BY HARLAN CHAPMAN-GREEN
Hermès, one of the most iconic luxury brands going. It makes all sorts of lifestyle accessories such as shoes, gloves, belts, fragrances and jewellery. But, it’s probably most well-known for making scarves, leather handbags and luxury watches which are subject to much acclaim. It’s that last part that we’re interested in here at WristReview, and the new H08 in rose gold and black DLC titanium is something we’re very keenly interested in.
I won’t be the first to say that it’s probably quite difficult for most brands to create watches that don’t look like anything else on the market. The outline of the H08’s 39mm x 39mm case, especially when combined with the black bezel with its rounded corners, looks a lot like the Cartier Santos. It might also be because Cartier is France’s other premiere luxury brand and watchmaker. Even so, that’s about where the similarities between the two end, as the Hermès goes off in a different direction entirely.
The combination of colours, textures and shapes makes the H08 an odd viewing experience, but odd in a good way. It’s very French, and France isn’t home to some of the most haute couture designs for nothing. Take the seconds hand, for example. On nearly every other watch, it’s the longest hand on the dial, but here it’s mounted from its centre, so it looks the shortest. The hour hand slightly overlaps the seconds track to point at the hours ring, which is finished with brushing that contrasts the grained dial. The minutes hand is partly lumed and partly hollowed so that you can see through it to the minute marker underneath. When combined with the applied gold Arabic numerals in their squidged font, this is a sight to behold.
Powering the watch, and visible through the sapphire caseback, is the self-winding calibre H1837. Designed in collaboration with and constructed by Manufacture Vaucher, this movement comes equipped with a 4Hz beat rate and 50-hour poo reserve. It’s also self-winding and is decorated with an ‘H’ motif to symbolise the Hermès brand.
With a black rubber strap that has a DLC titanium clasp, this watch is on sale now for a price of €15,750.
Visit Hermès here.
