ReviewRetro Dressing: Meet The New Baume & Mercier Hampton Timepieces

Combining functionality with luxury, the Baume & Mercier Hampton watch has stayed consistent with its art deco-inspired design principles since the 1940s, when it was first showcased, and even when it was reintroduced as a rectangular dress watch with vintage appeal in 2012. In the last 10 years, Baume & Mercier have given the Hampton its contemporary new character, playing with material and colour, while keeping its iconic appeal timeless. In 2022, Baume and Mercier launched six new versions of the classical Hampton collection. While each of these has its own appeal, the essence of the Hampton—an iconic rectangular case with sword (‘glaive’) hands—remains.

Vintage Appeal

As a tribute to the art deco style that inspired the first Hampton, the new self-winding version has an opaline and grained silver dial, with black ruthenium Arabic numerals and indexes, while the quartz version has a blue dial with striking contrasts and a white minute track that accentuates the iconic shape of the watch. Both medium-sized watches have polished stainless-steel cases. Adding to the retro-inspired look of the two Hamptons are the Milano mesh bracelets. The Milanese bracelet, based on an Italian technique that dates back to the 1800s, is a skilfully woven metal weave. The new Hampton revisits this mesh strap with a very tight weave in polished steel, making the watch more wearable and elegant.

The large case with a self-winding movement has a large opaline and grained slate dial, with a date aperture at 12 o’clock and a second time zone at six o’clock

The large opaline and grained slate dial has a date aperture at 12 o’clock and a second time zone at six o’clock

Baume & Mercier Hampton

₹4,45,000

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Traditional Luxury

Two popular models from the Hampton series make a revival, but with subtle tweaks. The large case with a self-winding movement has a large opaline and grained slate dial, with a date aperture at 12 o’clock and a second time zone at six o’clock. The caseback offers a porthole view of the movement, which offers a 42-hour power reserve.

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The watch is mounted on a black alligator skin strap with square scales, giving the watch an elegant and formal finishing touch. The second, medium-sized watch has a quartz movement and comes with a brown calfskin leather strap. The geometric symmetry of the Hampton stands out on its opaline silver dial with its grey minute track and rhodium-plated Arabic numerals and indexes.

An Ode To Colour

Besides these, two new colours have been added to the Hampton collection of rectangular dials, complete with matching calfskin straps.

Baume & Mercier Hampton

₹1,70,000

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While the burgundy dial comes in comes in polished stainless steel case, the blue dial is in an 18-karat pink gold-polished titanium case. The burgundy and blue dials have a glittering varnish finish, inspired by aventurine—a natural quartz mineral. The watch acquires a new life and depth when light reflects via the bezel onto the watch face, making these watches more elegant. With only two ‘glaive’ hands and the brand’s Phi emblem appliquéd at 12 o’clock, these dress watches are true examples of refined formal minimalism.