Herbelin is set to launch a new model in its renowned Cap Camarat collection during the summer of 2024.
This collection is a legacy of Michel Herbelin’s designs from the 1970s, named after and inspired by the eponymous cape located south of the Saint-Tropez peninsula.
The first model in the Cap Camarat series was introduced in 2018 when the French brand was still known merely as Herbelin. It features a new sporty-chic stainless steel watch reminiscent of the seventies, featuring a striking blue dial.
Herbelin Cap Camarat Diver Automatic:
12 Essential Features
- a modern diving watch with a retro aesthetic
- a sporty-chic design that is pleasingly versatile
- available in two variants: stainless steel case or stainless steel case with black DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coating
- equipped with an internal bidirectional diving bezel adjustable via a screw-down crown at 2:30
- a black dial with a horizontal pattern for optimal contrast
- faceted applied hour markers
- luminescent markers, hands (for hours, minutes, and seconds), and a rotating bezel pearl
- water-resistant for diving up to 200 meters
- features a robust and reliable Swiss movement
- includes a summer strap made from orange FKM rubber
- crafted in France
- offers an impressive quality-to-price ratio, priced at 1,200 euros
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Overview of the Herbelin Cap Camarat Diver
The new Cap Camarat Diver from Herbelin is the first diving watch introduced in this collection since its inception in 2018.
Choose Between a Stainless Steel or Black DLC Steel Case
The 42-millimeter diameter case is made from stainless steel and features a blend of finishes: vertical brushing and polished facets for an appealing look.
Additionally, there’s a variant with a case of the same size but coated with a matte black DLC treatment, which enhances hardness and scratch resistance.
True to the Cap Camarat collection, this Automatic Diver features a distinctive hexagonal case shape and a fixed bezel adorned with six decorative screws.
As a diving watch should, this attractive automatic timepiece comes with a winding crown and a screw-down caseback, ensuring water resistance up to 200 meters.
Sporty-Chic Aesthetics with Optimal Functionality
Continuing with the themes of durability and functionality, Herbelin has designed this new model with a double crown protector to safeguard the winding crown and the additional crown at 2:30 from shocks.
The latter is also screw-down and allows adjustments to the bidirectional rotating bezel of the Cap Camarat Diver Automatic.
In fact, while most brands equip their diving watches with a unidirectional external rotating bezel, such as Rolex with its Submariner, Omega with its Seamaster Diver 300, or Blancpain with its Fifty Fathoms, few watchmakers opt for an internal bezel.
This choice by Herbelin allows the stylish, sporty-chic essence of the Cap Camarat to be maintained while providing the practicality of a professional diving watch, effectively transforming it into an instrument watch.
This is even more evident considering that the new bidirectional bezel, designed as a flange, is adorned in a vibrant orange for the first 15 minutes of its scale.
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A Stunning Relief Dial
This vivid tone also offers a striking contrast against the matte black of the dial, which features a horizontally stamped texture where day and date windows are smoothly integrated at 3 o’clock.
Herbelin has enhanced the dial of its new Cap Camarat Diver with faceted applied markers, richly filled with luminescent material.
The luminescent material is also present on the baton-style hour and minute hands, complemented by a central seconds hand styled like an orange lacquered lollipop, which also features Super-LumiNova.
This ensures visibility during diving sessions, complying with the ISO 6425 standard for diving watches.
Herbelin’s design choices yield a dial that excels in readability while showcasing sporty-chic elegance that adds to its versatility.
A Summer-Ready Bracelet and Robust Swiss Movement
The Charquemont-based brand, located on the Franco-Swiss border, has selected a high-performance FKM elastomer strap with a pin buckle to complement its new timepiece.
This orange strap harmoniously echoes the internal highlights of the model.
This strap offers enhanced durability compared to traditional rubber options and has been specifically tailored to fit the Cap Camarat Diver seamlessly while maintaining the design language of previous steel strap versions.
Finally, in line with Herbelin’s commitment to “Made in France,” this Cap Camarat Diver is powered by a Swiss movement – a Sellita SW220-1.
This well-established, durable mechanism can be maintained by any competent watchmaker once the warranty period has lapsed. It boasts a classic 41-hour power reserve and features a Herbelin-branded oscillating weight finished with a soft touch.
The transparent caseback allows a visual appreciation of this intricate movement, as the Cap Camarat Diver Automatic features a transparent sapphire glass backing.
Pricing for the Cap Camarat Diver Automatic
The Cap Camarat Diver in stainless steel is offered at a price of 1,200 euros.
The version with black DLC treatment is priced at 1,300 euros.
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My Thoughts on the Herbelin Cap Camarat Diver Automatic
To me, this Cap Camarat Diver is undoubtedly a remarkable success, placing it among the luxury watches for men, despite being categorized as an affordable watch.
In my opinion, it offers several advantages:
- a contemporary and timeless design drawing inspiration from the 70s
- sporty-chic elegance
- excellent functionality (water resistance, readability, etc.)
- well-proportioned dimensions
- internal rotating bezel
- durable and reliable Swiss movement
- outstanding value for money.
Moreover, every step of producing this Diver—from design to assembly, as well as adjustment and quality control—was conducted at the Herbelin workshops located in the Jura mountains region of Franche-Comté.
The outcome is impressive and truly merits a visit to the store to try it on, allowing you to choose between the stainless steel version and the black DLC version!
This is an excellent opportunity for anyone visiting Paris this summer to stop by the Herbelin boutique at 58 rue Bonaparte, in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
Technical Specifications
Herbelin Cap Camarat Diver Automatic
– Reference: 1745A14CMD (stainless steel case) / 1745N14CMD (black DLC steel case)
– 316L stainless steel case with brushed and polished finishes OR 316L stainless steel with DLC treatment
– Dimensions: 42.00mm x 12.30mm (thickness)
– Vertical brushed 316L stainless steel bezel with polished decorative screws OR 316L stainless steel with DLC treatment
– Screw-down crowns and case back
– Sapphire crystal
– Transparent case back
– Waterproof up to a depth of 200 meters
– Horizontally stamped matte black dial / bidirectional rotating internal diving flange / faceted hour and minute hands with rhodium-plated beveled indexes filled with luminescent material / orange lacquered central seconds hand with luminescent indicator / double day/date window at 3 o’clock
– Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, day, and date
– Swiss automatic movement (Sellita, caliber SW220-1): 26 jewels / 28,800 vibrations per hour / HERBELIN engraved oscillating weight with a soft finish / 41-hour power reserve
– Vibrant orange strap in high-performance FKM elastomer with pin buckle
– Selling price: 1,200 euros (stainless steel case) / 1,300 euros (black DLC steel case)
– Availability: immediate
Herbelin unveils in summer 2024 a new reference in its famous Cap Camarat collection. Heir to Michel Herbelin’s creations from the 70s, this line takes its name and draws its inspiration from the eponymous cape located south of the Saint-Tropez peninsula.
The first Cap Camarat model appeared in 2018 when the French brand, which at the time was not yet called Michel Herbelin, launched a new sporty-chic steel watch inspired by the seventies and adorned with a blue dial.
Herbelin Cap Camarat Diver Automatic: The 12 Key Things to Know
- A contemporary diving watch inspired by the past.
- A sporty-chic model with pleasant versatility.
- Available in 2 variations: steel case OR steel case with black DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) coating.
- Internal bidirectional diving bezel adjustable via a screw-down crown at 2:30.
- Black dial with a horizontal pattern offering optimal contrast.
- Faceted applied indexes.
- Luminescent indexes, hands (hours, minutes, and seconds), and a rotating bezel pearl.
- Diving watch waterproof to a depth of 200 meters.
- Robust and reliable Swiss movement.
- Summer bracelet in orange FKM rubber.
- Watch made in France.
- A remarkable quality/price ratio with a price that stands at 1,200 euros.
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Presentation of the Cap Camarat Diver d’Herbelin
This new Cap Camarat Diver from Herbelin is the first underwater diving watch from this collection which appeared in 2018.
A Steel or Black DLC Steel Case: The Choice Between Two Models
Made of stainless steel, the 42-millimeter diameter case alternates finishes in a flattering manner: vertical brushed versus polished facets.
The French brand also offers us an additional version equipped with a case steel of the same diameter but coated with a matte black DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) treatment, optimizing hardness and scratch resistance.
As per the Cap Camarat collection, this Automatic Diver is aesthetically characterized by the hexagonal shape of the case and the presence of a fixed bezel decorated with six screws.
As a diving watch must, this attractive automatic watch accommodates a winding crown and a screwed back, ensuring water resistance to a depth of 200 meters.
A Sporty-Chic Aesthetic at the Service of Optimal Functionality
Remaining in the registers of robustness and efficiency, Herbelin equips its new creation with a double crown protector that shields both the winding crown and the additional crown positioned at 2:30.
This additional crown allows you to operate the bidirectional rotating bezel of this new Cap Camarat Diver Automatic.
Indeed, while most brands equip their diving watches with a unidirectional external rotating bezel – let us quote Rolex and its Submariner, Omega and its Seamaster Diver 300 or Blancpain and its Fifty Fathoms –, few watchmaking houses opt for an internal bezel.
This option chosen by Herbelin maintains the sporty-chic design of the Cap Camarat while offering the functionality of a real diving watch, transforming it into an instrument watch.
The new bidirectional bezel, which takes the form of a flange, is dressed in a bright orange hue for the first 15 minutes of its graduations.
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A Beautiful Dial in Relief
This vibrant orange tone offers a striking contrast with the matte black of the dial, which features a horizontal stamped motif with integrated day and date windows at 3 o’clock.
Herbelin has chosen to punctuate the dial of its new Cap Camarat Diver with faceted applied indexes generously filled with luminescent material.
This is also found on the side of the baton-type hour and minute hands, complemented by a central seconds hand with an orange lacquered “lollipop” type, its disc also being treated with Super-LumiNova. This will serve as a visual indicator for the watch’s operation during diving sessions—a requirement of the ISO 6425 standard defining diving watches.
The result of Herbelin’s design choices yields a dial with remarkable functionality in terms of readability and sporty-chic elegance, contributing to its great versatility.
A Summery Bracelet and a Robust Swiss Movement
To dress its new timepiece, the brand, based in Charquemont, in Haut-Doubs, on the Franco-Swiss border, has chosen a bracelet made from high-performance FKM elastomer with a pin buckle. Orange in color, it coherently reflects the internal highlights of the model.
With optimum durability compared to classic rubber, this strap has been specifically designed to adapt perfectly to the contours of the Cap Camarat Diver, while respecting the shape of the metal strap seen in previous versions.
Finally, part of the Herbelin ethos is its commitment to the ‘Made in France’ label. The Cap Camarat Diver is powered by a Swiss movement—the Sellita SW220-1. Long-established, robust, and easily repairable by any competent watchmaker once the warranty period has expired, it offers a classic 41-hour power reserve and houses an Herbelin-engraved oscillating weight with a refined finish.
You can enjoy watching it operate, as the Cap Camarat Diver Automatic is closed with a transparent glass back.
Price of the Cap Camarat Diver Automatic
Herbelin offers this Cap Camarat Diver on a steel case at the price of 1,200 euros. The black DLC steel version has a price of 1,300 euros.
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My Opinion on This Herbelin Cap Camarat Diver Automatic
This Cap Camarat Diver is undoubtedly a beautiful success, classifying it among the luxury watches for men, even though it is indeed a affordable watch.
In my eyes, it combines the following advantages:
- Contemporary and timeless design inspired by the 70s.
- Sporty chic elegance.
- Formidable functionality (waterproofing, readability, etc.).
- Optimized dimensions.
- Internal rotating bezel.
- Robust and reliable Swiss movement.
- Remarkable value for money.
Lastly, it’s worth mentioning that every stage of the production of this Diver, from design to assembly, including adjustment and control, was completed in the Herbelin workshops located in the Jura massif in Franche-Comté.
The result is outstanding, and it truly deserves a visit to the store to try it on your wrist, giving you the opportunity to choose between the steel version and the black DLC steel version! An excellent chance for those in Paris this summer to stop by the Herbelin boutique at 58 rue Bonaparte, located in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
Technical Characteristics
Herbelin Cap Camarat Diver Automatic
| Reference | Case Material | Dimensions | Water Resistance | Movement | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1745A14CMD (steel) / 1745N14CMD (DLC) | 316L stainless steel / DLC-treated stainless steel | 42.00mm x 12.30mm | Up to 200 meters | Swiss Sellita SW220-1 | €1,200 (steel) / €1,300 (DLC) |
– Finish details include brushed and polished surfaces.
– Sapphire glass with a transparent caseback for movement visibility.
– Features a matte black horizontally stamped dial with luminescent indexes and hands.
– Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, day, and date.
