Hermes Watches

Hermès: Fashion House? Sure. Serious Watchmaker? Absolutely.

If you think Hermès is just about silk scarves and Birkin bags, you’re only seeing part of the picture.

Yes, they’re a maison. Yes, they sell lifestyle. But behind the leather and the luxury is a watchmaking operation that would put a lot of so-called “real” Swiss brands to shame.

We’re talking in-house movements, manufacture-level finishing, collaborations with Jean-Marc Wiederrecht, and some of the most design-forward mechanical watches being built today.

If you’ve dismissed Hermès watches as fashion-adjacent, it’s time to take a closer look — because the details are real.

Brand History: From Saddles to Swiss Movements

Founded in 1837 as a harness and bridle workshop, Hermès built its name on craftsmanship. And while the world knows them today for handbags, ready-to-wear, and ultra-luxe accessories, Hermès has been making watches since the 1920s.

But the real shift came in the 2000s, when Hermès decided to stop treating watches like accessories — and start building them like heirlooms. That meant:

  • Opening a Swiss manufacture (Vaucher, partly owned by Hermès)

  • Developing in-house calibers

  • Partnering with high-level watchmakers and dial artisans

  • Treating watch design as seriously as fashion design

The result? A watch division that’s now producing haute horlogerie timepieces with movement chops, dial artistry, and real collector value.

Collector Highlights: Serious Design, Subtle Firepower

  • Slim d’Hermès – Their flagship. Designed by Philippe Apeloig, featuring custom typography, razor-sharp casework, and the H1950 micro-rotor movement made by Vaucher. Easily one of the best contemporary dress watches under $10K.

  • Arceau Collection – Originally designed by Henri d’Origny in 1978, with asymmetrical lugs inspired by stirrups. Playful, elegant, and versatile. Available in time-only, moonphase, and tourbillon formats.

  • Carré H – Designed by Marc Berthier. A square-cased, modernist piece with minimalist cool and architectural presence.

  • Cape Cod – The original “fashion watch” that grew up. Designed in the ‘90s, known for its Double Tour strap, now available with mechanical movements and killer guilloché dials.

  • L’Heure Impatiente – A complication no one else makes: a mechanical countdown timer that chimes an audible alert when a preset moment arrives. Built in collaboration with Agenhor. Pure watchmaking joy.

And don’t overlook the limited Métiers d’Art pieces — enamel, aventurine, cloisonné, or silk marquetry dials that make Cartier and Vacheron’s artisans take notice.

Why Collectors Should Care

  • In-house movements — via Vaucher (same supplier used by Parmigiani and Richard Mille)

  • Unparalleled design integrity — no lazy layout, no borrowed cues

  • Legit complications — moonphases, countdowns, minute repeaters

  • Exceptional finishing — dials, straps, and cases all hold up under loupe

  • True low-key luxury — these watches impress the right people

If you’re the kind of collector who values design as much as movement pedigree — Hermès might surprise you. And if you already know? You’re ahead of the curve.

What They’re Making Now: Subtle, Sophisticated, and Still Underrated

Hermès continues to build out its watch catalog with focus and taste. Current highlights include:

  • Slim d’Hermès GMT – Ultra-thin, ultra-cool dual time zone piece with playfully off-centered subdials

  • Arceau Le Temps Voyageur – A mechanical time-travel complication that lets you track a city across the globe with a rotating satellite dial. One of the most innovative GMTs of the last decade.

  • Carré H Automatique – Brushed steel case, custom typography, and punchy minimalist vibes

  • Métiers d’Art Arceau and Slim – Featuring enamel painting, stone dials, silk, and marquetry — collectible art on the wrist

And the straps? Still made in Hermès' leather workshops. They’re not just good — they’re the best in the business.

Fed’s Take

Hermès is the stealth wealth power play of modern watchmaking.

You don’t buy a Slim d’Hermès to flex. You buy it because you know how rare it is to see real design and real horology intersect.

I’ve handled Slim GMTs that felt like $25K watches. I’ve sold Arceaux to seasoned collectors who swore they’d never buy a “fashion” watch. And I’ve seen dial work on Hermès métiers pieces that would make a Patek artisan take notes.

Bottom line: Hermès watches are real watches — and the rest of the market is just starting to catch on.

Quiet Luxury. Real Horology. Designed to Last.

If you’re ready to wear something with integrity — in movement, material, and design — Hermès delivers, full stop.

Delray Watch occasionally sees pre-owned Hermès watches — especially Slim d’Hermès, Arceau complications, and Carré H models.

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