Arms-On: Hermes H08 Watch With New Colours & Model For 2023

In 2021, French Hermes debuted a brand new watch assortment often known as the H08 (aBlogtoWatch hands-on right here). The H08 was conceived by Hermes’ artistic director Philippe Delhotal and featured a sporty look, an attention-grabbing cushion-style case, and a snug on a regular basis carrying type. For 2023, Hermes revisits the still-fresh H08 with a collection of latest fashions that characteristic new supplies and a tweaked look. On this article, I’ll concentrate on the Hermes H08 “Colours,” which embody 4 new fashions accented in both blue, inexperienced, orange, or yellow.

The brand new fashions maintain the 39mm x 39mm case dimension proportions however are lighter in weight and in addition sportier because of the usage of a glass fiber composite case materials, in addition to a cultured black ceramic bezel materials. The composite case materials was principally chosen for its aesthetic given its attention-grabbing floor texture. Hermes explains that the glass fiber materials can also be coated with aluminum and slate powder. This possible enhanced the coloring of the grooves within the materials, making a extra dramatic sense of coloration and an eye-pleasing natural texture.  Whereas composite supplies are actually generally utilized in luxurious watches, the formulation and magnificence of those supplies can fluctuate vastly. Right here, Hermes has adopted not solely a pretty kind of composite materials however, for now, one which can also be distinctive to its merchandise.

The watch case itself is water-proof to 100 meters and has a flat AR-coated sapphire crystal over the dial. The crown is produced in matching black ceramic to enrich the bezel materials. Hermes maintains a playful however extremely legible dial that makes use of the “revolving” type of hour markers much like different Hermes fashions of the previous. Particular emphasis is positioned on making the dial look instrumental, together with the legible interior observe for the hour markers and the concept proportions for the fingers. Word how the date indicator is elegantly positioned in order to not break up the movement and symmetry of the hour markers. That is Hermes exhibiting off that it might probably make not only a handsome luxurious watch, however a handsome luxurious instrument watch. For me, a pure competitor can be one thing just like the Patek Philippe Aquanaut — solely the Hermes (whereas actually not low-cost) is worlds extra reasonably priced.

Shade accents discover their means on the H08 watch dials, in addition to for a hoop across the periphery of the face. Many of the coloration is discovered on the included 21mm-wide textured rubber strap, which may be very snug and has a titanium folding clasp. On the rear of the watch is a smoked sapphire crystal that permits for a view of the automated motion contained in the watch. The motion is Hermes’ “in-house” caliber H1837 which is produced in Switzerland by Vaucher. The motion is somewhat skinny at 3.7mm-thick, and operates at 4Hz with about 50 hours of energy reserve.

As you’ll be able to see, the aBlogtoWatch crew loved carrying these enjoyable watches once we met with Hermes at Watches & Wonders 2023 the place the brand new H08 watches have been being debuted. Hermes produces inexpensive variations of the H08, however the H08 “Colours” are the entry-level fashions that debuted this yr. Different new H08 items embody the H08 Chronograph, in addition to a model of the H08 that matches the type of those new Colours fashions however with an 18k rose gold (versus glass fiber composite-cased) and a black ceramic bezel. aBlogtoWatch will cowl these new items in separate articles.

Only a few years in the past, it was a problem to get conventional watch lovers enthusiastic about in any other case implausible watches produced by luxurious trend homes comparable to Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Bulgari, and many others. I by no means felt that these timepieces deserved any much less fanfare than these from “watch homes,” however there was a wierd prejudice from the customarily conservative collector group as a result of these “trend maison” firms appeared to primarily market their girls’s items. I’m proud to say that the notion has lastly modified. Gone are the times when such statements as “That’s not an actual watch model” are frequent, and as a rule, watch collectors are simply as enthused about these watches as they’re from conventional watchmakers. That’s a superb factor as a result of firms like Hermes not solely use the identical manufacturing and actions as these from “conventional watchmakers” but additionally typically boast way more stunning and modern designs. The Hermes H08 items aren’t for everybody, however these are wonderful and comfy watches that blend conventional utility with a lovely design and concentrate on fashionable supplies and magnificence. Worth for the Hermes H08 Colours watches is $6,800 USD every. Be taught extra on the Hermes web site.