New Apple Watch Hermès styles, strap colours

Source: Apple. The new Apple Watch Hermès will almost be flush with the wrist.

Together with Hermès, Apple introduced new Apple Watch Hermès styles and an expanded assortment of bands that incorporate Hermès' signature palette alongside a series of new colours. The collection pairs Apple Watch Series 2 with handcrafted leather bands in distinctive styles from Hermès. Exclusive watch face designs are inspired by the Clipper, Cape Cod and Espace Hermès models.

"Ours is a partnership born of parallel thinking and mutual regard — we share similar preoccupations, ever evolving and refining our design,” said Jonathan Ive, Apple’s Chief Design Officer.

“We are united by the same vision, the uncompromising pursuit of excellence and authenticity, and the creation of objects that remain as relevant and functional as they are beautiful. This is a new step of our attelage (Editor's note: partnership)," said Pierre-Alexis Dumas, Hermès’ Executive VP, in charge of artistic direction.

The expanded Apple Watch Hermès collection includes a new style — the Double Buckle Cuff in Swift and Epsom calfskin leathers, inspired by an archetypal Hermès sandal design by Pierre Hardy, Creative Director of Hermès shoes and jewellery, available in new colours including Rose Jaipur, Étoupe and Bleu Agate (shades of red, brown and blue respectively). The new Single Tour Deployment Buckle band pairs Hermès Barenia calfskin leather with a hidden deployment buckle, which opens with a click of two side buttons. The classic Double Tour and Single Tour styles will feature refreshed colours including Anemone (a shade of purple).

New Apple Watch Hermès models pair with Apple Watch Series 2, which features GPS, water resistance to 50 m*, a two-times brighter display, a dual-core processor and watchOS 3, and include an exclusive Hermès Sport Band in signature orange. The water resistant Sport Band is uniquely etched with ‘Apple Watch Hermès.’

Interested?

Apple Watch Hermès is available in two different case sizes, 38 mm and 42 mm. The 38 mm Single Tour is US$1,149**; the 42 mm Single Tour is US$1,199**; the 38 mm Double Tour is US$1,299**; the 42 mm Single Tour Deployment Buckle is US$1,399**; and the 38 mm Double Buckle Cuff is US$1,499** from apple.com, Hermes.com, select Apple Stores, select Hermès stores, select specialty stores and department stores.

In Asia Pacific and Middle East Apple Watch Hermès will be available from September 23 in Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Singapore, Taiwan, and the UAE. Apple Watch Hermès Bands are sold separately and are available from September 16.*** The Single Tour Band is US$339**, Double Tour is US$489**, and the Double Buckle Cuff is US$689**. Apple Watch Series 2 requires iPhone 5 or later running iOS 10 or later. WatchOS 3 and iOS 10 will be available beginning September 13 as a free software update. Some features are not available in all regions or in all languages.

Every customer who buys Apple Watch Hermès will be offered free Personal Setup, in-store or online,**** to help set up and personalise their new Apple Watch with calendars, notifications, apps and more.

*Apple Watch Series 2 has a water resistance rating of 50 m under ISO standard 22810:2010. This means that it may be used for shallow-water activities like swimming in a pool or ocean. However, Apple Watch Series 2 should not be used for scuba diving, waterskiing or other activities involving high-velocity water or submersion below shallow depth. Stainless steel and leather bands are not water resistant.
**Prices stated are for the US, and may vary in other countries.
***Apple Watch Hermès Bands will be available beginning September 23 in Macau.
****In most countries.

Apple updates Apple Watch offerings, adds Hermès collection

Source: Apple. The Apple Watch.

Apple has introduced Apple Watch* cases and bands, as well as new gold and rose gold aluminum Apple Watch Sport models together with the first major update of its watch operating system.

The watchOS 2** operating system arrives as a free update on September 16, adding new features and native third-party apps to Apple Watches. WatchOS 2 makes apps faster, and introduces new watch faces, the ability for third-party apps to display information on the watch face, and a new way to view chronological context with Time Travel. WatchOS 2 also includes new communication features such as the ability to respond quickly to Mail with dictation, Smart Replies or emoji, and Digital Touch, which Apple says will enable more creativity.

Apple Watch is available in two different sizes, 38 mm and 42 mm, in three collections, Apple Watch Sport, starting at US$349***; Apple Watch, starting at US$549***; and Apple Watch Edition, crafted from custom rose or yellow 18-karat gold alloys, with prices starting at US$10,000***.

More colours are available within the various collections for cases and bands. For example:

• Apple Watch Edition now includes an 18-karat rose gold case with a midnight blue Classic Buckle.
• Apple Watch Sport’s lightweight anodised aluminum case now comes in gold aluminium and rose gold aluminium and fluoroelastomer Sport Bands in lavender, antique white, stone and midnight blue. 
• The Apple Watch Sport silver aluminum case is now available with new orange or blue Sport Bands.
• The stainless steel Apple Watch collection offers a new two-toned Classic Buckle in black or saddle brown. 
• The Apple Watch space black stainless steel case is now available with a black Sport Band.
• Apple Watch joins Apple’s commitment to (PRODUCT)RED with a stainless steel case and a (PRODUCT)RED Sport Band with a portion of the proceeds going to the Global Fund to fight AIDS.

Apple and Hermès separately introduced Apple Watch Hermès, a new collection of Apple Watch in stainless steel with leather bands from Hermès, including the Single Tour, Double Tour and Cuff. 

Source: Apple. An Apple Watch Hermès

“Apple and Hermès make very different products, but they reflect the deep appreciation of quality design,” said Jonathan Ive, Apple’s Chief Design Officer. “Both companies are motivated by a sincere pursuit of excellence and the desire to create something that is not compromised. Apple Watch Hermès is a true testament to that belief.”

“At Hermès, we strive to provide our clients with elegant, creative and functional objects for their everyday lives,” said Pierre-Alexis Dumas, Hermès’ Executive VP in charge of artistic direction. “What more contemporary and relevant expression of this principle could there be than this collaboration with Apple. We are strongly united by the same deeply held ideas and principles. I see it as the establishment of an alliance in excellence; like horse and carriage, a perfect team.”

Apple Watch Hermès starts at US$1,100*** for the 38 mm stainless steel case with the Single Tour, US$1,150*** for the 42 mm stainless steel case with the Single Tour, US$1,250*** for the 38 mm stainless steel case with the Double Tour and US$1,500*** for the 42 mm stainless steel case with the Cuff. 

The Single Tour with the 38 mm stainless steel case comes in fauve Barenia leather, noir box leather and capucine Swift leather, while the Single Tour with 42 mm stainless steel case comes in fauve Barenia leather and noir box leather. The Double Tour pairs with the 38 mm stainless steel case and is available in fauve Barenia leather and bleu jean, capucine and etain Swift leather. The Cuff pairs with the 42 mm stainless steel case and is available in fauve Barenia leather only. Across the collection, each stainless steel case features an etching of the Hermès signature and includes a customisable face with three exclusive dial designs inspired by Clipper, Cape Cod and Espace Hermès watches.

View the full line-up in the Apple Watch gallery.

Interested?

Apple Watch is available on Apple.com and will be available in Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers, specialty stores and department stores over the next few days. For local availability, visit locate.apple.com.

In Asia Pacific, the Apple Watch Hermès collection will be available at select Apple retail stores, select Hermès stores, specialty stores and department stores beginning October 5 in Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore. 

*Apple Watch requires iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus running iOS 8.2 or later. 

**WatchOS 2 and iOS 9 will be available beginning Wednesday, September 16 as a free software update. To use all watchOS 2 features, download iOS 9.

***Prices for the US; local pricing may vary.