This year, Herbelin celebrates the 35th anniversary of its Newport collection. The first Newport timepiece was released back in 1988 after Jean-Claude Herbelin took over his father Michel Herbelin’s company. Through this new collection, the junior Herbelin intended to blend the family’s love of the sea with quintessential French watchmaking principles. Using transatlantic yachts as inspiration, the Newport watches were designed with cases that mimicked portholes. The yachts competing in the America’s Cup Race in Newport, Rhode Island, were particularly influential to the design process. As a result, Newport became the collection’s namesake. And so, 35 years and 500,000 watches later, the Newport remains one of the top collections in the Herbelin portfolio.
To mark the occasion, Herbelin is releasing 350 pieces of a limited edition Newport Chronograph Automatic 35th Anniversary watch. Echoing the same nostalgic colour scheme as its ancestors, the 35th Anniversary model is a blend of blue, silver and gold. However, it boasts subtle contemporary redesigns to bring it up to speed with modern technology. Read on for more about this special limited edition.
Herbelin Newport 35th Anniversary Automatic Limited Edition (350 Pieces) Blue Dial / Blue Leather 256T35
Case and Dial
Housing a sunray blue dial is a two-tone 316L stainless steel and yellow gold PVD-plated case. Resting upon it is a 316L brushed stainless steel bezel, which features a tachymeter with engraved black accents. Overleaf, a transparent exhibition case back shows off the watch’s internal mechanical excellence. Its screw-down case back also helps to protect the watch against water damage up to 10 bars or 100 metres. Moreover, at 42mm in diameter and 14mm in thickness, the case is certainly sturdy but nevertheless comfortable on the wrist.
The dial itself features two silver subdials to contrast its blue colour and a sapphire crystal to encase it. Each of the subdials has a different function. Next to the 9 o’clock position is a small seconds subdial, and next to that is the 30-minute counter subdial. Adding further contrast as well as a luxurious edge to the design are the three gilded central hands. Complementing these are matching gilded baton indices around the circumference of the dial. For ease of reading, there’s also a minute track on the dial’s flange. The final complication on the dial is a neat rectangular date display, which sits at the 6 o’clock position.
Finishing Touches and the Movement
Echoing the same aesthetics as the dial design, a blue leather strap secures the watch to the wrist. Its crocodile texture puts a trendy twist on the design, whilst also reinforcing the more vintage roots of the model’s design. For added security, this fastens with a folding clasp. The strap is then anchored by gold PVD lugs, which are disjointed from the case in the classic Newport style.
In addition to its stunning design, the model also excels mechanically. The case houses a Swiss-made automatic movement, which is Sellita’s SW510 calibre. Beating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations an hour, it boasts 27 jewels and a 62-hour power reserve.
And so, that concludes the core specifications of this new watch. As Herbelin celebrates its 35th Anniversary of the Newport collection, will you be taking the plunge to buy one of the 350 limited editions? Let us know in the comments!
