Hermès Edition Owners Thread

[mikedis]

They’ve always done 70% or so in the special deals portal. Perhaps 90% is one of the SKUs way above $340?

At the same time my wallet is pretty happy with my extant Hermes colex

I wonder if the vegan Hermes bands can prop up demand for the line

This exactly. Deep discounts on the past season's bands is nothing new. There's no story here.

 

[MattD74]

On the other hand: we’ve had this discussion every year when all of the bands were sold out and there were some hints here and there (this year you could argue that making the Nike faces available means some sort of contract ends, etc.). But they’ve always continued this partnership, so fingers crossed! 🤞🏼

That’s true but apparently this year Apple are discounting their leather cases & bands so would also kind of make sense to stop selling Hermes leather bands too if they go in that direction.

 

[btrach144]

Hermes and leather are a world class duo. Hermes without leather is not Hermes.

The only reason to pay the premium was because Hermes leather is regarded as the highest quality in the world.

And for those saying things like vegan leather is a substitute, it’s completely unacceptable. Vegan leather is plastic.

And the nylon (plastic) jumping tours are not worth the price and are also plastic.

Plastic Hermes is plastic junk.

This exactly. Deep discounts on the past season's bands is nothing new. There's no story here.

Disagree. Discounts yes. 90% off, no. This years news is the biggest threat to the Hermes lineup yet and warrants headlines.

 

[the future]

Found an article from 2021 where they were talking about new materials (https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2021/09/in-the-details-hermes):


"Despite this staunch adherence to tradition, Hermès will introduce a decidedly modern material this fall: mycelium leather. Developed in collaboration with the San Francisco-based biotech company MycoWorks, this “Fine Mycelium,” coined Sylvania by its creators, derives not from cattle but from mushrooms. Fournier insists that its quality and durability meet the same high standards of traditional leathers [...]"

Thanks for this, very interesting! I can definitely see the Apple/Hermès collab embrace some high-end leather alternative like this.

 

[athousandbands]

Hermes and leather are a world class duo. Hermes without leather is not Hermes.

The only reason to pay the premium was because Hermes leather is regarded as the highest quality in the world.

And for those saying things like vegan leather is a substitute, it’s completely unacceptable. Vegan leather is plastic.

And the nylon (plastic) jumping tours are not worth the price and are also plastic.

Plastic Hermes is plastic junk.

Disagree. Discounts yes. 90% off, no. This years news is the biggest threat to the Hermes lineup yet and warrants headlines.

At this point im gonna go with Gurman. I doubted when he casually cancelled the Ti Edition line this time last year.

 

[Mrwhoopie]

Is it possible to swap my deployment buckle to a Hermes band that doesn't have a deployment buckle?

 

[MacDevil7334]

Is it possible to swap my deployment buckle to a Hermes band that doesn't have a deployment buckle?

Yes, I have done it and posted instructions somewhere earlier in this thread. You need a spring bar tool and a small flathead screwdriver.

 

[Mr. Y]

That’s true but apparently this year Apple are discounting their leather cases & bands so would also kind of make sense to stop selling Hermes leather bands too if they go in that direction.

At this point im gonna go with Gurman. I doubted when he casually cancelled the Ti Edition line this time last year.

I don’t think it is entirely outside the realm of possibilities that while Apple will phase out production of its own leather accessories, it will continue the collaboration with Hermès since Hermès manufactures its own bands using only Apple’s hardware. IMO, Apple’s leather phone case has always been plagued with issues (certain colors do not patina well) and their leather watch bands never seemed incredibly popular. But time will tell (pun definitely intended)!

 

[athousandbands]

I don’t think it is entirely outside the realm of possibilities that while Apple will phase out production of its own leather accessories, it will continue the collaboration with Hermès since Hermès manufactures its own bands using only Apple’s hardware. IMO, Apple’s leather phone case has always been plagued with issues (certain colors do not patina well) and their leather watch bands never seemed incredibly popular. But time will tell (pun definitely intended)!

I can see it both ways re the eco-friendly push. Apple is definitely a weird enough company to both spin down their own leather and still sell Hermes leather.

There’s also always the question of these brand collabs in general; does the watch need them anymore? If Apple would rather take a philosophical stance against animal byproducts than reap the massive profit margins on Hermes.

 

[mikedis]

Disagree. Discounts yes. 90% off, no. This years news is the biggest threat to the Hermes lineup yet and warrants headlines.

They've definitely discounted bands very steep before. I don't know how the 90% figure was gotten, but if they discounted one that low, it would have been just a single band or two, maybe an obscure colorway that wasn't selling which they happened to have one or two of left.

 

[Modern Life is Rubbish]

I have no inside knowledge - and probably know less than most of you - but I’d be surprised if Apple discontinued the Hermes bands at the same time as their own leather bands (&, as people have been suggesting for a while now, the Nike ones too). That’s a significant reduction in the line all at once. And, most importantly, it leaves them without a premium band other than Milanese. I’d be very surprised if they went to Milanese + sport bands, solo loops and Ultra bands only.

 

[athousandbands]

Blanc epsom single tour

 

[Boardiesboi]

I don’t think it is entirely outside the realm of possibilities that while Apple will phase out production of its own leather accessories, it will continue the collaboration with Hermès since Hermès manufactures its own bands using only Apple’s hardware. IMO, Apple’s leather phone case has always been plagued with issues (certain colors do not patina well) and their leather watch bands never seemed incredibly popular. But time will tell (pun definitely intended)!

I have no inside knowledge - and probably know less than most of you - but I’d be surprised if Apple discontinued the Hermes bands at the same time as their own leather bands (&, as people have been suggesting for a while now, the Nike ones too). That’s a significant reduction in the line all at once. And, most importantly, it leaves them without a premium band other than Milanese. I’d be very surprised if they went to Milanese + sport bands, solo loops and Ultra bands only.

I also think it would not be surprising if Apple discontinued their own leather products but keep the Hermes partnership going.

Hermes is not just making leather bands for the Apple Watch, but also leather assessories for the AirTag (key ring, luggage tag) and AirPods cases. If the partnership was to end, it would need buy in from both parties.

The profit Hermes makes from these assessories are miniscule compared to their main offerings - But it would be weird to associate themselves with Apple and then let Apple spin the environmental initiative and imply that Hermes is not in line with their vision. It would diminish the Hermes brand by association/disassociation.

 

[athousandbands]

I also think it would not be surprising if Apple discontinued their own leather products but keep the Hermes partnership going.

Hermes is not just making leather bands for the Apple Watch, but also leather assessories for the AirTag (key ring, luggage tag) and AirPods cases. If the partnership was to end, it would need buy in from both parties.

The profit Hermes makes from these assessories are miniscule compared to their main offerings - But it would be weird to associate themselves with Apple and then let Apple spin the environmental initiative and imply that Hermes is not in line with their vision. It would diminish the Hermes brand by association/disassociation.

Do you think Apple would quietly discontinue their own leather? Like just introduce FineWoven with not a ton of eco fanfare?

 

[Vangeli]

Do you think Apple would quietly discontinue their own leather? Like just introduce FineWoven with not a ton of eco fanfare?

I have a feeling fivewoven may be replacing silicone cases as well given the rumor there will be ten options (generally the total amount of options in both silicone and leather), so it may be heralded as a combining of two—grippy sides with a premium feeling back—rather than a denouncing of one. Don’t need to mention leather onstage, just that this is the all-new option.

 

[Boardiesboi]

Do you think Apple would quietly discontinue their own leather? Like just introduce FineWoven with not a ton of eco fanfare?

I have a feeling fivewoven may be replacing silicone cases as well given the rumor there will be ten options (generally the total amount of options in both silicone and leather), so it may be heralded as a combining of two—grippy sides with a premium feeling back—rather than a denouncing of one. Don’t need to mention leather onstage, just that this is the all-new option.

I think you both might be right.

Just introduce new cases and new materials without making a big deal about why they’re doing it.

This would dampen the debate and controversy about whether leather and its replacements are eco friendly or not. You just need to read the MR and reddit threads to see that people are quite passionate about this.

 

[athousandbands]

I have a feeling fivewoven may be replacing silicone cases as well given the rumor there will be ten options (generally the total amount of options in both silicone and leather), so it may be heralded as a combining of two—grippy sides with a premium feeling back—rather than a denouncing of one. Don’t need to mention leather onstage, just that this is the all-new option.

But what about the silicone counterfeits we’ve seen?

 

[athousandbands]

I think you both might be right.

Just introduce new cases and new materials without making a big deal about why they’re doing it.

This would dampen the debate and controversy about whether leather and its replacements are eco friendly or not. You just need to read the MR and reddit threads to see that people are quite passionate about this.

Even in a world where everyone accepted climate change, I think also Apple would be wary of the perception of inferiority of a lab-grown option

 

[mikedis]

I have a feeling fivewoven may be replacing silicone cases as well given the rumor there will be ten options (generally the total amount of options in both silicone and leather), so it may be heralded as a combining of two—grippy sides with a premium feeling back—rather than a denouncing of one. Don’t need to mention leather onstage, just that this is the all-new option.

Haha what an Apple move to discontinue the $49 cases and make you spend the $99

 

[Vangeli]

But what about the silicone counterfeits we’ve seen?

But what about the leather counterfeits we’ve seen?

 

[athousandbands]

But what about the leather counterfeits we’ve seen?

So just one price point for non-clear cases? Is Tim’s middle name not Upsell?

 

[mikedis]

okay wow i stand corrected. It's all of them!

 

[Boardiesboi]

okay wow i stand corrected. It's all of them!

I would buy so many at the price point

 

[mikedis]

I would buy so many at the price point

allll the hermes!

This doesn't look like qpromo, so they're just ordering off the regular retail site with EPP. Blanc is in stock... for $33.90!

 

[AndrewR23]

Just hit up my friend who works at Apple. Time for some new bands