The Low-Down

Hermes puts its in-house Calibre H1387 to good use in a new model, the H08. A subtle and discreet watch, it’s all about the angles with a fusion of a circular dial within a softened square. Available in three iterations, it is a capable crossover sports and dress watch that really does change depending on your chosen strap. Rubber, webbing or bracelet; there’s something for everybody.

First let’s have a quick reminder about the Hermes H1387. Introduced in 2012, the caliber H1837, whose name references the year the house was founded, is a mechanical self-winding movement that is 26mm in diameter, 3.7mm thick, has a double barrel, a balance frequency of 4Hz (28,800vph) and a 50-hour power reserve. When a brand announces an in-house movement, it signals a new era and nine years on Hermes is still rightfully proud of its H1387. And the new watch is putting it to very good use.

The case of the new H08 is 39mm and is available in three options. Brushed titanium, matte-black DLC-coated titanium and an ultra-lightweight, what Hermes calls, graphene-filled composite are the options for the midcase. The titanium watches have a satin-brushed titanium bezel and the composite case has a sunburst stain-brushed ceramic bezel.

The lightweight composite case has an almost Gotham-esque ton sur ton look thanks to the black gold coated dial and black nickel-coated applied Arabic numerals (more on these shortly) and hands. The only pop of colour, which is common to all the models, is a vibrant arrow on the tip of the seconds hand in the house-colour of Hermes orange. The whole look is completed with a black textured rubber strap with titanium deployment clasp. Bruce Wayne could easily pull this off as either himself or his Dark Knight alter ego, which is a good thing in anybody’s book (or should be!).

IMHO

The titanium cased watches are a little less stealthy, but are still understated. Both the brushed titanium and the matte DLC-coated versions have black nickel-coated dials with the applied Arabic numerals with white Super-LumiNova in-fill. The DLC’d case has black nickel-coated hands and the titanium case has rhodium-plated hands. When it comes to straps, my personal favourite is the orange rubber that is an option on the titanium case, but blue rubber is also a choice. The DLC cases are paired with either a black or orange rubber, black or blue webbing or a titanium bracelet with polished rectangular-oval features.

It’s the rectangle-oval, circle-square theme that is most effectively highlighted on the design of the applied numerals on all the models. Where one would traditionally see a fluid and round eight, Hermes has squared off the sides and used a flat line through the middle. Same story with the three, six and nine; or it’s certainly most obvious with these hours. As Hermes states, “The enigmatic name of the Hermès H08 hints at graphics, mathematics and metaphysics”, which is all brought together stylishly in the house style.

Tech Specs

Movement:
Hermes Manufacture Calibre H1837 automatic Swiss made

Case and dial:
39mm graphene with ceramic bezel and black gold dial
39mm brushed titanium with titanium bezel and black nickel-coated dial
39mm matte black DLC-coated titanium with titanium bezel and black nickel-coated dial

Strap:
Graphene: Black rubber with titanium clasp
Brushed titanium: Titanium bracelet or black or orange rubber, black or blue webbing with deployment clasp.
Matte black DLC-coated titanium: Blue or orange rubber, black or blue webbing with deployment clasp.

Availability and Pricing:
All the pieces are available from April 2021
Graphene: £7,260/$8,900
Brushed titanium on rubber or webbing: £4,440/$5,500
Brushed titanium on bracelet: £4,890/$6,050
Matte black DLC-coated titanium or rubber or webbing: £4,620/$5,700