Curiouser And Curiouser

Whether in shape, function or just the way it expresses something, an Hermès timepiece is never just a watch.

There is a word in French, abouti, that describes the kind of perfection that’s only achieved through stubborn persistence. With no direct English equivalent, it is a constant point of reference for the artistic directors at all Hermès ateliers, including the creation studio for its timepieces. Likewise, there is no easy way to define an Hermès object. It’s beautiful for sure, but there is so much more.

“An Hermès object is something created by human hands,” says Philippe Delhotal, director of creation and style for La Montre Hermès. “It is also an object that went through a very thorough creative process in order to eventually end up being the exact shape conceived at the beginning. It is a fundamental object that tells stories. And it was never created by chance or accident.” That last point is particularly edifying. Nothing in an Hermès timepiece is there without a purpose. The watch can be simple or complicated, but it always has a purpose. Note, however, that the definition of purpose at Hermès extends far beyond pure utility. To evoke an emotion is a purpose. To extol the beauty of an art is a purpose. To reinvent something is a purpose.

Delhotal enthuses: “Everything we do has a purpose in the way it’s designed. You see it in the bags, the clothes and the watches. There is this savoir faire in them that comes from our craftspeople. This goes back to that famous quote by Émile Hermès which says true luxury is something that can be repaired.”

CREATIVE BY DESIGN