The Lip Himalaya Automatic combines French watchmaking history with a design that exposes part of its mechanical movement. Its connection to mountaineering gives the collection an adventurous background, but the modern watch itself is refined enough for offices, dinners, and everyday city wear.
This review focuses on the Himalaya Automatique Sablier 40 mm, reference 671572. The model features an hourglass-shaped dial opening, sapphire crystal, an automatic Miyota movement, and a camel-colored leather strap.
From the Himalayas to Besançon
Lip connects the Himalaya collection with French mountaineering history. According to the brand, Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal wore Lip Himalaya watches when they reached the summit of Annapurna in 1950, becoming the first climbers to conquer a mountain higher than 8,000 meters.
The current watch is assembled in Besançon, France, a city strongly associated with French watchmaking. Its movement is Japanese, creating an international combination of French design, Japanese mechanics, and European assembly.
Heritage summary: The Himalaya Sablier is not a reproduction of a single expedition watch. It is a modern automatic model that uses Lip’s mountaineering history as the foundation for a more expressive design.
The Hourglass Dial
“Sablier” is the French word for hourglass. The name refers to the large hourglass-shaped opening running through the center of the gray dial.
This opening reveals portions of the mechanical movement beneath the surface. The wearer can observe components moving while still reading the time from the surrounding markers.
Silver-tone indexes and hands maintain a neutral appearance, while a red-tipped seconds hand introduces a small visual accent. Partially luminous hands provide some assistance in darker conditions.
Is It a Skeleton Watch?
The Sablier sits between an open-heart watch and a fully skeletonized model. A traditional open-heart design exposes one small section of the balance mechanism, while a complete skeleton watch removes much more of the dial and movement material.
Lip’s hourglass cutout provides a larger view without making the entire display transparent. This helps preserve legibility while giving the watch a mechanical personality.
Specification Checklist
| Feature | Himalaya 671572 |
|---|---|
| Case diameter | 40 mm |
| Case material | 316L stainless steel |
| Movement | Miyota 8N24 automatic |
| Jewel count | 21 |
| Power reserve | Approximately 42 hours |
| Stated accuracy | -20 to +40 seconds per day |
| Crystal | Domed sapphire |
| Water resistance | 5 ATM |
| Lug width | 20 mm |
| Weight | 66 grams |
| Strap | Camel-colored cowhide |
| Case back | Transparent and screw-secured |
Lip equips the watch with a stop-seconds function, allowing the seconds mechanism to pause during time setting. The Miyota 8N24 movement can store approximately 42 hours of energy when fully wound.
How It Feels on the Wrist
The 40 mm case provides a modern but manageable presence. Its 66-gram weight keeps the watch relatively light because it uses a leather strap rather than a full stainless-steel bracelet.
The camel strap includes contrasting white stitching, giving the watch a more relaxed personality than a glossy black dress strap. Its standard 20 mm width also makes replacement options easy to find.
Three Alternative Looks
- Dark brown leather: Creates a more traditional dress-watch appearance.
- Gray suede: Complements the dial and adds texture.
- Olive canvas: Strengthens the mountaineering theme.
A rubber strap would provide better resistance to moisture, although it may conflict with the watch’s vintage character.
Daily Practicality
The sapphire crystal is a major advantage because it offers stronger resistance to everyday scratches than mineral or acrylic glass. Its domed profile also introduces curved reflections that suit the vintage-inspired case.
The 5 ATM rating provides protection against ordinary water exposure, but the leather strap should not be treated as swimming equipment. Owners should remove the watch before prolonged immersion and dry it promptly after accidental contact with water.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Distinctive hourglass dial opening | Open design may feel busy |
| French design and assembly | Movement accuracy range is broad |
| Automatic mechanical movement | Approximately 42-hour reserve |
| Domed sapphire crystal | Leather is unsuitable for regular water use |
| Lightweight 40 mm case | Limited brand recognition in the U.S. |
| Transparent case back | No date complication |
| Interesting mountaineering heritage | Availability may vary by region |
Final Verdict
The Lip Himalaya Automatic Sablier is designed for buyers who want something less predictable than a conventional Swiss-style dress watch. Its hourglass opening, gray dial, warm leather strap, and French identity give it a character that is difficult to confuse with another model.
Its movement is functional rather than highly precise, and the open dial will not satisfy minimalists. For collectors attracted to visible mechanics and lesser-known European brands, however, the Himalaya offers a memorable combination of heritage and modern design.
