The Parisian Maison has enriched the collection with a new model dubbed Slim d’Hermès Email Grand Feu. This novelty features a dial executed in grand feu enamel, a traditional decorative technique that requires superb mastery of demanding yet delicate gestures.
The Slim d’Hermès Email Grand Feu is characterized by its slender case with the lugs forming a right angle, and the distinctive grand feu enamel dial with the unusual and exclusive font which makes the new Hermés timepiece a unique in the style.
Its stunning dial is handcrafted by Donzé Cadrans in Le Locle, a company purchased by Ulysse Nardin in 2011. The world-recognized enamel-dial specialist uses traditional processes for this piece, in which the copper disc is coated on both sides with inflammable liquid before the enameler artisan applies a thin layer of white enamel powder which is then kiln-fired at the extreme heat of 830°C onto its carefully-prepared copper base.
There have been many successive layers added to create the final white and glossy surface that will keep its brilliant white color unchanged for decades. Considering the fact that the dial of the new Slim d’Hermès consists of three levels – the external ring for the hour-markers, the central part and the small seconds counter at the 6 o’clock position – the entire process is even more complicated because each of these parts is made separately and after that assembled and welded together onto a pewter base.
The Slim d’Hermès Email Grand Feu is housed in an 18-karat rose gold case measuring 39.50mm in diameter. The elegant case houses the caliber H1950 ultra-thin automatic movement driving displays of the hours, minutes and small seconds.
Hermès Calber H1950
The mechanism made by Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier oscillates at the semi-rapid frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz) and it is tooled with a tungsten micro-rotor which enabled Hermès to contain the thickness of the caliber to just 2.60mm while also providing efficient winding and a decent power reserve of 42 hours. The movement is encrusted with a “sprinkling of Hs” motif, and the bridge is hand-chamfered, just like on the other Hermès calibers. The inner beauty of the watch is revealed through the transparent sapphire crystal case back.
The Slim d’Hermès Email Grand Feu comes with a matt havana alligator leather strap crafted in the Hermès leather workshops. The watch is produced in the limited quantity of only 100 pieces. The retail price is Swiss Francs 21,400 (approximately $23,000).
