Alongside Louis Vuitton, Bulgari, and Chanel, luxury French fashion house Hermès has been making strides in establishing itself as a key horological player. Founded in 1978, La Montre Hermès — the maison’s Switzerland-based horological division — has been producing its own movements and all watch components for the past few years, allowing for both aesthetic and technical experimentation.
Released in 2021, the Hermès H08 represented a stride forward for the maison’s men’s watch offering. Designed by Philippe Delhotal, creative director of Hermès Horloger, the Hermès H08 is characterised by its cushion case, off-beat typography, and geometrical contrast. Its atypical bezel lies flat against the case of the watch, varying in width to match the shape of the case. Combining rectilinear and curved lines, the H08 imbues sporty style with a sense of elegance, resulting in a timepiece that commands attention on the wrist without being overtly showy.
Now, Hermès has released four new variants of the H08. available in blue, green, yellow, and orange, the new styles lean into the inherent ruggedness of the timepiece, while retaining the archetypal elegance Hermès is known for.
The 39mm cushion case is crafted from a composite of braided and aluminised glass fibre and slate powder, with the addition of the latter adding a subtle silvery sheen that stands out against the matte black ceramic bezel. The concrete-toned dial features a finely grained finish that creates a textural interplay with the surrounding bezel, while applied Arabic numerals in the timepiece’s signature typography appear in white. As is standard for the model, each variant features flecks of its statement colour; appearing on the minutes track, varnished seconds hand, and chapter ring. The timepiece is presented on a colour-matched ‘woven’ rubber strap.
Flip it over and you’ll find the in-house H1837 calibre visible through the sapphire glass caseback.
Now Hermès has doubled-down on the success of the H08, releasing four new versions in blue, green, yellow and orange. As per previous models the rubber straps match the coloured accents, second hand and chapter ring. The cushion-shaped case again measures 39mm x 39mm, and the watches are powered by Hermès own movement, the H1837, which comes with a 50-hour power reserve.
Effortlessly suffusing a rugged sensibility with a hint of playful charm while tapping into the contemporary penchant for colourful watches, the Hermès H08 is the ideal timepiece for the distinguished adventurer.
Words by Theo Rosen
