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Michel Herbelin 12246B18 Cap Camarat Red Dial Bracelet Watch - W0397
Ref. 12246B18
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The Cap Camarat line traces its ancestry to a 1970s Herbelin design, and this square version is its most direct echo of that era — a softened square case with rounded corners that reads as neo-vintage without reaching for obvious retro gestures. The name comes from the cape at the southern tip of the Saint-Tropez peninsula, and the collection carries that coastal, Riviera character: sport-chic rather than purely nautical, unhurried rather than aggressive. At 39 x 39mm and just 7.8mm deep, the case sits remarkably flat for a watch rated to 100 metres, and the integrated bracelet tapers ergonomically so the whole thing hugs the wrist as a single piece rather than sitting on top of it. The horizontally brushed red dial gives the watch real presence without becoming loud — the brushing catches and diffuses light in a way a solid-painted surface would not, and the stamped "marinière" striping across it quietly references a sailboat's deck. Decorative screws align the bezel to the indices, which is the kind of considered detailing that holds up on second and third look. Each watch is hand-assembled and passes 65 quality control points in Herbelin's Charquemont workshops in Franche-Comté — a standard the house has maintained since 1947 and one that is felt in the consistency of the finishing rather than announced on a caseback.
- Reference
- 12246B18
- Brand
- Michel Herbelin
- Case size
- 39mm
- Lug width
- 25mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Square
- Dial
- Red
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Quartz
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Deployant clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- F.Hinds
Learn more about Michel Herbelin
Michel Herbelin founded his workshop in 1947 at Charquemont, a village in the French Jura a few miles from the Swiss border, in a region that had made watch parts for generations. The company is still run by his descendants and still assembles in Charquemont, which makes it one of the few French watch brands of any age to have stayed independent.
The Newport, introduced in the late 1980s and named after the Rhode Island sailing town, is what most people know it for: a nautical-styled watch with a distinctive articulated bracelet. It has been in the range ever since and accounts for a large share of what the company sells.
- 1947
- Michel Herbelin founds the workshop at Charquemont
- 1988
- The Newport is introduced and becomes the signature line
Also in 2 collections
This watch appears in Stainless Steel Watches (3,308) and Rectangular & Square Watches (475).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- 39mm suits most wrists
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Michel Herbelin 12246B18 Cap Camarat Red alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 12246B18 | SUR553P1 | T137.410.11.051.00 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £293 | £290 | £299 |
| Case size | 39mm | 38.9mm | 40mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet |
| This watch | Closely matched | Closely matched |
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Will the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Does it need a battery?
Yes. It is quartz, so expect a battery change every two to three years at a jeweller.
What size strap does it take?
25mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's, though at 39mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.
Cheapest place to buy
F.Hinds is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference new, at £293. There is nothing to compare it against today.
Who are F.Hinds?
F.Hinds has been run by the same family since 1856 and is now in its fifth generation, with more than 115 shops across England and Wales. They are a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council and an Authorised Diamond Dealer.
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