In 2012, Hermès launched the watch named “In The Pocket” which honored the iconic model from 1912. This year, In The Pocket returns in a rose gold watch clad in an alligator exterior.
But let’s go back in history. It all began in 1912, when Jacqueline Hermès received a gift from her father in the shape of an ingenious “porte-oignon” or pocket-watch holder designed to be secured to the wrist. At the time, Jacqueline was still a child and this pocket-watch holder was designed to help the young horsewoman to ride without having to attach her watch to her clothing or slip it into her pocket. This leather strap was designed like those worn by stable lads. It surrounds the pocket watch and thus adopts its shape to preserve the utmost protection.
This year’s pocket-watch that may be easily transformed into a wristwatch embodies both the historical leather hand craftsmanship of the French luxury brand and its watchmaking development to the point of becoming a full-fledged manufacturer.
The second „In The Pocket“ watch is housed in the 18-karat rose gold case which measures 40mm in diameter, but it increases to 49mm when worn on the wrist.
This novelty features the uncluttered silver dial which offers the clearest and the most self-evident expression of time. The baton-type hands sweep over pared-down numerals, whilst the small seconds counter is situated on the traditional place – at the 3 o’clock position.
The beating heart of the new Hermes pocket watch is the in-house manufactured H1837 automatic movement which can provide at least 50 hours of power reserve. The self-winding mechanism features a circular grained and snailed main-plate, while its oscillating weight is adorned with the brand’s signature “sprinkling of Hs” motif.
The strap of the new In The Pocket Watch is composed of two longer and shorter sections: the plain strap end and the buckle strap end which are both hand crafted in the leather-making workshops of La Montre Hermès, Switzerland. They are composed of three layers of leather: alligator; an inner cow leather for sturdiness; and a Zermatt calfskin lining.
The very first process is the cutting which includes layer cutting. The hides are soaked and then pressed into a mould where they are left to dry for 10 days before being cut with a pointed tool, layercut, sanded down and glued. Each of the parts is then partly sewn; the buckle strap end is perforated to free up the spaces that will reveal the watch’s dial and through which the plain strap end along with the crown will pass. Afterwards, the work continues on the table, with the buckle end and the plain strap end being fitted together, marked with a compass, indented and sewn using the technique of saddle-stitching.
The latest timekeeping companion from Hermès is issued in the limited series of 178 pieces.
