Novelties

Material World: New Takes on the Hermès H08 Provide a Study in Contrasts

Fiberglass and ceramic provide the platform for this next-generation sports watch.

By Rhonda Riche

October 15, 2026

Hermès H08 with Blanc rubber strap © Hermès

We all know that Hermès has a way with unconventional watches. Take, for example, the Hermès H08.

Designed by Philippe Delhotal in 2021, this timepiece plays with traditional sports watch conventions by featuring a cushiony case instead of a round one and crafting it from lightweight materials (the original two models featured cases made either of titanium or a graphene-filled composite) instead of stainless steel.

Basically, the H08 has never looked like a sports watch, and it’s still pushing the boundaries of sports watch design today with the launch of two new editions made of fiberglass and ceramic. And just like the original H08, these 2026 versions are all about juxtaposition. Let’s take a look.

H08 State

The original 39mm x 39mm cushion-shaped case contrasted the smooth, satin-brushed contours of the case with a sunray-brushed bezel that had mirror-polished bevels. It is a very handsome watch, a word that doesn’t get bandied about a lot when describing sport watches.

Hermès H08 with Bleu de Malte rubber strap © Hermès

According to Hermès, the goal of these 2026 novelties is to continue showcasing the diversity of this elegant, but not too dressy, everyday watch. More specifically, the Maison says this duo is designed to create “a subtle balance between tension and fluidity, robustness and lightness.”

To achieve this goal, Hermès is employing a composite case made of braided glass fibers with an aluminum-coated surface juxtaposed with a white or blue sunburst satin-brushed ceramic bezel that has mirror-polished chamfers.

Of course, fiberglass isn’t new to watchmaking; Tissot was the first to use it to build the case for the Sidéral in 1969. It’s not even the first time Hermès has used the composite in the H08 collection (that would be the 2023 Hermès H08 “Colors” collection). But here, Hermès uses contrast to create the sensation of luminosity.

How can these cases be “luminous”? Well, even though they’re a composite, fiberglass has a somewhat translucent appearance. Compare this effect to the depth of the white-lacquered dial with Arabic numerals and hands enhanced with Super-LumiNova, and you can see these versions have received a glow-up.

Vive la Difference!

While there will always be people who equate a sport watch with weight, the unique look of the H08 line also stands in contrast with its functionality. For example, this versatile, all-terrain watch with a screw-down crown can fathom depths of up to 100 meters; the mix of lightweight fiberglass and ceramic merely makes it less clunky to wear.

The 2026 editions come in two versions: one with a monochrome white dial, and the other with blue accents. And depending on the version, these new H08s come on either a white or Maltese-blue rubber strap.

Finally, beneath the elegance, both are powered by the precise self-winding Manufacture Hermès H1837 movement, displaying hours, minutes, seconds, and the date between 4 and 5 o’clock.