Hermès launches new watch to mark 75 Years of watchmaking

Hermès, the well-known Parisian fashion accessories house, is marking two important anniversaries in its watchmaking business with the launch of a new handcrafted, precision, self-winding mechanical watch collection called “Dressage.”

The line debuted in the United States on Sept. 16 at Hermès’ New York City showroom in a special presentation by Guillaume de Seynes, managing director of La Montre Hermès. He noted that this year marks the 75th year since the first watch made under the Hermès brand was sold in Paris. In addition, it’s been 25 years since the establishment of La Montre Hermès, inaugurated in 1978 with the opening of its own workshops in Biel, Switzerland, in the heart of the Swiss watchmaking industry.

To mark these this dates, said de Seynes, as well as the beginning of the company’s third generation of watchmaking, La Montre Hermès has created not only a new line of men’s gold watches called “Dressage,” but also a limited edition in platinum. These special anniversary editions are engraved on the back with the words “75e anniversaire de la montre Hermès 1928-2003.” The platinum version is limited to 75 pieces, and the gold versions are limited to 1,000 movements distributed amongst the three gold versions. The price range is $13,000 to $25,400.

The watch’s name, “Dressage” is a nod to another part of the history of Hermès, which began as a Parisian saddler. Its double-barreled self-winding mechanical movement is produced for Hermès by Swiss firm Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier, which has personalized it with the series number P 1928—the birth year of Hermès watches. It has a power reserve of 55 hours, compared to 36 to 48 hours for most single-barreled mechanical watches, and several movement components are enhanced with a decorative Hermès pattern.

Other features include a semi-instant date display, a screw-lock crown stamped with the letter “H,” a glare-proof and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, and Arabic numerals recessed into mother-of-pearl pockets rimmed with gold. The dial—either silvered or mother-of-pearl—carries the “Hermès Paris” signature. The watch is water-resistant to 50 meters and is available in yellow, rose, or white 18k gold, with genuine leather straps, as well as in the platinum limited edition. It comes in a presentation box of India rosewood that also can be used as a cigar box thanks to its cedar interior, humidifier, and hygrometer.

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