Rectangular watches and stylish dress watches from Baume and Mercier...
For 2020, Baume & Mercier focus on two collections from their ranges that offer customers incredible commercially focused models. They’re also pretty great-looking as well, which helps…
Baume and Mercier Hampton Collection
Baume and Mercier Hampton Collection - Image Credit: Baume and Mercier
The Hampton watch features a unique style emblematic of the Art Deco movement and is immediately distinctive for its unique design, expressed through a rectangular watch case. Today, the Hampton collection reveals new silhouettes and offers shapes that pay tribute to the world-renowned architectural movement of the 1920s. In the image of the great Art Deco trends of the day, the curves of the Hampton watch take precedence over right angles and give beauty to the light gliding on smooth surfaces.
The men's timepieces come to life with the three-hand self-winding movements, of which the oscillating mass of the hour, minute and small seconds hands is decorated with the "Côtes de Genève" design. Depending on the model, each watch features a 38 or 42 hour power reserve. The passing time appears on silver-tone and grained dials with various opaline textures. The contemporary sword-shaped black ruthenium hands add character, masterfully contrasting with the hue of the dial. A bicolour black and grey minute track structures the entire dial.
Hampton Automatic Medium + Large Stats
Hampton Automatic Medium + Large - Image Credit: Baume and Mercier
Size: 43mm x 27.5mm / 48mm x 31mm
Thickness: 10mm / 9.35mm
Movement: ETA 2671 / ETA 2895
Functions: Hours, minutes & seconds / Hours, minutes & seconds + date
Case: Rectangular steel
Straps: Black alligator
References: M0A10522 / M0A10528
Price: 2,200 CHF / 2,400 CHF
Hampton Big Date Dual Time Stats
The Hampton Big Date Dual Time - Image Credit: Baume and Mercier
Size: 48mm x 31mm
Thickness: 10.8mm
Movement: Soprod TT651
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, big date, dual time zone, day-night indicator
Case: Rectangular steel
Straps: Black alligator
References: M0A10523
Price: 3,650 CHF
My first impressions of these new additions were surprisingly positive. Baume and Mercier can be hit or miss sometimes and for me, these are a big hit. The case’s could be a little chunky in person, but the dial texture, the use of grey throughout the hands and indices and the very approachable price tag make these watches really stand out in my mind.
Baume and Mercier Clifton Baumatic Collection
Baume and Mercier Clifton Baumatic Collection - Image Credit: Baume and Mercier
Three unprecedented timepieces join the Baume & Mercier Clifton Baumatic collection. The Baumatic BM14 in-house calibre embodies the full expertise and enthusiasm that has driven Baume & Mercier to create new models. The bridges feature a beaded finish, while the baseplate is sand-blasted and snailed. The bidirectionally wound oscillating mass is visible through a sapphire caseback, open-worked and decorated with traditional Côtes de Genève designs. These new pieces reinforce the traditional watch character of this elegant, timeless collection.
Clifton Baumatic Day-date Moon-phase
The Clifton Baumatic Day-date Moon-phase - Image Credit: Baume and Mercier
A new aesthetic exceptionally crafted in a solid block of rose gold or steel. An unprecedented timepiece joins the Baume & Mercier Clifton Baumatic collection. A small new complication with a unique look in addition to day-date and moon phases. This self-winding movement features a 5-day power reserve. In addition to functional considerations, there is an omnipresent pursuit of balance in the proportions and of harmony in the choice of materials and colours. The round 42 mm rose gold case with satin-polished double-bevelled edges emphasizes the graduated lacquered grey dial. The dial reveals the moon phases against a starry sky background accentuated by the smoky grey sapphire crystal.
Size: 42mm
Thickness: 13.2mm
Movement: Baumatic BM14 1975 AC2
Functions: Hours, minutes & seconds, day-date, moon-phase
Case: Round steel
Straps: Blue alligator
References: M0A10548
Price: 4,000 CHF
*Also available in rose gold for 13,800 CHF
Clifton Baumatic Moon-phase Date
The Clifton Baumatic Moon-phase Date - Image Credit: Baume and Mercier
A complication that brings out the beauty of the moon cycle. The 42 mm satin-polished stainless steel case, mounted on your choice of an interchangeable blue alligator strap or a satin-polished five-row steel bracelet, showcases a white porcelain finish dial with riveted trapezoid-shaped hour markers and fine faceted alpha-shaped hands. Driven by the Baumatic BM14 self-winding in-house calibre offering a 5-day power reserve, this piece not only displays the central hour, minute and seconds, but also the moon-phase against a starry sky background, surrounded by pointer date display; both are located at 6 o'clock.
Size: 42mm
Thickness: 13.2mm
Movement: Baumatic BM14 1975 AC1
Functions: Hours, minutes & seconds, date, moon-phase
Case: Round steel
Straps: Blue alligator
References: M0A10549
Price: 3,650 CHF
Baumatic COSC Date
The Baumatic COSC Date - Image Credit: Baume and Mercier
A timeless classic available in three versions: steel, two-tone (steel and steel topped with gold), 18K rose gold. The 39 mm or 40 mm steel case, mounted on your choice of an alligator or steel bracelet, showcases a dial with riveted trapezoid-shaped hour markers and fine faceted alpha-shaped hands. Available in graduated grey lacquer or with a warm white porcelain finish, it displays the hours, minutes and seconds, as well as the date in an enlarged display at 3 o'clock. There are also crosshairs across the centre, a symbol of precision. The timepiece is driven by the self-winding Baumatic BM13 in-house calibre, which offers a 5-day power reserve, and is a chronometer-certified by the COSC (Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute).
Size: 40mm
Thickness: 11.1mm
Movement: Baumatic BM13 1975A COSC
Functions: Hours, minutes & seconds, COSC
Case: Round steel
Straps: Blue alligator
References: M0A10550
Price: 2,650 CHF
*Also available in rose gold for 6,400 CHF
Baumatic Perpetual Calendar
The Baumatic Perpetual Calendar - Image Credit: Baume and Mercier
Size: 42mm
Thickness: 12.1mm
Movement: Baumatic BM13 1975 AC2: Baumatic base with Dubois-Dépraz 55102 module
Functions: Hours, minutes & seconds, date, week, day, month, leap year indicator, moon-phase
Case: Round pink gold
Straps: Black alligator
References: M0A10583
Price: 20,800 CHF
This range seems to come into its own every time we see something new. There is something here for all depths of pockets with the Day-Date Moonphase being my number 1 pick. Sure at 42mm wide it’s big and at nearly 13mm it’s not the thinnest watch, but in steel it comes in at 4,000 CHF. You’d be hard-pressed to find anything like this for this price with an in house movement that looks as universally attractive at this.
Final thoughts
Baume and Mercier Watches and Wonders 2020 - Image Credit: Baume and Mercier
These were great steps forward for Baume and Mercier. The Hampton range adds some nice sporty feeling style to rectangular watches at a price that will please a lot of collectors. The Clifton collection takes an even bigger step forward with day-dates, moonphases and classically designed watches once again, coming in at a price that isn’t going to break the bank. That is, as long as you stick with the steel models...
