“We hope to create a modern timepiece that deeply fits the concept of Hermès men’s watch, suitable for a variety of scenarios and showing surging vitality. It carries our ardent hope to pass on the brand values.” In early April, Hermès was a “Watch and Miracle” line The participating brands of the Shanghai Watch Fair exhibited new timepieces, among which the H08 watch is particularly eye-catching.
In this regard, Laurent Dordet, Chief Executive Officer of Hermès Timepieces, said in an interview: “This timepiece embodies Hermès’ incisive interpretation of contemporary men’s temperament-they are obsessed with passionate actions, while pursuing comfort and ease. This timepiece. This watch will become synonymous with elegant charm, adventurous spirit and freedom, rather than a representative of conservative and self-contained.”
This year, the H08 watch launched by Hermès is so significant that a large part of the reason is that this watch is the first sports style watch of Hermès. Both rigorous and sexy, both strong and delicate, combining matte and shiny surfaces-just like Hermès men, they have diverse and multifaceted characteristics. The Hermès H08 watch has a slightly mysterious name, suggesting its connection with graphics, mathematics and metaphysics. The original digital design is unique and resonates with the watch as a whole. The outline of the number 0 and the number 8 echoes the shape of the case. In addition, the number 0 embodies the void, while the horizontally arranged number 8 symbolizes infinity. It is like a journey unfolding in the realm of existence, echoing the mystery and profoundness of time like an echo.
Hermes H08 watch
“The square watch is equipped with a mechanical movement, blending selected materials and rounded lines. This is the part of this watch that impresses me the most.” Laurent Dordet, Chief Executive Officer of Hermès Watch said, “The sharp and neat shape is slightly simple and smooth. The lines blend seamlessly with the exquisite case, combined with exquisite fonts and cleverly mixed materials, adding a sense of personality.”
Hermes H08 watch
Not only is the style unique, the H08 watch also shows skill and creativity in watchmaking technology and material technology. This watch is equipped with Hermès self-produced movement H1837 self-winding movement, and proposes a variety of material options, including some innovative technology materials. For example, a graphene-filled case with a satin-finished and polished ceramic bezel; a black gold sandblasted dial with full minute scales, luminous Arabic numerals, black nickel hands for displaying hours, minutes and seconds, and a central second hand. . The other two styles are a matt black DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coated titanium case and a satin-finished titanium case with a black nickel-treated dial.
It is these light and strong material details that make the H08 watch, as Laurent Dordet put it, “easy to control a variety of scenes.”
Laurent Dordet, CEO of Hermès Watch
Dialogue with Laurent Dordet, CEO of Hermès Watch
In the past year, the epidemic has had a huge impact on the entire watchmaking industry. Looking back at the performance of the Hermès watchmaking industry in the past year, what do you think and evaluate? What was the biggest challenge during this period? What surprises you?
The epidemic has a huge impact on the watchmaking industry. We must find alternative ways to maintain consistent service quality and live up to customer expectations. We pay particular attention to the customer experience in the store, and we try our best to make every local customer feel at home, whether offline or online. Even though our factory has been closed for a few weeks, we still managed to keep the 9-month output at the same level as the entire year of 2019. In 2020, we have successfully concluded with a growth rate of 2.3%. Since June, the entire Asian watch industry has ushered in strong sales growth. In regions where the tourism industry is sluggish (Europe, America), the consumption of local customers has also increased.
In the past year, which one was the most popular watch in the Chinese market? What do you think is the reason why it is so popular with consumers?
The Cape Cod series is extremely popular with Chinese customers. The Cape Cod watch was born in 1991, incorporating the rebellious spirit of designer Henri d’Origny. At that time, Hermès commissioned him to design a square watch, but he himself prefers the rectangle. From this, he had a crazy idea-to split the iconic “anchor chain” pattern in two, and to cleverly combine various shapes. The Cape Cod watch embeds the square in the rectangle, and the double-ring strap makes it more distinctive. This design makes the watch more creative, bold, avant-garde, witty, and unique.
In April 2021, Hermès will participate in the watch exhibition for the first time as a member of Watches and Miracles. This watch event is the first time for many participating brands. What do you think of the exhibition of such a new situation? For Hermès, compared to participating in the Basel Watch Fair and Geneva Watch Fair many years ago, has the significance of participating in the Watch and Wonder Watch Fair in 2021 changed?
This is our fourth time since 2018 to participate in the Geneva Watch and Miracle Exhibition (formerly the Geneva International Haute Horlogerie Exhibition). We are very happy to be able to walk hand in hand with other high-quality brands that support different watchmaking visions, and to interpret our unique expression of time. Since the cancellation of the Baselworld (Baselworld), the Geneva Watch and Miracle Show (formerly the Geneva International Haute Horlogerie Fair) has become a grand event in the watch industry, with media friends, celebrities, retailers and end customers from all over the world gathering Here.
The Online Geneva Watch and Miracle Exhibition shares many common values with us, including an open spirit. In the face of a rapidly changing world, the exhibition responded appropriately. It not only provided small brands with display opportunities, but also provided a platform for communication and business, which was of great benefit to participating brands.
Do we still need watch exhibitions in the future? In other words, in the future, what kind of changes do you expect from the exhibition?
Of course yes, I am still convinced of this. Obviously, digital conferences cannot replace offline conferences. In our opinion, even if the 2021 exhibition adopts a digital format, it is not just a simple transmission of new work presentations. The digital and physical worlds are inseparable, and they will complement each other. Therefore, all Hermès press conferences are conducted live.
We are now confident that we can return to physical exhibitions in 2022, but it is obvious that online exhibitions are still an important way to keep in touch with friends in the media, celebrities, retailers and end customers, especially when someone can’t or don’t want to travel. . I hope that future exhibitions can continue to enrich the format, open up and innovate.
Hermès H08 watch, equipped with Hermès self-produced movement H1837 automatic winding movement.
In recent years, the new watches of Hermès are not only surprising in style, but also have many advancements in watchmaking technology, and even no lack of innovations in complex functions. Can you talk about the efforts Hermès has made in watchmaking technology in recent years? In terms of improving the competitiveness of watchmaking technology, what layout and plans does Hermès have in the future?
Hermes H08 is a good example. In order to fully demonstrate the beauty of its design, corresponding technical solutions must be used. Therefore, we combine the case and dial manufacturing skills of the Hermès Watch Workshop. In addition, the composite materials and their components must be carefully selected and tried repeatedly, and the surface must be matte or polished without affecting the shape of the watch to create a natural overall shape. Through vertical integration, we are able to continuously develop a dialogue between creation and the industry without wasting time. This contradictory and unified concept is of great help to the development of our new products.
(This article is from The Paper. For more original information, please download the “The Paper” APP)
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