlage" decorations.
Water-resistance is guaranteed up to a pressure of 5 ATM (approximately 50 metres / 165 feet).
The watch is paired with a black cellulose strap lined with apple leather and equipped with a spring bar system that allows it to be changed without the use of tools. It fastens with a DLC steel pin buckle.
Presented in a case entirely crafted in weathering steel like the siding of the museum building, the new Baume & Mercier Hampton Polyptyque Edition, Musée Soulages 10th Anniversary ref. 10741 is priced at Euro 6,900 / US$ 6,900. baume-et-mercier.com
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