Revisiting the Art Deco style, Michel Herbelin reveals a new collection called “Grand Palais” with lines as masculine as they are geometrical. Inspired by the glass-vaulted ceilings of the monument of the same name in Paris, this rectangular timepiece stands out with its entirely rounded structure, from case to hands. Conciliating streamlined charisma and classic finesse, this urban-chic model will delight men looking for timeless pieces.

The ultimate city timepiece, the “Grand Palais” reveals an aesthetic of refined classicism; the curves evoke the vaulted glass, emblematic of the Parisian monument. Captivating the eye with its curved shape, this model is a wonderful tribute to the building built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900.

Incarnating French “chic” and undeniably inspired by the French culture of classic elegance, the “Grand Palais” sports a complex architecture, invisible to the untrained eye.

Borrowing its rectangular shape from the 1920s and 1930s, the extra-flat steel case is governed by a subtle curve, full of lightness, making the watch genuinely comfortable to wear. Extended to the dial and right down to the hands, this curve is highlighted by a scratch-proof sapphire crystal, also rounded all over (top and bottom).

Without indices for a resolutely contemporary look, the “Grand Palais” sports a croco-print black leather strap, finishing off the look perfectly. With a quartz movement, it reflects the expertise of this French watchmaker, established in the Jura in Franche-Comté, since 1947. Devised, designed, assembled, adjusted and controlled in the workshops of the brand, this watch is the perfect illustration of Leonardo da Vinci’s words: “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

“Grand Palais”: Stainless steel 316L curved case 21.1 x 40.2mm, 5.6mm thick, curved sapphire crystal, curved white dial and curved steel hands, functions: hours and minutes, croco-effect black matte bracelet, quartz movement, water-resistant to 3 bar (30 metres)

Source: Comité Francéclat - June 2015