All the strength of mechanical memory

Seen as one of the finest watch complications, the perpetual calendar is now part of the Slim collection by Hermès.

It’s been two years now since Hermès released its Slim model, a simple and elegant classic watch with a face displaying the famous, almost ethereal type and figures designed by Philippe Apeloig. Its simplicity meant it could serve as a creative canvas for such artistic elements as the champlevé enamelwork graphic designs (Slim Perspective Cavalière) or the miniature painting on mother-of-pearl (Slim Mille Fleurs du Mexique), and for classic techniques like on the Slim Email Grand Feu. Today, Hermès is introducing a prestigious complication to this collection with the creation of the Slim Quantième Perpétuel Platine model.

To make this piece, Hermès has chosen platinum, a noble and resistant material. The sapphire crystal background on the 39.5mm case reveals its mechanical heart, the H1950 calibre, together with an Agenhor module. This self-winding movement, which runs at 21,600 alterations an hour (3Hz) and provides 42 hours of power reserve, drives a wide range of functions and displays: hours and minutes, perpetual date, second time zone, moon phase and day/night indicator.

Made up of different levels, the blue face is encircled by a sunburst scale housing a silver hour rim. The centre, with stick-shaped hands for the hours and minutes, as well as four counters, is decorated with a circular guilloche pattern. Slightly bigger than the other dials, and with a red hand, the second time zone is set at 6 o’clock. The perpetual calendar is shared by two sub-dials: the months and the position in the leap-year cycle are grouped together at 9 o’clock, while the date is shown by a hand at 12 o’clock. Housed in an open, crescent-shaped display, the moon phase is represented by a white mother-of-pearl disc set against a blue aventurine background.

The Slim Quantième Perpétuel Platine by Hermès features an abyss blue alligator strap matching the ocean-blue tint on the dial.

Price: 38,000 CHF hermes.com

By Sharmila Bertin