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In 1830, two brothers Louis-Victor et Célestin Baume, opened their watchmaker's workshop. In 1918, William Baume partnered with Paul Mercier, and therefore the manufacture Baume & Mercier was born. In 1919, the company received the famous Geneva hallmark, Poinçon de Genève, one of the most important quality guarantees in the watchmaking world. Building on this history, Baume & Mercier celebrated their 190th anniversary in 2020.

Hampton is one of the five collections they are offering to sale. Inspired by the Art Deco designs, the Hampton was launched in 1994. It is known in many variations. The present example is from the limited edition of 102 copies “Hommage à Pierre Soulages” (homage to Pierre Soulages). The dial echoes to the painting Outrenoir by Pierre Soulages (1919-2022), the famous French artist, one of the greatest representatives of abstract art, who was known as "the painter of black". The number 102 is indeed an homage, because he passed on October 26th, 2022, at the age of 102.