The new Slim d’Hermès is an expression of luxurious minimalism. Unlike timepieces designed to measure your steps while tracking your pace, the French house has created a line of watches for both men and women ” its first series in over 20 years ” that marks the passing of time in the most spare and elegant way. Enclosed in a slender rose gold case, the luminescent dial of the watch shown here features numerals custom-created by Philippe Apeloig, a well-regarded French graphic designer. (Apeloig is also behind the signage for Jean Nouvel’s upcoming Louvre Abu Dhabi.) A sapphire crystal case back reveals the ultrathin automatic movement, manufactured at the prestigious Swiss watchmaker Vaucher, now owned in part by Hermès. As befits a company that started out making leather harnesses for European noblemen in 1837, the hand-stitched Havana alligator strap receives the same attention to detail as does a Kelly bag. Valuing creativity and craftsmanship above all, Hermès shows how perfect simple can be.
Slim d’Hermès watch, $18,500, hermes.com.
