Hermès is showing off a new watch collection called Slim d’Hermès at Baselworld 2015, which gets under way at Basel, Switzerland, today.

The new collection was born of a stylistic exercise on the theme of aesthetic purity.

This determination to aim for essentials results in lines distinguished by their elementary sobriety, expressed through the slenderness of a case. The broad dial opening immediately draws the gaze, while the design of the lugs forms a right angle. The extreme simplicity of the watch conveys a movement towards essentials in a rigorous, beautifully balanced manner, the manufacture says.

Designed by Philippe Delhotal, Creative Director of La Montre Hermès, the watch testifies to the graphic approach of the house through the original typography created by graphic designer Philippe Apeloig to mark the hours. 

The light, airy outline of the numerals imparts a lively rhythm that gives time a pleasing cadence, the manufacture says.

Apeloig has collaborated with Hermès for several years: in 2012, he created the visual identity of Puiforçat and the Saut Hermès poster in 2013.

Slim d’Hermès, for both men and women, comes in three sizes. 

At the heart of the large 39.5-mm-diameter model beats the Manufacture Hermès H1950 ultra-thin movement. The integration of a micro-rotor serves to slim down this self-winding calibre that now measures just 2.6 mm. 

Like the other models from the manufacture, this movement is adorned with the “sprinkling of Hs” motif, while the bridges are hand-bevelled in keeping with watchmaking traditions. A sapphire crystal case-back affords a glimpse of the details conveying this expertise. Time is displayed in its simplest expression showing only the hours, minutes and seconds.

The 39.5-mm model may be equipped with a perpetual calendar mechanism, one of the most demanding horological complications. This function, which counts off the days and months while taking account of leap years and thus provides a four-year display, is associated with a moon-phase indication in natural white mother-of-pearl set against an aventurine glass sky, as well as a dual-time display in an ultra-thin composition. 

A quartz movement drives the 32-mm and 25-mm models, while new colours enrich the range of alligator straps: blackcurrant, cloud white and sapphire blue, alongside ember, Etruscan, elephant grey and ultraviolet options. The wristband is also available in box calf, Barenia leather strap or steel bracelet versions. 

Slim d’Hermès appears in rose gold or steel variations, with or without diamond settings. When adorned in rose gold, the watch is graced with a guilloché dial in white natural mother-of-pearl, while the brand’s ex-libris motif appears on the back of the case.

Whether mechanical symphony or artistic composition, Slim d’Hermès says it delivers its supremely pure definition of time, symbolising a “return to the fundamentals of the watchmaking art”. 

In keeping with the proud traditions of the house, this collection also provides broad scope for highlighting handcrafted skills, be they historical or unprecedented in the watchmaking field, in giving rise to truly exceptional creations.

La Montre Hermès is the watch-making subsidiary of the family-owned luxury powerhouse Hermès of France.