Hermès Releases The Most Sporty Version Of The H08 Yet
The Hermès H08 is a watch that breaks away from the typical style of the French fashion maison. Upon its introduction at Watches and Wonders in 2021, it was already clear that Hermès wanted to create something a lot more sporty. But that certainly doesn’t mean that the H08 isn’t as original or good-looking as the more classic watches in the collection. And now the designers dared to take the sportiness to yet another level. At this year’s Watches and Wonders, the brand is introducing an H08 with a case made of a light and sturdy glass fiber composite.
Back in 2021, Lex highlighted the sporty character of the Hermès H08. But he also mentioned how it’s still very recognizable as an Hermès design with its particular cushion case, the proprietary numerals, and its quirky seconds hand. And that’s exactly why we’re both such big fans of this watch. Let’s see if this new version can live up to our expectations.
Aluminized glass fiber
Well, we’re off to a good start here because the designers at Hermès managed to surprise us with yet another new material for the case. After graphene, titanium, ceramic, and rose gold in previous versions, this time, the mid-case is made out of a very light and sturdy composite. It consists of braided glass fiber and is coated with aluminum and slate powder, which give off a grayish-silver sparkle. To me, it even looks a bit like the stainless steel that we’re all so used to seeing.
But the composite case also shows an irregular pattern, which is the result of pressing the braided glass fibers together. It has a texture that’s very different from the perfect finishes we see on the cases of many other watches. Of course, this H08 is also very well finished, but it still looks a bit rawer than most luxury watches. However, the perfectly satin-brushed and polished dark gray ceramic bezel and crown reveal that we’re definitely dealing with a luxury watch here.
Light and playful
On the dial, we find those beautiful numerals, their shapes matching perfectly with the H08’s case. They’re applied on a concrete-colored and heavily textured dial. Though you wouldn’t guess so, the hands are made out of gold and have a toned-down black varnished finish. And then we get to the playful seconds hand in bright green, blue, yellow, or, of course, Hermès orange, depending on the version you choose. The color accents also appear on the printed hour markers and in the seam between the bezel and the sapphire crystal. Nice touch!
It’s a great way to break with the otherwise monotone look of both the case and the dial. And it goes very well with the light, sporty, and playful character of this composite version of the H08. Each colorway comes with a matching rubber strap with a woven texture. This accentuates the versatile and capable personality of the watch. And indeed, since it’s water resistant to 100 meters, you can literally take this watch almost anywhere. The DLC-coated butterfly clasp that comes with it is made out of titanium to keep the overall weight down.
A trustworthy movement
As in all H08 models that we’ve seen to this point, inside is the automatic caliber H1837 ticking away. Lex called it a tractor because the movement, which is made by Vaucher, has already been around since 2012. I guess the only thing that means is that it’s tried, tested, and reliable. It holds a respectable power reserve of 50 hours in two barrels and runs at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour. Its flamboyant finishing with the Hermès “H” motif is visible through the smoked sapphire case back.
I really like how Hermès is able to surprise us every time with the H08. The use of different materials is a great way to diversify the lineup. This new glass fiber composite version is one of the lightest and most playful ones yet, and I must say, I like it! It shows that a luxury watch doesn’t always have to be shiny and perfect. There can be a bit of a raw edge, and the Hermés designers are certainly not afraid to use some color here and there. And although the yellow, orange, and blue versions look great, my favorite of the bunch is definitely the green one.
Available as of October
The new Hermès H08 in four different colors will be available in October this year. It can be yours for the equivalent of €7,000. For more information, please take a look at the official Hermès website.
So yes, the green one’s my favorite, but which one is yours? Or do you prefer one of the earlier versions of the H08? Let me know in the comments below.
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