Hermès | Baselworld 2015 Live Report | HERMÈS

HERMÈS | Hermès

A New Collection, Rethought Down to the Dial's Typography

The Launch of Slim d'Hermès (1)

Hermès has maintained a watchmaking base in Switzerland since the 1970s, dedicating itself to the development and production of timepieces. In recent years, the brand has shown remarkable progress, notably with complications developed in partnership with Vaucher Manufacture, and this year, 2015, marks the debut of a new collection brimming with functional beauty. It is named "Slim d'Hermès." Designed as a representative model for the next generation of Hermès, every element, from the dial to the case, has been re-examined.

Text by KAWADA Akinori

Complications and High-Design Models Also Offered

Since the 1970s, Hermès has established a manufacturing base in Biel, Switzerland, and has offered an array of excellent timepieces, including the Arceau" and "Clipper."

In recent years, their high-level complications, co-developed with Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier, have garnered significant attention from watch enthusiasts.

The new collection "Slim d'Hermès," launched by Hermès in 2015, is characterized by its distinctly slim styling.

The mechanical wristwatch is powered by the new Calibre H1950, jointly developed with Vaucher. Pursuing extreme thinness, complications have been developed.

This year's offerings range from basic models to perpetual calendar versions. Limited editions with highly artistic dials are also available, presenting a diverse array of variations.

A Basic Model Featuring Meticulous Attention to Dial Typography

True to its name, "Slim d'Hermès" achieves a remarkably thin case. This is made possible by the Calibre H1950, developed specifically for this watch. By employing a micro-rotor for the winding mechanism, the movement's thickness has been successfully reduced to a mere 2.6mm. The case thickness is also exceptionally slim, defying expectations for an automatic winding watch.

The style is elegant, with distinctive lug shapes. The dial is designed with tiered levels—the outer rim, the center area, and the small seconds sub-dial—creating a sense of depth. The indices are slender, featuring a unique, stencil-like font with slits, conceived exclusively for this model. The face, adorned with these elements, leaves an immediate and memorable impression of the collection. While functionally basic, it is a design rich in individuality.

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HERMÈS | Hermès

A New Collection, Rethought Down to the Dial's Typography

The Launch of Slim d'Hermès (2)

A Harmoniously Laid-Out Perpetual Calendar Model

This timepiece is a perpetual calendar model capable of displaying the leap year, month, and date, further enhanced with a moon phase, dual time display, and an associated day/night indicator.

The displays are clearly arranged across four subdials, resulting in a neat and cohesive design. Particularly noteworthy is the use of pointer-style indicators for the perpetual calendar, the omission of the day of the week display, and the consolidation of the leap year and month indicators into a single subdial at 9 o'clock. The dial design, already adept at creating a sense of depth, is further enhanced, resulting in a more captivating aesthetic.

The perpetual calendar mechanism was developed by Agenhor, a specialized movement manufacturer in France, and measures a mere 1.4mm in thickness. Combined with the base Calibre H1950's thickness of 2.6mm, the total movement thickness is kept to just 4mm. This Calibre H1950 serves as a base movement, hinting at future developments.

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Slim d'Hermès Perpetual Calendar
Case | 18K rose gold
Diameter | 39.5mm
Movement | Automatic winding (Cal. H1950 with added perpetual calendar module by Agenhor)
Functions | Leap year + month display, date display, moon phase, second time zone display, day/night indicator (linked to second time zone display)
Strap | Alligator
Water Resistance | 3 bar
Release Date | Scheduled for end of 2015
Estimated Price | ¥4,330,800

An Exquisite Model Where Japanese and Western Aesthetics Meet on the Dial

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Released as a limited edition of "Slim d'Hermès," this is the "Slim d'Hermès Koma Kurabe." It features a scene of "Koma Kurabe," a traditional horse race held at Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto, depicted by Takesan Fukushima, a master of fine red-enameled painting in Japan's Kutani ware tradition. The dial itself is crafted using an extremely elaborate French porcelain technique, traditionally passed down in Sèvres, near Paris.

This is a rare model, limited to only 12 pieces worldwide. As each is hand-painted, every piece is a unique work of art.