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Humbert-Droz is not the best known of French watch brands and yet it has been collaborating for some time now with well-known and recognized brands such as LIP, Charlie-Paris or March LA.B. After the Mont-Blanc HD8 recently tested on Swiss Made Watch, we had the chance to test the Orange “Pulsometer” HD7 chronograph which, as its name suggests, offers a pulsometer function to measure your heart rate. Swiss Made Watch’s verdict after a month of intensive use!
The history of Humbert-Droz: already 67 years of experience!
So it was in 1956 that Marcel Humbert-Drozthe patriarch of the family, founded in Besançon – the French “Capital” of watchmaking – the company Reparalux, specializing in the repair and maintenance of watches, which is still in business today. Twelve years later, it’s his son, Jeansa graduate of the Besançon watchmaking school, which succeeded him.
In 1995, it was the turn of the grandson Frederic Humbert-Droz to take over by perpetuating watchmaking expertise, always with passion. In 2004, the company continued to develop and moved to new premises at Parc Alpia in Besançon. In 2013, it is Julianthe great-grandson of the patriarch, who runs the Reparalux workshop, after having obtained a CAP in watchmaking as well as the Diplôme des métiers d’Arts.
Review of the Humbert-Droz HD7 “Pulsometer” Orange watch
It exists not one but four models of watches from the Humbert-Droz HD7 range. Everyone will be able to find their account via two functions offered natively:
- HD7 “Pulsometer” Orange: the pulsometer function allows you to read your heart rate thanks to the flange of the watch. It’s the model tested by MrMontre
- HD7 “Pulsometer” Steel: the same model with a variation in the color of the dial + flange
- HD7 “Tachometer” Orange: the tachometer function is used to determine the speed of a moving object
- HD7 “Tachometer” Steel: the same model with a variation in the color of the dial + flange
The HD7 is a chronograph very pleasing to the eyethanks to an (almost) square steel case, a leather strap with orange stitching, a carbon-effect dial with a date window between 4 and 5 o’clock, a notched and screwed crown, a water resistance to 50m and one transparent box bottom which gives pride of place to its Swiss ETA 7753 movement.
Note that the HD7 “Pulsometer” Orange is offered at a price of €1,290 in a limited edition of 150 copies. There are about thirty pieces left at the time of writing these lines.
First look: Chronograph design, carbon-effect dial, 47 mm steel case, polished steel hands, orange chrono hands, notched and screwed crown.
The box
THE housing in 316L steel has a diameter of 47mm with crown and is therefore rather massive, an impression confirmed by its thickness of 15.3 mm. Fortunately, the HD7 remains very light and is quickly forgotten on the wrist. The case back is transparent (and numbered) to give pride of place to the Swiss ETA 7753 movement that powers it.
The dial is protected by a mined glassral (sapphire optional) and the front cover of the case has a square shape with four hexagonal screws of the most beautiful effect which enhances the sporty effect.
The HD7 has a notched and screwed crown which stands out in relief, for a sealing announced from 5 ATM, or 50 meters. So you can keep it on your wrist to wash your hands or go out in the rain.
The dial & reading the time
The union of black and orange on this dial, with a bottom in imitation carbonconfirms the aesthetic success of this HD7. The needles hours and minutes are in polished steel, and the second hand and chronographs are orange.
The flange therefore has a heart rate function very particular to determine the heart rate of its user. How ? On the watch, the pulsometer is a graduated scale, calibrated for 30 pulsations. The user starts the chronograph when he starts counting these 30 pulses and stops it at the last one: the scale then indicates, directly by looking at the chronograph second hand, the heart rate per minute. Convenient !
THE needles of the hours and minutes, in addition tohour indexincorporate a luminescent material for better readability of the time at night.
For the rest, we find on the dial of this watch the mention “Humbert Droz” with, as a hyphen, the discreet logo “hands at 10:10” characteristic of the brand, an oblique date window located between 4 and 5 o’clock , and an “Automatic” mention to recall its self-winding movement. All in addition to a last mention “Assembly in France” above the railway at 6 o’clock to remind that it is a show made in France.
Movement
The Humbert-Droz HD7 “Pulsometer” Orange is powered by a Swiss ETA 7753 chronograph caliber which offers a 42-hour power reserve. The watch can be wound manually or automatically through the force of the wrist.
The use of this caliber allows it to benefit from a chronograph function thanks to two black PVD push buttons located at 2 and 4 o’clock and two associated sub-counters. Simple and efficient.
The bracelet
The bracelet that equips our HD7 “Pulsometer” Orange is comfortable to be thanked, among other things, for his flexibility and lightness. It is a calf leather strap with a carbon effect that recalls the dial and the crown. There are also orange stitching.
THE clasp is also well designed, type folding clasp (steel). Please note, the lug width is 24 mm, not the most standard format.
Finally, note that the Orange HD7 “Pulsometer” is delivered with a tool allowing you to change the bracelet in a few seconds.
Technical recap
- Case: black 316L steel with PVD treatment
- Size: 47 mm with the crown
- Thickness: 15.30mm
- Dial: carbon effect / orange, polished steel hour/minute hands, orange chrono hands/seconds hand
- Movement: Swiss ETA 7753 chronograph, 42 hour power reserve
- Front glass: mineral (sapphire optional for 60 €)
- Case back: steel with openwork back to see the movement
- Bracelet : black carbon-effect calfskin + orange stitching, folding clasp / steel (24 mm lug width)
- Water resistance: 5 ATM / 50 m (screw-down crown)
- 2 years warranty
Swiss Made Watch’s opinion on the Humbert-Droz HD7 “Pulsometer” Orange
The HD7 “Pulsometer” Orange from Humbert-Droz is a timepiece that leaves no one indifferent. Fans of cars or sports watches will particularly appreciate its neat black and orange design with a carbon effect of the most beautiful effect.
After having put it on the wrist for a month, we can only salute the smooth running of the chrono function and its good value for money.
