Hermès Releases Blanc Chantilly And Bleu De Malte Versions Of The H08

When luxury house Hermès unveiled the H08 in 2021, many rolled their eyes. Watch enthusiasts said, “Stick to making bags,” and doubted the Parisian brand’s horological chops. And could you blame them? It was inevitable we’d question whether the maker of the world’s most coveted leather handbags could deliver a genuinely compelling sports watch. Yet the moment it actually went on the wrist, we warmed to its soft, cushion-shaped case and custom typeface. It was official: Hermès was more than capable of mastering both handbag and timepiece.

Since then, the H08 has cemented itself as a staple of the Hermès men’s collection, and it hasn’t just sat still. The collection has evolved from offering that initial time-and-date piece to boasting skeletons and sleek monopusher chronographs. Hermès has also gone all-in on techy materials, introducing a lightweight braided glass-fiber composite back in 2023 alongside various titanium and ceramic configurations. Now, the brand is keeping that momentum going with two fresh additions — Blanc Chantilly and Bleu de Malte.

Hermès H08 Blanc Chantilly and Bleu de Malte

If there’s one thing Hermès understands on a cellular level, it’s shape. The new H08 Blanc Chantilly and Bleu de Malte watches feature a 39mm cushion-shaped case crafted from the same braided glass fibers with an aluminum-coated surface. This makes the watch incredibly light on the wrist and gives its interwoven structure a distinct, almost textile-like texture that feels entirely appropriate for a maison built on fabrics and leather.

To balance the raw feel of fiberglass, Hermès tops the case with a ceramic bezel. Available in either sunburst satin-brushed white or a rich Bleu de Malte (Maltese blue), the bezel features mirror-polished chamfers that catch the light beautifully. The case also offers a highly capable 100m water resistance rating, so you don’t need to panic if you accidentally take a tumble into the hotel pool.

A custom font

The H08 features a font designed from scratch to match the case’s geometry, with numeral loops perfectly echoing the cushion silhouette. These new models give us two distinct flavors to choose from. The first is a clean, pared-down monochrome white dial, with contrasting applied, ruthenium-treated Arabic numerals packed with Super-LumiNova. The second, a rhodium-plated, crystal-sandblasted, blue-accented version, is slightly punchier and plays up the technical look of the composite materials.

On both models, the hands get a Super-LumiNova filling, so you don’t sacrifice readability. Enthusiasts will either love or hate the date window, nestled between 4 and 5 o’clock, but it’s integrated so neatly into the minute track that it’s hard to find much to complain about here.

Powered by Vaucher

Flip the watch over, and you get a clear view of the automatic H1837 movement through the titanium and sapphire case back. This is where Hermès’s 25% stake in Vaucher really pays off because this isn’t a basic, off-the-shelf tractor movement. This modern caliber measures just 3.7 mm thick and beats at 28,800 vph. It packs a dependable 50-hour power reserve, so if you wanted to rotate your H08 with another watch in your collection, it can easily survive a couple of evenings on the nightstand without needing a reset.

While famous for its leather goods, Hermès does rubber exceptionally well. Depending on the version you choose, the watch comes on a crisp white or deep Maltese blue rubber strap that integrates seamlessly into the cushion case. The rubber also features a texture that echoes the glass fiber’s woven look.

Final thoughts and pricing

The H08 isn’t a flash in the pan. It’s been around since 2021, steadily building a reputation as a sports watch that isn’t afraid to mix things up. This latest shift toward glass fiber and ceramics shows Hermès has no intention of resting on its laurels. And while traditionalists may have been skeptical five years ago, the Parisian maison continues to keep things fresh with new materials, bold colors, and, inevitably, a growing fan base.

These latest versions of the Hermès H08 retail for €8,150 / US$8,600 / CHF 7,510.