Generally speaking, brands that expands to the watchmaking field haven’t achieved much success so far, like Ralph Lauren, Harry Winston, RAFF. Channel, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Van Cleef & Arpels haven’t got recognition from mainstreamed timepiece market. Even the status of Cartier and MontBlanc in the fine watchmaking is quested. But, the phenomenon won’t get out of the road of further combination of multiculture and timepiece industry. I think a balanced develop road will come sooner or later. Although Hermes timepiece occupies under 5% in all businesses, Hermes set about designing and selling clocks and pocket clocks in the beginning of the last century. Follow me, and learn about Hermes vintage watches.
Hermes Watch 1912
In 1837, cabbages were the mainstreamed vehicles in France. Hermes seized the business opportunity and took up producing saddles and hardness. It’s a good beginning, and Hermes stood firm and laid the foundation there. Meanwhile, France was the birthplace of the reputable French clocks at that time, but Hermes didn’t open the field until 1912. In that year, a photo drew people’s attention. Emile-Maurice Hermès’s daughter Jacqueline Hermè in it was wearing a wristwatch with a leather bracelet. In fact, Emile-Maurice Hermès, the third generation of Hermes Group, made a leather case storing a pocket clock in small size. In that era, the chic “wristwatch” was in fashion. To 1920, Emile branched out into more businesses, travel accessories, car accessories, scarves, gloves and timepiece included.
Hermes Travel Clock by Movado
In 1928, a wristwatch whose dial bore “HERMES” made by Movado was sold at Hermes Store in No.24, Faubourg Saint-Honore, symbolizing the birth of the first Hermes watch. Movado was entrusted to make the model with a mechanical movement by Movado. 2 years later, Movado made a chic travel clock for Hermes, and it became a classic work. Thereafter, Movado supplied in-house movements for Hermes and made some models.
More Models
Hermes started to expanded its timepiece business further from the 1930s. There were three parts: to retail watches for well-known watch brands; to entrust famous watchmakers to design and produce timepieces; to supply watch brands with leathers, watch boxes and accessories. First, Watches by Vacheron Constantin, Cartier and more brands were retailed at Hermes Stores. Second, Hermes established cooperative relationship with Jaeger-LeCoultre, Cyma, Universal, Tavannes, H.Moser&Cie and Movado. Ready-to-wear watches came from these watchmakers. Last, Hermes launched some ladies’ pocket-size models to cater to Art Deco.
Hermes Chronograph Watches
In 1936, Universal Geneva designed and produced Universal Geneva Hermes Chronograph watch for Hermes. In 1940, Cyma produced a model, Cyma Hermes doctor watch featuring chronograph, tachymeter and pulsemeter. Tavannes made a waterproof chronograph watch, 38mm×14mm. Other types were included, like Tavannes Hermes Silver Belt buckle watch and Jaeger-LeCoultre Hermes book-shaped chain clock, Pontifa-Audoine Hermes Anchor desk clock.
Rolex Paul Newman Daytona whose case back is engraved with Hermes Logo
In the 1960s, Rolex Paul Newman Daytona was retailed at Hermes Store. It was never considered that Rolex Paul Newman Daytona would sell well in the future. Rolex Daytona Yellow Gold Ref.6241 with Hermes seal was auctioned for 410,000 CNF at Christie’s Geneva 2013. Another Daytona that was sold on November, 30, 1971 was auctioned for 569,000 CNF at Philips in 2015.
