When people talk about Hermès watches, they often mean luxurious, well-crafted models, mainly focused on an original, deceptively simple design with a unique twist. And for most models, this is indeed true - recall the recent H08 collection or the Carré H watches. However, since the French brand also owns a stake in the Vaucher manufacture, Hermès can sometimes present watches with more horological content, watches with complications or original displays. This is exactly what the brand's latest novelty is about, combining casual elegance and a rather interesting mechanism. Meet the new Slim d'Hermès Squelette Lune.
Unlike many other industrial giants, Hermès' watch division is not a fashion statement. It possesses a certain independence among the brand's other collections and can be called a true watchmaking division. Of course, being part of the main luxury brand, it must adhere to the design codes and restrained elegance for which Hermès is famous. But these watches are not accessories linked to handbags. These are mechanical watches.
The Slim is a rather traditional collection for Hermès, known for its love of all things figurative and unusual. This collection represents the brand's classic round model, but it's not just another round watch. For the latest edition of the Slim d'Hermès, we again find a beautiful case with a minimalist central body, on which original and angular lugs are mounted.
The most notable element of this model is undoubtedly the play of textures and colors. The ultra-thin 39.50mm case truly combines a titanium case and back, bead-blasted, dark gray, and matte-textured, with a bright and polished bezel made of 950 platinum and an 18-carat white gold crown. This contrast between the rough, almost industrial texture and the luxurious appeal of platinum is quite attractive.
Another important aspect to note in the Slim d'Hermès Squelette Lune model is that these are skeletonized watches, processed in the same manner as the case, playing with light and shadows, matte and bright textures. The bridges of the automatic caliber H1953 are open-worked in a modern style, with graphic skeletonization. The upper surfaces are matte, contrasting with polished bevels and sinks. In the same vein, the bridges have a dark gray coating, while most of the technical elements of the mechanism are rhodium-plated.
The base of the mechanism is well-known - it's an ultra-thin caliber with a micro-rotor, manufactured by Vaucher, which can be found in the Slim watches and various models of Parmigiani watches.
Over the dark gray mechanism rises a pair of hands made of blue PVD coating. At the 6 o'clock position is the star of the show - a double moon, well integrated into the bridge, executed in the same skeletonized style. The hours and minutes are displayed on the inner flange, sunburst-finished and painted in dark gray. The Squelette Lune watches are worn on a matte gray alligator leather strap, closed with a titanium clasp.
The Slim d'Hermès Squelette Lune watches are released in a non-limited series and will cost 20,550 USD. For more detailed information, visit www.hermes.com.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS - SLIM D'HERMÈS SQUELETTE LUNE
Case: Diameter 39.50 mm - Titanium Grade 5 case and back with bead-blasting, 950 platinum bezel, 18-carat white gold crown - Sapphire crystal with AR coating, front and back
Dial: Skeletonized dial, bridges treated in dark green with an inner flange made of gray (blackened gold), minute/hour hand with gray transfer, hands with blue PVD coating
Movement: Caliber H1953, manufacture (Vaucher) - automatic with micro-rotor - frequency 3 Hz - power reserve 48 h - hours, minutes, and double moon
Strap: Matte graphite alligator leather strap, titanium pin buckle
Price: 20,550 USD
