Hermes Expands their H08 Collection with Sleek New Three Handers and an Impressive Chronograph

This year, Hermès has expanded their H08 line with their Watches & Wonders novelties, adding several new colors to the base model in their composite case material, as well as a very impressive monopusher chronograph. Hermès is a favorite meeting at Watches & Wonders. The brand has a history that sits well outside traditional Swiss watchmaking culture. As a luxury design house, they are primarily known for their leather work, and the iconography of the brand is largely associated with their roots in equestrian sports. They have greatly expanded their watchmaking reach in recent years, however, with Vaucher supplied movements and a series of winning designs that have legitimized the brand in the watchmaking space. 

The H08 was introduced two years ago as the “sporty-chic” Hermès sports watch. This year’s new introductions feature the brand’s very interesting composite material, made from a mix of carbon fiber and graphene powder. The result is a lightweight 39mm case that Hermès claims is resistant to wear, and it has a unique textured appearance that looks almost hammered by hand but is smooth to the touch (Hermès says it’s coated with aluminum and slate powder). Whether or not the aesthetic is appealing will be a largely subjective matter, but the case has a great weight and feel on the wrist, and the cushion shape is comfortable and seems well suited to casual, daily wear. The case is accented with a black ceramic bezel that makes for a great contrast with the case. 

The new H08 is available in four color variations: blue, yellow, orange, and green. The accents on the dial are quite subtle, with the brightly colored rubber straps doing the heavy lifting. Something that makes this and other Hermès watches special is the custom typeface used for the Arabic numerals, which on the H08 recall the iconic “H” logo that has adorned the brands leather products for years. 

Joining the three handed H08 references is a brand new monopusher chronograph, appropriately named the H08 Chronograph. The H08 design language translates nicely into chronograph territory, with an increased reliance on texture contrasts within the dial. There are alternating sections with smooth and textured finish, with the sub-registers at 9:00 and 3:00 marked with a rough graining that gives the watch an industrially finished feel, perhaps to a greater degree than the more subdued and generally pretty sleek time and date variants. 

Hermés has opted for a titanium bezel on the chrono as opposed to ceramic, heightening the casual vibe quite a bit. The case, which is made of the same carbon and graphene composite as the three handeers, has been bumped up to 41mm, which in this cushion design is quite large, making the chrono a true statement piece. Still, the material has a natural lightness to it, so even at this size it’s hardly impossible to wear, it just leaves a significant visual impression (thanks in part to the bright orange accents). 

The retail price on the new carbon and graphene cased three handers is expected to be around $7,500 when they become available later this fall. The chronograph will begin delivery in early 2024, with a price to be determined. Hermès