The method of miniaturizing an current portray to suit the confines of a watch is an artwork kind unto itself, with expert miniature painters recreating classical works from artists starting from Vermeer to Hokusai in vivid coloration and exacting element. For essentially the most half, this miniaturized portray development has averted the extra minimalist expressions of contemporary artwork, however for its newest launch Baume & Mercier goals to seize the all-black model of French summary artist Pierre Soulages. Soulages’ long-running portray sequence “Outrenoir,” which started in 1989, was extremely influential in creating the look of latest monochrome abstractionism. Baume & Mercier’s new Hampton mannequin iterates on the sequence’ distinctive brushstrokes with out instantly copying anyone portray. The brand new restricted version Baume & Mercier Hampton Hommage à Pierre Soulages affords a darker, moodier tackle the miniaturized portray watch development, with sufficient visible punch and charisma to seize non-Soulages followers as properly.
The Baume & Mercier Hampton Hommage à Pierre Soulages’ chrome steel case follows the usual Hampton’s rectangular case profile, measuring in at 31mm-wide and 48.1mm-long. This can be a bolder, squared-off riff on the traditional tank case design, with broad-shouldered lugs and sharply outlined vertical case sides. Whereas this model normally falls firmly into conventional costume watch territory, Baume & Mercier’s use of a sandblasted matte black DLC end offers this acquainted profile a younger and aggressive edge in photographs. Though the darkish matte end and easy geometry each swimsuit the monochrome inspiration and hold visible focus squarely on the dial, the model equips this case with a sapphire show caseback for a larger sense of spectacle. Though this tank-style design is way from conventional sports activities watch territory, the Hampton Hommage à Pierre Soulages’ 50 meter water resistance score stays underwhelming.
To protect the spirit of Soulages’ moody and minimal “Outrenoir” sequence in a smaller scale, the dial of the Baume & Mercier Hampton Hommage à Pierre Soulages makes use of a deceptively advanced ending course of. Apart from the all-black coloration palette, one of many defining traits of the “Outrenoir” sequence is its use of broad, exaggerated brushstrokes. Baume & Mercier interprets this textured floor to the size of a watch dial not with a conventional technique like engraving or stamping, however a high-tech multi-stage course of that begins with a 3D printed prototype in wax. From there, the brass dial clean is machined by way of laser to emulate the prototype’s brushstroke ridges, then floor with Candia stone to create an uneven matte impact. The black coloration itself is utilized by way of electrolysis, after which sealed with a 10-micron layer of semimatte clear lacquer. The impact is putting and nuanced in photographs, capturing the look of thickly brushed black paint successfully and including a way of palpable visible depth to this minimal format. Given the complexity and energy behind this dial floor, Baume & Mercier properly opts to protect as a lot of it as attainable, interrupting the design just for high-impact gold dial textual content at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock. To match this evocative dial floor, the model renders the faceted glaive handset in sandblasted brass, which is coated with black PVD and painted with elegantly slim gold accent stripes.
Baume & Mercier powers the Hampton Hommage à Pierre Soulages with the ever present ETA 2892 automated motion. Though considerably pedestrian in comparison with the intricate customized work of the dial, the 2892 is a dependable mainstay of the watch business with a stable 42 hour energy reserve and a 28,800 bph beat fee. Baume & Mercier preserves among the moody black colorway within the 2892’s ending, with a black PVD coating atop the Côtes de Genève on the signed rotor. The motion screws are completed in an identical black as properly, whereas the bridges and stability cock obtain a good-looking perlage remedy. Baume & Mercier continues the colorway into the watch’s matte black alligator leather-based strap for a unified and trendy look general.
With a darkish and trendy twist on traditional tank-style watch cues paired to an intriguingly nuanced miniature portray dial, the restricted version Baume & Mercier Hampton Hommage à Pierre Soulages injects the miniature painted watch development with an enticing ultramodern character. Solely 102 examples of the Baume & Mercier Hampton Hommage à Pierre Soulages can be made, and the watch is out there now via licensed sellers. MSRP for the Baume & Mercier Hampton Hommage à Pierre Soulages stands at 5,200 CHF as of press time. For extra info, please go to the model’s web site.
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