Is there anything lost in knowing the behind-the-scene of a movie? As a kid, whenever I’m at the theatre, I believed a man can shoot fire from his eyes or that large arks can sail through the darkness of space. In the duration in the church of shadow and light, I’m its most ardent disciple; a witness to miracles on the big screen.

Then, I happened upon a “making-of” featurette of a wuxia film and I realised the fantastical leaps and superhuman acrobatics were achievable through camera tricks and wireworks. At that moment, only three outcomes can arise from this. One, flat out denial that the visual effects were fake; two, a disillusionment that everything is a lie; three, a renewed sense of wonderment.

I’m squarely in that third camp. My curiosity did not diminish the miracle. I am still wowed by a magic trick even after knowing how it’s done.

That’s the same feeling with Hermès watches. What they do is magic. The way, they evoke whimsy with their timepieces through serious watchmaking, that’s almost a trick on its own. Hermès decided to lift the veil on their novelties for 2026. Referred to as their “mysterious mechanics“, the timepieces’ skeletonised movements are laid bare.

We wax lyrical about the white gold Slim d’Hermès Pocket Roaaaaar! (See? Whimsy.) A pocket watch that uses wood marquetry—where the artisan cuts and assembles tiny pieces of 10 wood species to form the face of a roaring lion—on an openworked cover. Limited to six pieces, three in blue and the rest in green.

Designer and artist Jean-Simon Roch oversaw the design of these next three watches: the Arceau Samarcande, H08 Squelette, and Slim d’Hermès Squelette Lune. The Arceau Samarcande watch has a sapphire‑crystal dial has an openworked silhouette of a horse’s head that exposes the Hermès H1978 S skeletonised titanium calibre; an interplay of gears.

The Slim d’Hermès Squelette Lune and the H08 Squelette can be considered two sides of a coin. While both sport skeletonised movements, the Suelette Lune follows a classical style and the H08 Squelette exudes a sporty and industrial feel.

Housing an ultra-thin H1953 movement in a 38mm white or rose gold case, the watch has a micro-rotor and double moon phase display at 6 o’clock. With a 48-power reserve, the watch has Rhodium-plated baton-type hands and the case comes in either a satin-brushed DLC-treated titanium or a polished 950 platinum.

Hermès H08 Squelette.

The H08 Squelette line now has a skeletonised execution. It’s a black DLC-coated titanium case that has a tone-on-tone radially brushed black ceramic bezel. With a H1978S movement, the H08 Squelette also has 60-hour power reserve. Comes in two colourways: Bleu Zanzibar and Bleu abysse; the Arabic numbers are either in blue or grey, with Super-LumiNova coating.

This article was first seen on Esquire Singapore.

For more on the latest in luxury watch reads, click here.