Pre-SIHH 2015: Baume & Mercier Clifton Automatic Big Date and Power Reserve and Hampton Automatic

Although it’s still a few weeks until the 2015 edition of the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), Baume & Mercier just introduced 2 new watches. Both represent what the brand does best: classical, simple and rational watches to please gentlemen with the need of an elegant daily beater. We already explained you the concept of Baume & Mercier when reviewing the Clifton Retrograde Date: high-quality timepieces with a non-aficionado market base in mind. For this year, two new editions will be added to the catalog. Say hello to the Baume & Mercier Clifton Automatic Big Date and Power Reserve and Hampton Automatic.

Baume & Mercier Clifton Automatic Big Date and Power Reserve

Using the exact same base (case, dial, colors, indexes) than the Retrograde edition, this new editions adds 2 complications: a large date located at 12 and a power gauge located at 6. Combined with a display of the hours, minutes and seconds, you’ll get all the required indications in a simple and elegant layout. A large date is composed of two separated discs. Not only it brings a very legible display but it also adds some extra pleasure to the horological package.

The Clifton has a very nice 43mm case made of stainless steel, with case bands, top of the lugs and bezel brushed. A very stylish mirror polished beveled angle runs from a lug to another. The case is both elegant and contemporary, making it suitable for every occasion. The dial is made of an opaline base finely brushed with a sun ray pattern. The indexes and numbers are gilded and applied on it – a special mention for the distinctive design of the numbers, especially the 4.

The movement is a classical but robust ETA clone – certainly a Soprod like the Clifton Retrograde – that allows to keep a reasonable price. It is decorated with perlage, blued screws and Geneva Stripes, as you can see from the see-through caseback. The movements boasts 42 hours of power reserve and ticks at 4Hz.

The Baume & Mercier Clifton Large Date and Power Reserve (ref. M0A10205) comes on a brown alligator strap with triple folding buckle. Price has not been released yet.

Baume & Mercier Hampton Automatic

The other novelty is a rectangular watch – something not so common in the industry – with interesting design features. The Hampton collection is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and for this special occasion Baume & Mercier is introducing two new steel watches with a self-winding movement. If the design of the face remains very classical, the case bands are alternating concave and convex shapes. The sapphire crystal remains bombed and thus creates an original design with the recessed surfaces located at 3 and 9 o’clock. The dials remains very classical to keep the overall atmosphere elegant and dressed: silvery white dial, gilded or blued hands and applied numbers, discreet minute track printed in black. The date sits discretely at 6.

The Baume & Mercier Hampton Automatic comes in two tastes (both with a polished stainless steel case): a modern one with a formal black strap, blued hands and silvery applied numeral and a warmer, more classical edition with brown strap and gilded hands and applied numbers.

The watch is powered by a reliable ETA-2892-A2 movement with automatic winding, 42 hours of power reserve and pleasant finishes: perlage, blued screws and Geneva Stripes on the rotor. The price of the Baume & Mercier Hampton Automatic (ref. M0A10155 and M0A10156) will be revealed soon.

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