Baume & Mercier Hampton Small Seconds (10026)

One movement ahead
Should the new Linea be described as ultra-trendy? Such an epithet fails to take into account Baume & Mercier's high standards for its timepieces. As Director of the Baume & Mercier Design Studio since 2001, Alexandre Peraldi loves to say: "Being trendy means you're already behind. The new Linea had to be a radical innovation, and not just in terms of design. For several years now, we've been paying attention to women's growing interest in automatic movements. This is hardly surprising, since such mechanisms are drawn upon fascinating expertise and are entirely in tune with a sustainable worldview. Listen to women, they're always one movement ahead!" Naturally, a major change in the new Linea collection is to offer an automatic version in a generous 32 mm-diameter case, framing a snailed mother-of-pearl dial and a sapphire crystal case back which reveals an open-worked oscillating weight adorned with the Phi symbol. Loyal to its principle of interchangeability, the new Linea Automatic comes with a polished and satin-finished steel bracelet complete with triple folding security clasp, and a black satin strap delivered together in the packaging. This additional strap offer is bound to delight women everywhere. And why be shy about the fact that the price superbly illustrates Baume & Mercier's philosophy of bringing luxury watchmaking within reach? One 'automatically' wants to adopt it!

The Linea collection, for the love of women
In 1869, Louis-Victor Baume, co-founder of the Freres Baume company and an outstanding watchmaker, gave his daughter Melina an exquisite pocket-watch decorated with floral motifs for her first communion. This true visionary thereby introduced women into a domain that had thus far been an exclusively masculine territory: the mastery of time. He also simultaneously anticipated the emergence of a new market on which Baume & Mercier was to display an unde- niably avant-garde approach: that of ladies' watches, a symbol of modernity.
From 1920 onwards, the brand overturned existing watchmaking codes by presenting watches distinguished by ultra-feminine curves, the "baignoire" shape and Art Deco lines. It was however in 1946 that Baume & Mercier found a permanent place in women's hearts with the legendary Marquise watch, which was to be followed by other great classics such as Galaxy, Stardust and Catwalk.
For over 90 years, Baume & Mercier has been writing a lasting love story with women, generation after generation, as epitomized by the captivating Linea.

Return of an icon
An immediate success at the time of its 1987 launch, Linea, the first watch with an interchangeable bracelet, celebrates the real women: dynamic and multi-faceted, sensual and more feminine than ever. The beautifully rounded, curved new Linea has skillfully preserved the spirit of the origi- nal while combining it with a blend of modernity and elegance.
Available in a 27 mm diameter, or 32 mm for the chronograph and automatic model, it is fitted with an extremely comfortable polished and satin- finished bracelet that is quickly and easily interchangeable with a black satin or calfskin strap for the single-wrap version, and light brown for the double-wrap variation - meaning every woman can choose her own style. The model's signature bezel engraved with the 12 hours of the day is even more readable on this new version, while women are sure to appreciate the addition of a date and a central sweep-seconds hand. Because femininity also stands for efficiency.