or the first time, Hegid has partnered with another brand to craft a new timepiece. “Celeste” is the result of a long-standing friendship between Jérôme Coste, the brand’s artistic director, and Cédric and Nicolas Hervet, the representatives of the fifth generation of a Norman family of wood craftsmen.

“The Art of Space”, Hervet’s motto, sets the tone for the distinctive style of its creations. The two Hervet cousins, accomplices in their clan’s workshops from a very young age, have taken different paths in life around the world before founding Hervet Manufacturier.

Recognized by his peers and awarded multiple times for his work, Nicolas has made his name in the wood industry. After graduating from the Ecole Boulle in Paris, Cédric developed his creative vision as artistic director of Daft Punk, working with the legendary electronic music duo for the entire duration of their adventure. In 2008, Nicolas designed a desk for his cousin which turned out to be a founding piece, the trigger for their common creative journey. It is from their workshop in Normandy that the craftsmen perpetuate the family tradition and make art furniture with meticulous respect for traditional techniques. In addition to their exemplary know-how, the duo is now solicited by famous Maisons to create new rare objects with their singular vision.

It was in 2003, within the Big Daddy Midget Moto Club, a creative group gathered around a passion for Japanese mini motorcycles (mainly Honda Dax and Monkey) that Jérôme Coste forged links with Cédric Hervet and then with Nicolas Hervet a few years later for the realization of the furniture pieces he designed for his flagship store at Ateliers Ruby, rue Herold in Paris. Following the Ruby Helmets adventure, he supported and advised them on various dimensions of the Hervet Manufacturier project.

Four years ago, Jerôme made the connection with the founders of Hegid. This is how, for more than one year, Hegid and Hervet Manufacturier have been living under the same roof in Paris, near the Place Vendôme, at number 8 on the Rue Volney. More than a cabinet of curiosities, the two brands share a daily routine of a comparable intimate artisanal business, similar creative influences and a common desire to participate in a new dynamic in their sectors.

Since 2018, the two teams have learned to appreciate each other’s expertise, and it is for these reasons that, while surprising, this collaboration is organic. Hegid and Hervet Manufacturier responsibly manufacture products that last throughout time, in reasonable quantities. Furniture, just like mechanical watches, are among those objects that are not subject to planned obsolescence. The two companies are also committed to protecting and developing cutting-edge savoir-faire in France, professions that are generally socially and environmentally exemplary.

Their joint creation, Celeste, is a mysterious, geometric and uncompromising watch that houses a radial time indicator. Its artisanal manufacture is essentially French, but it can be worn on the wrists of robots regardless of their origin. Its radar dial reveals hours, minutes and seconds as the hands fly by, driven by an automatic mechanical movement. Day or night, Celeste’s brilliant indexes are easily visible. Its elevated fuselage reveals the screen of this observation instrument through a massive, faceted, brushed, robust octagon.

Whether made of gold or steel, adorned with Super-Luminova or diamonds, this watch is made to match inter-galactic explorers’ helmets and gloves in style. The quilted strands of its strap evoke the quilted leather seats of spaceships as imagined by the masters of science fiction of the 60s and 70s like Syd Mead and found in many pieces of furniture created by Hervet. Like all Hegid watches, Celeste is composed of three parts and the different modules that compose it (Capsule, Carrure and Strap) can be adapted to the watches of existing collections.

Hegid is a French Maison that invented a dressing complication for mechanical watchmaking. Made from the best materials, with reliable mechanics, Hegid watches are built to last for ages. They can also be easily transformed, in seconds, to adapt to desires and situations. After acquiring a Hegid timepiece, anyone can upgrade it with a new carrure, a new capsule or a new strap. The high standards of production, the mastery of know-how and the independence of the brand enable Hegid to offer French timepieces of exceptional quality at a competitive price. In an era that challenges our flexibility to adapt, Hegid answers: “Make your Evolution”, thereby inviting us to make an evolution on our wrists... and in our imagination.

Hegid’s Celeste collection of watches is available for pre-order on hegid.com and in stores, including in the common Showroom at 8 rue Volney in Paris later this year. The steel edition is available in a limited, numbered edition of 99 pieces, along with two versions of numbered pieces, 12 in yellow gold and 12 white gold, each with diamond indexes.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Swiss Made automatic mechanical movement
• Power reserve of 40 hours
• 100 meters depth water resistance (screw down crown, tube. and case back)
• Scratch resistant, anti-reflective sapphire crystal and case back
• Grey radial dial
• Super Luminova, Luminescent hands and indexes or ethically-sourced diamond indexes
• Quick patented EVOL fastener in Grade 5 Titanium
• 316L 4441 stainless steel case or ethically-sourced Gold, satin finishes
• Diameter: 40 mm
• Thickness: 13 mm avec capsule
• Horn-to-horn length: 46 mm
• Quilted black nappa leather strap
• “Flash” easy, quick fastener
• Hegid steel or gold pin buckle with logo
• Unit serial number engraved