October 20, 2016: The Cape Cod watch, an icon from Hermes, turns a youthful 25 years this year. And to celebrate the occasion, the maison has launched new interpretations of the timepiece.
This creation was born from a singular vision: that of a man who invented it by designing a square inside a rectangle. Henri d’Origny achieved it by drawing inspiration from the ChaiÌ‚ne d’ancre link. Its success was further amplified by Martin Margiela’s novel idea for his first HermeÌ€s runway show in 1998: adding a double-wrap strap that would later be known simply as the “Double Tour”. Sales rocketed and the Cape Cod watch became an icon.
For the new 2016 models, Cape Cod has a new gemsetting technique and a new mother-of-pearl dial. A men’s model is presented in a cuff-style wristband. New interchangeable single and double wrap-around straps, entirely hand-crafted in vivid colours: electric blue, iris, capucine, Veronese green, ultraviolet, tomato red, etc, are available. A new white lacquered dial is teamed with straps distinguished by contrasting burnishing: red for a white calfskin version and white for a red goatskin interpretation.
And this year, Cape Cod also flaunts fine stone dials: onyx, used in equal measure by the Art Deco and Bauhaus art movements; and lapis lazuli, the joyful talisman that accompanies all life’s many fancies and adventures.
