Herbelin Newport Ceramics Automatic black dial rubber strap 43 mm

Minimalism for the 35th anniversary of the Newport collection

2023 is the year of Newport. And for good reason! This collection, which has become iconic since its launch in 1988, is celebrating its 35th anniversary. To mark the occasion, French watchmaker HERBELIN is unveiling a new limited series: the Newport Céramique 35e anniversaire. High-tech in material, design in allure, chic in color, this two-hand timepiece has never been so minimalist in its expression of Newport's identity codes. Powered by an automatic movement, this urban timepiece comes in two diameters (38 mm, 43 mm), each limited to 500 numbered pieces. The Newport saga continues...

A high-tech material, harder than steel

Born of the alchemy of fire and matter, technical ceramics made a timid entry onto the watchmaking scene in the 1980s, then became popular from 2000 onwards. At once lighter and harder than steel, absolutely scratchproof and endowed with a reflective surface that's very soft to the touch, this high-tech material combines many properties that are particularly remarkable for watchmaking.

HERBELIN is getting in on the act. It's his turn to use this material to reinterpret his emblematic model in a minimalist spirit. Initiated by the launch of the Newport Slim in 2021, this stylistic exercise is now taken to the extreme with the Newport Céramique 35th Anniversary. "It's not just a ceramic watch," explains Mathieu Herbelin, grandson of the founder and Associate Creative Director of the French brand. "Our aim is to introduce new materials over time. After carbon and titanium, ceramic is perfectly suited to anchor Newport even more firmly in the world of urban sport chic. We've played with the material, working with precision and precision, exploiting its properties to the full. Nothing was done by chance. We applied an architectural approach to watchmaking to create a design watch object par excellence."

A focus on purity

Inspired by the futuristic structure of stealth ships, this HERBELIN novelty plunges the Newport DNA - central lugs, crown engraved with a marine wheel, wide bezel - into purity. Carved from ceramic, the case is cut into three meticulously chiseled facets. Its polished finish sculpts the light, enhancing the overall lines. The dial, also in ceramic, is protected by a sapphire crystal. Anti-reflective on both sides, it disappears to highlight both the elegance of the shapes and the purity of the material. Smooth by its unique rendering, it gives the model real depth, shimmering at the slightest movement in an intense play of reflection.

Creating an interesting contrast, a few touches of steel - hour and minute hands, notched conical crown, strap fastening screws - enhance the beauty of the material. Black, its color does not change, neither in the face of adversity (UV) nor over time. Ceramic's intrinsic properties make it ultra-resistant to scratches. Its hardness (1,200 Vickers, six times harder than steel) guarantees longevity in the face of minor everyday knocks.

Comfortable on the wrist thanks to its lightness, the Newport Céramique 35th Anniversary is mounted on a slim matte black bracelet, specifically designed to extend the line of the central attachment all the way to the buckle. Made from high-performance FKM elastomer, it subtly counterbalances the distinguished character of the piece. This choice may come as a surprise. But, combined with ceramic, it lends this limited edition a sporty chic style that's easy to wear every day.

A "Swiss Made" automatic caliber

Inheriting watchmaking expertise handed down from generation to generation for over 75 years, the Newport Céramique 35th Anniversary finishes off the seduction with its Swiss-made (Sellita) automatic movement. Oscillating at 28,800 vibrations per hour and equipped with 25 jewels, it boasts a 56-hour power reserve. Its transparent caseback, ringed with steel engraved with Newport 35 YEARS and the watch's X/500 number, reveals the mechanism's cogs, including the Herbelin-signed oscillating weight.

Made in France for having been designed, conceived, hand-assembled, adjusted and controlled in the HERBELIN workshops located in the Jura mountains of Franche-Comté, this timepiece is issued in a limited series of 500 pieces for each diameter size.