Hermès Cape Cod Grand Hours & Complications

A few weeks back, we had the pleasure of attending a watch showcase by Hermès at their Kuala Lumpur Pavilion Boutique. I found the watches to be very interesting (especially considering how Hermès is so well known with their leather products) so I managed to take some shots and do some research on them to share with you.

One of the stars of the evening was the Cape Cod Grand Hours limited edition. The Cape Cod Grand Hours comes in two limited editions of 171 in rose gold and 171 in white gold; the number corresponds to the number of years since the founding of Hermès in 1837.

The Grand Hours module is based on a system that serve to speed up or slow down the movement of the hour hand, while the minutes and seconds move at the regular pace. Inside is a Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier movement calibre H1928.















There were also some other pieces that caught my eye...

The Arceau Chronograph... (case design based on the stirrup)







The Cape Cod Phases De Lune

Made with a Vaucher Fleurier 12" H1929 manufacture movement inside... powered with twin barrels for 55 hours power reserve.









And also the Cape Cod 8 Jours Heures Sautantes

Made with a handwound Vaucher H8928 manufacture movement inside providing jumping hours, power reserve indicator and 8 days power reserve.











Upon further discussions with Eric Grellety Bosviel, Hermès Asiapac Managing Director and Chan Maelynn, Brand Manager, we learnt that the tradition of watches in Hermes has existed since the earlier parts of the 1900s (even with some collaborations with JLC, Universal and VC in the 1930s).

During the 1920s Émile-Maurice Hermès added the Hermès name to wristwatches. Below is a picture taken in 1912 where Jacqueline Hermès, the daughter of Emile Hermès, is pictured wearing a pocket-watch with a Hermès strap.



In 1928, Hermès began selling watches at 24, Faubourg Saint-Honoré with the Ermeto, a pocket-watch that is automatically wound by a system of shutters that slide open and shut each time one reads the time. Made in conjunction with the Swiss watch Manufacture Movado.



A shot of a famous creation, the Hermès belt watch...



Through those discussions, we learned a lot more about Hermès watch evolution over the years and their upcoming plans. I think we can expect some interesting developments soon.

My thanks to Eric and Maelynn for kindly hosting us and providing us with the information. Thanks for looking!