Behind the scenes of a Hermès strap
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Mathilde Binetruy
Freelance journalist
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Skins are scrutinised for the tiniest wrinkle, vein mark or scratch prior to selection.
Calfskin, ostrich, alligator… the finest leathers are to be found in Brügg, near Biel, the home of La Montre Hermès. From storeroom to wrist, they carry on the Hermès tradition of fine leather craftsmanship.
It may look like a workshop; to Hermès it is “the wonderful world of the watch strap”. From the time the leather leaves the protective darkness of the storeroom to the moment the strap is ready to wrap around the wrist, it will have gone through some fifty separate stages. A single strap takes between 90 minutes and eight hours to craft. Hermès has more than 300 styles to choose from. Shades are all original, and with names like Peacock Blue, Geranium, Tomato Red, even Elephant Grey, are another way for Hermès to colour our days with poetry.
