Hermes H08

[simon800]

I'm fortunate enough to have owned some nice watches over the years, including Patek, AP, etc.

Yet for some reason find myself currently really hankering after a Hermes H08, having tried one on recently.

I really love the shape, size, dial, rubber strap etc. Great movement in there, in house (ish) from Vaucher who make movements for Richard Mille and Parmigiani Fleurier and are 25% owned by Hermes.

It seems a bit off the beaten track compared to a Rolex, Cartier, etc - but that's kind of what I like about it in a way.

It feels like I shouldn't really like it, but I do.

Has anyone experienced one of these before? Image from google;

[Sporky]

Not even seen one in person, but I do like the titanium bracelet one. Not sure it's "me", but it's distinctive without being silly, and the price didn't seem enormously daft.

[Sheetmaself]

Lovely watch, but shouldn’t a Hermes watch come on a leather strap??

[minimalist]

I think they look great and it's the black one I like. Definitely on my short list as a potential next watch.

[InformationSuperHighway]

I know it’s not exactly a £50 Michael Kors but it does come across as a bit of a fashion brand watch to me. Same as the expensive LV ones seen recently.

[simon800]

InformationSuperHighway said:

I know it’s not exactly a £50 Michael Kors but it does come across as a bit of a fashion brand watch to me. Same as the expensive LV ones seen recently.

It's interesting as I don't see the Hermes watch line in that way, same goes for Bvlgari (and of course Cartier, which is slightly different). Knowing the pedigree of movement and Hermes link to Vaucher probably helps in this regard, and these were well received by the watch collecting community on release.

Personally I'd never buy a Louis Vuitton watch, but Hermes somehow feels different to me.

It's a funny one as a bit of me gets why some people may initially think "fashion watch", but the line between fashion watch and proper horology is becoming increasingly blurred in my opinion. Particularly again when someone like Bvlgari has such great credentials with some of their innovations.

Having owned holy trinity watches, Rolex, Parmigiani Fleurier, Jaeger Le Coultre and so on I guess buying a Hermes in some way appears a little "off the beaten track". Flip side is I really like the watch regardless of the name on it, and think it's at a very reasonable price point considering the specs....

[Sheetmaself]

Personally I think for the price they sell at Hermes watches are exceptional value compared to others on the market.

As per my previous comment I would just struggle to have one without a Hermes leather strap.

Plus, buy enough and you may be able to get a Birkin for your partner!

[simon800]

Sheetmaself said:

Personally I think for the price they sell at Hermes watches are exceptional value compared to others on the market.

As per my previous comment I would just struggle to have one without a Hermes leather strap.

Plus, buy enough and you may be able to get a Birkin for your partner!

I know what you mean about the leather! The one thing that would improve this range is if it had an interchangeable strap system like the Vacheron Overseas or Cartier Santos.

[Dohnut]

I like them, especially with the orange strap.

Echo the observations on being a bit like a fashion watch but beleive you do get a lot of watch for your money, as opposed to just paying for the name.

Would rather this than any Rolex Sub or Datejust.

[Mezzanine]

These aren’t just generic Chinese watches with a fashion brand stamped on the dial, these are proper bits of kit.

I think they are a great looking watch.

Buy one!

[nikaiyo2]

simon800 said:

Personally I'd never buy a Louis Vuitton watch, but Hermes somehow feels different to me.

..

Just out of interest why?

That Hermes watch looks really nice.

[halfpenny43]

simon800 said:

I'm fortunate enough to have owned some nice watches over the years, including Patek, AP, etc.

Yet for some reason find myself currently really hankering after a Hermes H08, having tried one on recently.

I really love the shape, size, dial, rubber strap etc. Great movement in there, in house (ish) from Vaucher who make movements for Richard Mille and Parmigiani Fleurier and are 25% owned by Hermes.

It seems a bit off the beaten track compared to a Rolex, Cartier, etc - but that's kind of what I like about it in a way.

It feels like I shouldn't really like it, but I do.

Has anyone experienced one of these before? Image from google;

Hi - I have one in that exact configuration from your picture. I liked the look of it from the press pictures when it was first shown at Watches & Wonders 3 years ago. I liked the shape, the colours and the font. It was different. I like different
Movement is from Vaucher which used to be part of Parmigiani Fluerier and is part owned by Hermes. Looks nice through the display back but of course you don't see it when you wear it.

For me it's more of a summer watch with the orange band, as replacement bands are a bit of an enigma from Hermes and 3rd party straps are hard to find that sit flush to the case. The DLC coating seems pretty hardy. Strap is very comfortable.

One complaint is the strap even on the smallest setting is not as tight as I would like for my small wrists, and as I said, replacements and smaller straps were / are like rocking horse poo.
The other is the size of the crown - it's tiny. Trying to screw it into the crown tube can sometimes be a pain and is easy to cross-thread.

But I still have the watch and wear it occasionally in rotation with others.

Hope that helps
1/2p

[simon800]

nikaiyo2 said:

Just out of interest why?

That Hermes watch looks really nice.

Partly because I just don't like Louis Vuitton to be honest! Completely subjective and a personal opinion (so no offence intended to anyone) but I see it as a really chavvy brand - logos plastered everywhere, trying to be as loud and "look at me" as possible. It's the complete opposite of quiet luxury, and the go to option for fake designer gear for those who want to look like they've made it.

They also feel more like fashion watches to me than Hermes, they are much newer to watchmaking (though of course LVMH as a group does own some solid watch brands) whilst Hermes do have some pedigree here in terms of history, manufacturing, the Vaucher movements etc.

Interestingly Hermes overtook Tudor last year in terms of turnover from watches, they seem to be moving toward being a serious player.

The Slim D'Hermes is a lovely looking piece;



Meanwhile, LV have of course gone for maximum subtlety with some of their new range



All that said, the LV Tambour (not the "street diver" version) is a nice looking watch though I can't claim to know anything about it.

[simon800]

halfpenny43 said:

Hi - I have one in that exact configuration from your picture. I liked the look of it from the press pictures when it was first shown at Watches & Wonders 3 years ago. I liked the shape, the colours and the font. It was different. I like different
Movement is from Vaucher which used to be part of Parmigiani Fluerier and is part owned by Hermes. Looks nice through the display back but of course you don't see it when you wear it.

For me it's more of a summer watch with the orange band, as replacement bands are a bit of an enigma from Hermes and 3rd party straps are hard to find that sit flush to the case. The DLC coating seems pretty hardy. Strap is very comfortable.

One complaint is the strap even on the smallest setting is not as tight as I would like for my small wrists, and as I said, replacements and smaller straps were / are like rocking horse poo.
The other is the size of the crown - it's tiny. Trying to screw it into the crown tube can sometimes be a pain and is easy to cross-thread.

But I still have the watch and wear it occasionally in rotation with others.

Hope that helps
1/2p

Many thanks for this, really helpful. I had read the crown is a bit of a pain...interesting. Is yours an early one? I am sure I read somewhere the crown has been improved.

For what it's worth I asked in Hermes about a black strap so I have the option to switch out the orange, and they said £170 and can get one right away. This was in Hermes Manchester (Selfridges).

I am specifically after a casual, rubber strap, holiday/summer/occasional wear piece and it sounds as if it fits the bill. Given the likely very occasional wear it's also at a good price point, I've in the past had more expensive options filling this slot and ended up getting rid as it has felt like there is an opportunity cost to having something collecting dust 40 odd weeks of the year.

[Fallingup]

I thought they'd changed thier name to Evri. Is this old stock?

[gregs656]

A friend of mine has one and wears it quite often, I like it.

[nikaiyo2]

simon800 said:

Partly because I just don't like Louis Vuitton to be honest! Completely subjective and a personal opinion (so no offence intended to anyone) but I see it as a really chavvy brand - logos plastered everywhere, trying to be as loud and "look at me" as possible. It's the complete opposite of quiet luxury, and the go to option for fake designer gear for those who want to look like they've made it.

They also feel more like fashion watches to me than Hermes, they are much newer to watchmaking (though of course LVMH as a group does own some solid watch brands) whilst Hermes do have some pedigree here in terms of history, manufacturing, the Vaucher movements etc.

Interestingly Hermes overtook Tudor last year in terms of turnover from watches, they seem to be moving toward being a serious player.

The Slim D'Hermes is a lovely looking piece;



Meanwhile, LV have of course gone for maximum subtlety with some of their new range



All that said, the LV Tambour (not the "street diver" version) is a nice looking watch though I can't claim to know anything about it.

Haha fair enough.

I had a look at https://uk.louisvuitton.com/eng-gb/products/tambou... a couple of weeks ago and was mighty impressed.

[simon800]

nikaiyo2 said:

Haha fair enough.

I had a look at https://uk.louisvuitton.com/eng-gb/products/tambou... a couple of weeks ago and was mighty impressed.

Yep that's the one I had in mind with my last comment - genuinely a really good looking watch! Did you see it in person?

[halfpenny43]

simon800 said:

Many thanks for this, really helpful. I had read the crown is a bit of a pain...interesting. Is yours an early one? I am sure I read somewhere the crown has been improved.

For what it's worth I asked in Hermes about a black strap so I have the option to switch out the orange, and they said £170 and can get one right away. This was in Hermes Manchester (Selfridges).

I am specifically after a casual, rubber strap, holiday/summer/occasional wear piece and it sounds as if it fits the bill. Given the likely very occasional wear it's also at a good price point, I've in the past had more expensive options filling this slot and ended up getting rid as it has felt like there is an opportunity cost to having something collecting dust 40 odd weeks of the year.

Interesting if they have changed the crown - I wonder if thats a retro fit at service time ?
Yes I got mine about 3 months after Watches and Wonders.
I'll see about venturing to the Hermes boutique in Amsterdam next time I'm in town.

Many thanks

[nikaiyo2]

simon800 said:

Yep that's the one I had in mind with my last comment - genuinely a really good looking watch! Did you see it in person?

Yes in an airport maybe a month ago, was super impressed I have to say.