Hermès is among the world’s most valuable brands, the House’s orange logo and paper boxes are just as famous as the Tiffany blue. Almost every woman gasps at the sight of a Hermès silk scarf, and the company’s bags including the Birkin (named after actress and singer Jane Birkin), or the Kelly bag (originally the Sac à dépêches bag, but renamed after the American actress and Monegasque princess Grace Kelly) are timeless classics.
Hermès timepieces have become the part of Les Ambassadeurs’ portfolio, which the multi-brand store makes a charming wink to ladies with.
Hermès
Hermès is a French manufacturer of quality goods established in 1837 (by Thierry Hermès), today mainly specializing in leather, lifestyle accessories and luxury goods.
The now iconic logo was introduced in the early 1950s. It comprises of a Duc carriage which is attached to a horse, perhaps interpreting the company’s humble origins as a horse saddler manufacturer. The orange colour in the Hermes logo gives the brand its distinctive style and authentic edge. Born in Germany, Thierry Hermès was the son of a French man and a German woman. The family moved to France in 1828. In 1837, Thierry Hermès (1801–1878) first established Hermès as a harness workshop on the Grands Boulevards quarter of Paris, dedicated to serving European nobility.
Thierry’s son, Charles-Émile Hermès (1835–1919) took over the store after the death of his father and the boutique moved to 24 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in 1880.
In the 1910s they served the Russian Tsar, the Prince of Wales and other members of the aristocracy with their outstanding quality saddles and other leather goods.
Hermès timepieces
In the mid-1920s they expanded in America. They cooperated with Swiss watchmaker Universal Genève between 1930 and 1950. They were the brand’s first and exclusive designer of timepieces, producing a line of wrist chronographs (manufactured in 18K gold or stainless steel) and women’s Art Deco cuff watches (in 18K gold, steel or platinum).
These models featured the “Hermès” or “Hermès Universal Genève” sign while the watch mechanisms were branded “Universal Genève S.A.”.
Later, in the 1970s, the watch subsidiary, La Montre Hermès, was established in Bienne, Switzerland. Since then, La Montre Hermès has continued to expand and develop its independent manufacturing resources.
The House strives to create pieces that uphold their value and stand the test of changing fashion. The Arceau, the Dressage, the Kelly or the Cape Cod are well known and popular models and are pieces that even our grandchildren will also be happy to wear.
The Clipper was created in 1981, inspired by sailing and the shape of the sailboat windows. The Cape Cod made its debut in 1991, and this model received a double wrap-around strap in 1998, based on an idea by Martin Margiela (Belgian fashion designer, the Art Director for ladies’ ready-to-wear at Hermès at the time). In 1997 the H-Hour showcased the logo’s H, in the shape of a wristwatch. In 2003 Hermès introduced the Dressage, a prestigious self-winding watch equipped with a Manufacture Vaucher movement.
Last year the ladies’ versions of the Le Temps Suspendu, the Arceau Chrono Bridon and the Dressage chronograph were hugely successful at Baselworld.
Have you read my recent article about the Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos clocks? In the summer of 2013 Hermès, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Les Cristalleries de St. Louis created the 176 piece limited-edition Hermès Atmos clock.
Would you like to complement your tones with those of Hermès’ cheerful timepieces? – walk in the Les Ambassadeurs boutique!
Photo credits: Loupiosity.com.
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