TRIBUTE TO A MASTER

Baume & Mercier’s Hampton “Hommage à Pierre Soulages” is an unexpected 48.1mm by 31mm steel timepiece inspired by the work of Pierre Soulages, one of the great modern art masters. Producing the watch involved new 3D printing technologies, topography and 3D wax printing to ensure a harmonious play on contrasting blacks through subtle nuances of mattes, shine and diffused layers. The dial is brass, machined with a laser, while candia stone was used to create a diffused matte effect and an electroplating process was applied to coat it with colour through electrolysis. Faceted brass glaive hands are diamond-ground, sand-blasted and coated with black PVD. A touch of gold was added to their ends, at the request of Soulages, to elegantly emphasise the passage of time. The self-winding mechanical Swiss calibre ETA 2892 features a black oscillating weight adorned with a Côtes de Genève stamp that can be seen via an exhibition caseback, which also bears an “Hommage à Mr Soulages” engraving. An inscription of “Baume & Mercier” is featured on the underside of the domed sapphire crystal. The watch will be produced on demand in an edition limited to 102 (the artist’s age) individually numbered pieces. To purchase, visit baume-et-mercier.com.