The reason why I am in the Hamptons is the global press launch of Baume et Mercier’s newest addition to their watch family: The Hampton. Sandra’s Closet is one of the first ones to unveil this beautiful new creation.
Let me take you on a little trip to make you understand more about the idea behind the collection.
Baume et Mercier took inspiration from the Golden Twenties. It was the era of jazz, the emancipation of women like Marlene Dietrich and Louis Brooks and the spirit of the Great Gatsby. Most importantly, it was the beginning of leisure time. Recharging your batteries and the relaxed style of the Hamptons has transformed into a watch.
Alexandre Peraldi, Baume et Mercier’s Creative Director, had a myriad of models from the `20s, `30s and `40s to get inspired from. The first Hampton collection had been launched in 1994 and today, it is celebrating its rebirth.
The new Hampton watch has a satine domed volume at 12 and 6 o`clock, an enhanced curve sapphire crystal and a curve case side at 3 and 9 o’ clock.
In different workshops, we learnt more about the design process which was very interesting. Below you can see some wax templates and first sketches.
Alexandre Peraldi got inspired by the Art Déco architecture that is emblematic for this period along with the amazing art community in the Hamptons. Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock were all part of this movement.
Below you can see the studio of the Pollock-Krasner house where one of the workshops took place.
Today, celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow, who is the brand’s ambassador, Stella McCartney, Cindy Sherman enjoy their vacation homes in Long Island’s happening East End.
For the straps, Baume et Mercier invented a new technology to achieve different levels of softness. The alligator cannot grow too big in order to have the perfect size of the skin’s pattern. The animals mostly come from Louisana and Florida.
The production of the sapphire glass takes 10-25 minutes per step.
The Hampton’s range for women comes with a quartz movement, the gentlemen’s watches with a mechanical one.
The prices are affordable, a key aspect for Baume et Mercier. The core collection for men for example is around CHF 3000, the emblematic pieces retail between CHF 7700 -13000.
For lunch we experienced a truly beautiful scenery. We went to the Kennedy house located directly at the beach where the advertising campaign was shot.
Even our pictures were taken and transformed into little pieces of art.
Italian photographer Francesco Carrozzini to the left with the beautiful Baldwin family that modeled for the campaign.
What a lovely day! Stay tuned for more to come and to see the final result of the new Hampton watch by Baume et Mercier.
LoL, Sandra
