Apple Watch Hermés bands made in France

[Rogifan]

According to a WSJ interview with Jony Ive and Hermès artistic director Pierre-Alexis Dumas the Hermés bands are made in France and shipped to China for final assembly. Ive says he reached out to Hermés last year before the Watch was announced to discuss a possible partnership and they're open to future partnerships. I must say the watch looks good on his wrist.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-breaks-traditions-with-first-foray-into-luxury-1441944061

 

[ninethirty]

I get why Apple would do this - because Hermes has luxury credibility and Apple doesn't, but man is this ever desperate.

http://www.businessinsider.com/apples-hermes-partnership-2015-9

 

[BSG75]

To me, the Watch is a gadget, not a luxury item. While it's the best looking and best made smartwatch out there by far, it's still a smartwatch.There's still a certain "geekiness" to smartwatches that is going to be hard to overcome. I love my Watch and truly enjoy its features, but no matter which model I see (aluminum, SS or Edition), I still see a gadget and not an heirloom.

 

[douglasf13]

To me, the Watch is a gadget, not a luxury item. While it's the best looking and best made smartwatch out there by far, it's still a smartwatch.There's still a certain "geekiness" to smartwatches that is going to be hard to overcome. I love my Watch and truly enjoy its features, but no matter which model I see (aluminum, SS or Edition), I still see a gadget and not an heirloom.

Apple is well aware of that, which is why they're trying to be the first to break through it, in order for wearables to succeed. Wearables have to be the confluence of fashion and tech, or they'll be dead in the water.

I think it's a wise move, as Apple is the only tech company with any "cool" cachet at all. Partnering with fashion makes a ton of sense.

 

[Rogifan]

I get why Apple would do this - because Hermes has luxury credibility and Apple doesn't, but man is this ever desperate.

http://www.businessinsider.com/apples-hermes-partnership-2015-9

For Hermés?

 

[ninethirty]

I think it's desperate for Apple. Hermes doesn't care if it sells or not. It won't affect their brand either way.

For Hermés?

 

[douglasf13]

I think it's desperate for Apple. Hermes doesn't care if it sells or not. It won't affect their brand either way.

Desperate how? Aligning wearables with the fashion industry is the whole point, and this is likely only the beginning.

 

[Rogifan]

I think it's desperate for Apple. Hermes doesn't care if it sells or not. It won't affect their brand either way.

Why would Hermés want to partner with a "desperate" company?

 

[Donoban]

Why would Hermés want to partner with a "desperate" company?

Don't reply to the trolls.

It's an awesome combination. And Apple have done a nice job capturing the Hermes theme with the watch face. Man, I just wished I'd waited for this edition now. Lolz.

Will we see a Louis Vuitton or Tiffany collaboration in the future too? HOPE HOPE!

 

[BSG75]

Apple is well aware of that, which is why they're trying to be the first to break through it, in order for wearables to succeed. Wearables have to be the confluence of fashion and tech, or they'll be dead in the water.

I think it's a wise move, as Apple is the only tech company with any "cool" cachet at all. Partnering with fashion makes a ton of sense.

Well, if anyone can use tech to break into the fashion luxury market, my money's on Apple. It does make sense to leverage their cool tech cachet at this point. I think the challenge will be staying there. Fashion and taste can change quickly.

 

[ninethirty]

In your original post it said that Ive reached out to Hermes. Not the other way around. Apple needs this, Hermes doesn't. I'm sure they're being paid.

And to whoever suggested above that I'm a "troll," grow up. I'm typing this from my Macbook Pro, connected to my Apple display, next to my iPhone, all receiving WiFi from my airport extreme (or maybe the express in the other room, I am in between). I'm just realistic about the watch. And I happen to agree with the article I posted above that this is Apple having no clue what to do with their own product.

Why would Hermés want to partner with a "desperate" company?

 

[Rogifan]

Don't reply to the trolls.

It's an awesome combination. And Apple have done a nice job capturing the Hermes theme with the watch face. Man, I just wished I'd waited for this edition now. Lolz.

Will we see a Louis Vuitton or Tiffany collaboration in the future too? HOPE HOPE!

I initially thought yes with LV but then remembered they're part of conglomerate LVMH so that probably won't happen.

 

[Rogifan]

In your original post it said that Ive reached out to Hermes. Not the other way around. Apple needs this, Hermes doesn't. I'm sure they're being paid.

So? Hermés could have said thanks but no thanks. And if they don't need it (which I don't disagree with) why even waste their time on the partnership? Why fly to San Francisco for the event? If Apple is fooling itself thinking it's in any way luxury then why doesn't the luxury world ignore Apple? Why would people from that industry leave to go work at Apple?

 

[Rogifan]

duplicate

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

I'm just realistic about the watch. And I happen to agree with the article I posted above that this is Apple having no clue what to do with their own product.

You're being far from realistic. Partnerships don't indicate that the parties have no clue what to do about their products. Otherwise, you might as well say the same about all companies that have partnered with Hermes to release special edition products, including the "Hermes-designed" Bugatti Veyron.

 

[matrix07]

I'm sure they're being paid.

Source?

 

[lionsy]

Desperate how? Aligning wearables with the fashion industry is the whole point, and this is likely only the beginning.

I don't understand this opinion, all I'm seeing is Apple offering loads of choice for straps/bands, that doesn't seem desperate, it seems like they want it to appeal to as many people as possible.... which appears to be a sound business plan rather than a desperate one.

 

[ninethirty]

Because they were paid. Hermes is lending their name to Apple here. There's literally no downside for them. If the Apple Watch falls flat on it's face (and let's be honest.. it's not in any way at all the show stopper that people and Apple thought it would be), Hermes isn't affected at all. But Apple's betting that Hermes might be able to lend them fashion credibility.

I've thought in the past, and I still think that Apple's beyond wrong to focus on luxury markets. The Apple Watch isn't luxury. You can build it out of gold, encrust it in diamonds if you like, have Hermes lend them bracelets, but the Apple Watch isn't ever going to be luxury. It MIGHT at some point be considered fashion (in the same way that Diesel jeans are considered fashion), but it isn't ever going to be luxury.

So? Hermés could have said thanks but no thanks. And if they don't need it (which I don't disagree with) why even waste their time on the partnership? Why fly to San Francisco for the event? If Apple is fooling itself thinking it's in any way luxury then why doesn't the luxury world ignore Apple? Why would people from that industry leave to go work at Apple?

 

[ninethirty]

Obviously there isn't one - that kind of information would be private and between the two companies, but by questioning my comment are you seriously suggesting that Hermes is just giving their design to Apple out of the goodness of their own hearts, and because they really believe in the product, without receiving anything in return? You think Apple just reached out and said "Hey, feel like collaborating, and allowing us to use your name to help sell our product.. for free?" Come on, dude.

Source?

 

[douglasf13]

Because they were paid. Hermes is lending their name to Apple here. There's literally no downside for them. If the Apple Watch falls flat on it's face (and let's be honest.. it's not in any way at all the show stopper that people and Apple thought it would be), Hermes isn't affected at all. But Apple's betting that Hermes might be able to lend them fashion credibility.

I've thought in the past, and I still think that Apple's beyond wrong to focus on luxury markets. The Apple Watch isn't luxury. You can build it out of gold, encrust it in diamonds if you like, have Hermes lend them bracelets, but the Apple Watch isn't ever going to be luxury. It MIGHT at some point be considered fashion (in the same way that Diesel jeans are considered fashion), but it isn't ever going to be luxury.

They're not just lending their name to Apple. They specifically designed 3 watch bands for the Apple Watch. Had Hermes just made the watchface and engraved their logo on the back, I'd understand, but they actually developed some leather work for the Watch, just like they do with car interiors and other cross-merchandising opportunities.

It's not as if anyone thinks Vans are luxury items, yet, here we see Hermes Vans, too, and it's just a print.

 

[Mac 128]

They're not just lending their name to Apple. They specifically designed 3 watch bands for the Apple Watch. Had Hermes just made the watchface and engraved their logo on the back, I'd understand, but they actually developed some leather work for the Watch, just like they do with car interiors and other cross-merchandising opportunities.

And what happens when you take the Hermes watch bands off and replace them with a Sport, and Tapping Mickey face? The Watch is still engraved with Hermes name. So what exactly did they do here.

What Apple is doing is pimping their products by putting Hermes branding on them. This is exactly what Huawei and others are doing with their homage watch faces, except its worse because Apple is actually putting the brand trademark on their product, a product Hermes had absolutely NOTHING to do with. The entire effort here is to pass off the Watch as an actual Hermes watch, which looks almost identical to the classic Hermes Cape Cod mechanical watch.

Apple is so desperate to been taken seriously as a luxury brand, they have completely turned over branding of the watch in this case to a third party. Thats tantamount to Apple allowing the ATT logo to come up on the iPhone screen when it was launched.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Apple is so desperate to been taken seriously as a luxury brand, they have completely turned over branding of the watch in this case to a third party. Thats tantamount to Apple allowing the ATT logo to come up on the iPhone screen when it was launched.

I think you're the desperate one to want this viewpoint to be true, as Hermes has collaborated with many other manufacturers, including luxury and non-luxury ones, to release special edition products.

 

[douglasf13]

... Apple is actually putting the brand trademark on their product, a product Hermes had absolutely NOTHING to do with. The entire effort here is to pass off the Watch as an actual Hermes watch, which looks almost identical to the classic Hermes Cape Cod mechanical watch.

Hermes does have something to do with Apple...they now make 3 leather watch bands specifically for them, which is no different than any of the other cross-promotional work from other design houses.

Hermes has no real horological history, so it's not as if anything is being cheapened in that regard. If anything, the Apple Watch is a better watch than the Cape Cod. The Cape Cod is an overpriced fashion watch.

If Patek Phillipe simply licensed a watch face for Apple, then I'd understand where you're coming from, but Hermes is a primarily a leatherwork, luxury company, and they made leather bracelets for the Apple Watch. It's an important distinction.

 

[Mac 128]

I think you're the desperate one to want this viewpoint to be true, as Hermes has collaborated with many other manufacturers, including luxury and non-luxury ones, to release special edition products.

I don't care what Hermes has done. That Vans cross-branding is all I need to see. I do care that Apple has seemingly dropped their standards. But I certainly predicted they would from the beginning.

 

[Mac 128]

Hermes does have something to do with Apple...they now make 3 leather watch bands specifically for them, which is no different than any of the other cross-promotional work from other design houses.

Hermes has no real horological history, so it's not as if anything is being cheapened in that regard. If anything, the Apple Watch is a better watch than the Cape Cod. The Cape Cod is an overpriced fashion watch.

If Patek Phillipe simply licensed a watch face for Apple, then I'd understand where you're coming from, but Hermes is a primarily a leatherwork, luxury company, and they made leather bracelets for the Apple Watch. It's an important distinction.

Well for starters, Any of those bands could easily be transplanted to another watch that Hermes manufactures themselves. They have been in the watch business since 1978, partnering with some prestigious makers to manufacture their designs. They began manufacturing their own watches in 2012.

It makes absolutely no sense for Apple to allow a third party to brand their product, physically as well as virtually, for a simple watch band that could be used on any other watch in existence. There's nothing special about a watch band. And when the band is removed for a (PRODUCT) Red Sport band, and the tapping Mickey face is selected, Hermes will have nothing to do with that watch, except their trademark will still be etched into the watch case.

What's next? Rolex designing a link band for Apple with a custom adapted watch face emblazoned with Rolex? Because that's essentially what this Hermes branding is. I would actually have a lot more respect for Apple if they stayed out of these kinds of partnerships and set up a program for custom watch makers to license and sell their adapted watch faces for the customer to purchase on the App store, because then Apple wouldn't be the ones pimping out to them.