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Michel Herbelin 18247AP12GD Inspiration Tan Leather Strap Watch - W03124
Ref. 18247AP12GD
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Stepping up in Michel Herbelin's range
The Inspiration line reaches back to case profiles Michel Herbelin drew in the 1950s, and the revival is faithful enough to read as archival rather than retro-inspired — the polished bezel is thin and uninterrupted, the dial clean, the sub-seconds positioned above six in the manner of dress watches from that decade. At 8.6mm the case disappears beneath a shirt cuff, which is the right test for a watch of this character. Forty millimetres is generous for a dress piece, but the slim profile keeps it from reading as a sports watch on the wrist. The tan leather pulls the whole thing slightly warm against the silver dial — a considered pairing that stops it looking purely formal. Assembly and quality checks are handled at the Herbelin workshops in Charquemont, which is worth knowing: this is a French watch finished in France, not merely designed there.
- Reference
- 18247AP12GD
- Brand
- Michel Herbelin
- Collection
- Inspiration
- Case size
- 40mm
- Case thickness
- 8.6mm
- Lug width
- 21mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Silver
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Quartz
- Calibre
- Ronda 6004
- Functions
- Small seconds
- Water resistance
- 30m
- Bracelet / strap
- Leather strap
- Strap colour
- Tan
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- F.Hinds
Additional specifications
- Origin
- Swiss made
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 5 collections
This watch appears in Back in Stock (4,405), Stainless Steel Watches (2,927), Leather Strap Watches (942), Silver Dial Watches (653) and Dress Watches (486).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
A slim watch on leather, made for wearing with a shirt.
Strengths
- 40mm suits most wrists
- 8.6mm is unusually slim for a 40mm case
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Sits in the lower half of Michel Herbelin's range as we list it
Worth knowing
- 30m means keeping it away from water
Michel Herbelin 18247AP12GD Inspiration Tan Leather alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 18247AP12GD | 1514355 | T1434101604100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £243 | £249 | £245 |
| Case size | 40mm | 40mm | 40mm |
| Water resistance | 30m | 30m | 50m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Leather strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Leather strap |
| This watch | Closely matched |
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
No. At 30m it will survive rain and handwashing, but not submersion of any kind.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
Yes. It is quartz, so expect a battery change every two to three years at a jeweller.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedWhat size strap does it take?
21mm. 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 40mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.
Cheapest place to buy
F.Hinds is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
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