With most watches of the Watches & Wonders 2021 highlights now revealed, figuring out the top hits of the year is only a matter of comparison and personal taste. Of course, there are the Rolexes, Tudors, Patek Philippes, and Vacheron Constantins, which are always sure to catch lots of attention, but many intriguing models can be found even looking past the most popular brands. At the top of our mind today is Hermès’ sleeper-hit launch, the new H08 Collection.
The new collection is the French luxury maker’s sportiest timepiece series to date, featuring a sturdy pillow-shaped case construction, highly durable materials, and dark colorways, all geared toward the modern, “Hermès man” and positioned as a daily wearer.
The H08 collection consists of three models, each differing in their case materials and strap options, but otherwise featuring the same overall design. The darkest of the group features a graphene-filled composite case with a satin-brushed ceramic bezel, opting also for a textured black rubber strap and a dial composed of various shades of blacks and grays. Another model goes for some brighter colors, matching a satin-brushed DLC-coated titanium case with a slightly lighter dial and securing to the wrist with a choice of five different straps, from orange rubber to blue webbed textile. The third offers the same dial color and strap options as the model previously described but its pure titanium case has no additional DLC coating.
Each H08 model uses a 39-mm by 39-mm cushion-shaped case with rounded edges, a screw-down crown ensuring a 100-meter water resistance, and a radial, sunburst bezel. Beneath the anti-glare sapphire crystal lies the dark textured dial, with radially-positioned applied Arabic hour markers on the outermost sector. Taking a step closer to the center, we come to a dividing smooth sector that contains more accents for each hour, as well as a small date window at the 4:30 position. Finally, at the center of the dial is a simple minute ring, with baton-style hands for the hour and minute and an orange-arrow-tipped hand for the running seconds. The watch overall is well-sized and very sporty, with plenty of signature Hermès style but in a format that looks wearable without concerns for delicacy.
Powering the H08 collection is the automatic Caliber H1837, an exclusive movement designed in collaboration with Vaucher Manufacture almost a decade ago. The movement stores a 50-hour power reserve, beats at a standard frequency of 28,800 vph, and features engraved Hermès “H” finishing on its rotor, plates, and bridges, which are visible behind a sapphire caseback. The H1837 has been Hermès’ most popularly used movement since its introduction, and while notably lacking in any chronometer certification, it does showcase some impressive finishing.
All of the models within the Hermès H08 collection are available now via the brand and through authorized retailers, with pricing staring at $5,500 and ranging to $8,900 depending on the specific model and strap option.
To learn more, visit Hermès, here.
