I’ll be honest, this watch completely escaped my notice until it arrived in the store. Michel Herbelin are not generally known for doing limited editions, but I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the box and saw it for the first time. The Inspiration 1947 is a celebration of the French manufacturer’s 70th year, and is a re-imagining of one of their earliest watches. My first impression was one of simplicity; This is not a complicated looking watch. It definitely has that retro feel, and has the look of a watch designed just after the end of World War 2 when things needed to be practical.
The 40mm gold PVD case is probably a good deal bigger than most watches would have been in 1947, but this small concession to modernity doesn’t really detract from the look of the watch (and it fits on my tiny wrist just fine). The pin buckle strap is a very soft brown calf leather, with the brown colour blending to a warm chestnut tone towards the centre of the strap. The dial is a very subtle domed silver sunburst with pointed gold hands and batons. The minute hand is slightly curved at the end to follow the curvature of the dial, and there is a drop seconds hand at 6 o’ clock. The winding crown is set with an attractive blue stone. Another slight deviation from historical accuracy is the fact that Michel Herbelin have chosen to use a sapphire glass, but I honestly can’t see that this is an issue, and I think most people would expect sapphire from a watch of this calibre.
Speaking of calibres, the movement inside the 1947 is a Sellita SW216-1, which is a good solid manual winding movement, visible through the caseback. It has a tolerance of approximately +/- 12 seconds per day, and a 42 hour power reserve.
This watch is limited to 500 pieces worldwide, and Michel Herbelin have sold out completely, making this a highly sought-after piece. Perhaps an heirloom of the future?
Ian Palmer – October 2017
