Hermes Skeleton - 18K White Gold

Though Hermès is best known for its leather craftsmanship and haute couture, the Parisian house has a surprisingly rich and intentional history in watchmaking—one that blends French elegance with Swiss precision.

Hermès’ journey into horology began in 1928, when the company first introduced wristwatches to its Paris boutique clientele. These early timepieces were often the result of collaborations with leading Swiss manufacturers. Notably, Hermès would provide the case and design aesthetic, while established maisons like Movado and Jaeger-LeCoultre supplied the mechanical movements. These pieces were stylish, refined, and unmistakably Hermès—yet Hermès was not yet a watch manufacturer in the strictest sense.

That changed in 1978, when Hermès took a major step forward by founding La Montre Hermès SA in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, the heart of the Swiss watchmaking industry. This marked the beginning of the maison’s serious, in-house approach to horology. From this point on, Hermès watches were no longer just accessories—they were fully realized timepieces, blending the brand’s design language with Swiss craftsmanship and increasingly sophisticated mechanical movements.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Hermès developed a number of distinctive models, such as the Arceau, Clipper, and Cape Cod, often playing with case shapes, asymmetry, and dial textures in a uniquely Parisian way. These designs helped establish Hermès as a true player in the luxury watch space.

By the early 2000s, Hermès began introducing more technically ambitious pieces, including skeletonized dials, complications, and limited editions. They also invested in movement manufacturers like Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier, which today powers some of Hermès' most high-end timepieces. This vertical integration has allowed the brand to control everything from design to execution, placing it firmly among respected Swiss watchmakers.

Today, Hermès watches are coveted not just for their beauty, but for their quality, creativity, and rarity. Whether it's a neo-vintage skeleton piece from the early 2000s or a contemporary Haute Horlogerie complication, Hermès watches reflect a rich legacy of innovation, craftsmanship, and quiet luxury—one rooted in nearly a century of watchmaking evolution.