Herbelin Cap Camarat Square Automatic Owner Review : Discreet, authentic and chic

A big fan of watches with integrated bracelets, I share with you my impressions of the Herbelin Cap Camarat Square in automatic version… A watch that smells good of sea trips in Brittany, aboard a Cap Camarat 750, for a ride in the sun or a wakeboarding expedition for teenagers. A watch with a sporty temperament, with its 39x39 mm square case directly inspired by shaped watches, one of the brand's specialties since its creation in 1947. The oldest among us still remember the references 676 or 2276, with their terribly 70s "TV Dial" cases. ▶️ I am very attached to the figurative dimension of a watch, but I must admit that it is also important to understand a watch literally. So, this Cap Camarat is indeed "Square", as its name suggests, and is a variation of the "initial" Cap Camarat with a more circular shape. It is an imposing watch, both literally and figuratively! Fans of Pythagoras will remember that the diagonal of a square - equivalent to the radius of a circle for a watch - is greater than its sides! The Cap Camarat is an imposing watch and will appeal to lovers of beautiful presences on the wrist. It may be less appealing to smaller sizes... or vice versa, because everyone sees noon at their door. ▶️ The overall aesthetic of the watch is very balanced and gives it a discretion that is the opposite of an ostentatious Sport-Chic. It is a bit like the meeting between the deep-water port of Piriac-sur-Mer and that of Saint-Tropez... Two very different worlds where everyone can find their happiness. The straight lines of the case, the vertical brushing and the grooves of the dial know how to remain sober while capturing the light. Its black dial and its 316L steel tend towards full black under certain strong lights. Here is a watch that knows how to be dazzling in the sun while remaining sober, discreet and humble, like the siblings at the head of this brand from Charquemont, in the French Jura. Note the variation of the dials on the automatic or quartz references: green, blue, and a sublime burgundy "wine lees" style that we would have liked to see on the automatic version... ▶️ This Cap Camarat Square is supplied with a choice of a very successful steel bracelet, which is unlike any other... except that of a Herbelin! This is another factor of authenticity, illustrating the commitment of the teams to offering unique, relevant, even impeccable products... like Michel Herbelin's first watch, simply called "Impec". Personally, I only wore the rubber strap (FKM) with pleasure, for its flexibility and its aesthetics reminiscent of the steel bracelet. Easier said than done, so many other brands are content to deliver a standard Tropical strap without any customization, for perfectly correct accuracy. ▶️ On the engine side, you don't need a 150 HP Yamaha to go wakeboarding ;-) The Swiss Made Sellita SW200-1 caliber does the job asked of it, no more and no less. Reliability is undoubtedly there, with a level of precision more than sufficient for the price positioning of the model. The brand does not specify what finish is done on this caliber, but we can imagine - given the very attractive price - that this is the entry-level version of Sellita in terms of decoration. The announced power reserve is 41 hours. Be careful, however: alternatives, also well positioned in terms of price, offer movements with more modern architecture with power reserves exceeding 60 hours. So what, you might ask? Very good question, my captain… which I will answer when I return to port. ▶️ Buying a Herbelin means buying a historic French brand, surely the largest French watchmaker, a family business rooted in the Jura arc, from Morteau to Charquemont via the Maîche plateau. Buying a Herbelin Cap Camarat Square — despite the experts’ comparisons — means acquiring a watch that is “impeccable” in terms of finishing, with a beautiful presence while remaining discreet despite its proportions. The Herbelin brand is the quiet strength of a family business attached to its roots. The Cap Camarat Square Automatic is a fine illustration of this, among other emblematic models of the brand, such as the Herbelin Newport. ▶️ The Cap Camarat Square Automatic is available for €899 (December 2024) on a rubber or steel strap. A very well-placed offer on the market, with an impeccable quality-price ratio ;-) Perfection does not exist, it would be useful to offer the watch on a steel bracelet while offering the FKM bracelet, or at least offer it as an option on the brand's website. And let's be crazy, why not a 36 mm version? My "Mood Board" with this Cap Camarat Square Automatic: Film: Plein Soleil (1960) by René Clément, with Alain Delon and Maurice Ronet Car: Peugeot 204 Cabriolet Location: Deep-water port of Piriac-sur-Mer (France) All the technical specifications below or on the brand's website. XS