Hermès:
herald of time

Philippe Delhotal

Creation and development director

of Hermès Horloger

For Hermès, time is an object of exquisite craft, embodied by the maison’s (house’s) watches in the way they present those who wear them with new, intangible pleasures of time. Together with Philippe Delhotal of Swiss-based watchmaker Hermès Horloger, we examine the long, intimate relationship between Hermès and time.

Time: a steadfast partner

—A watchmaker’s relationship to time

At Hermès, we embrace the notion of time as we design the objets (products) that are our timepieces. Time is the one thing above all else that allows us to do things right. It’s a common refrain at Hermès that time has a way of taking care of things, that time is always on our side. That is to say, it is time that enables us to design and create the works that interest us.

That’s why time is more like a partner to us than anything else; it supports us and accompanies us as we develop our creations. Rightly or wrongly, we often think about time in a negative sense because it can be a source of stress. When we’re pressed for time, we tend to forget that time also has the power to solve our problems or give us the answers we’re looking for. I see time more like a friend who is always by my side, giving me the serenity to take on the task of creation.

—Why an Hermès timepiece is special

The style of our watches is unique to Hermès, and we place great importance on the vocabulary of form. Our watches are also set apart by the design of the face, where the typography is distinctive—a signature of ours. When someone sees a watch in which every single element is perfectly in harmony, they will say, “Look—this is an Hermès watch.” To cultivate a captivating appeal that draws you in the moment you see it, rendering you unable to deny your emotions, giving meaning to you as the wearer—that is the magic of our maison.

An objet is something that speaks to its viewer; it creates a connection between the person looking at it and the objet itself. I enjoy that connection because it draws you into a universe that you are ultimately creating for yourself by looking at the work. Take this vase in front of me. When I look at it, it conveys something to me through its form, colour, structure, and finish. The same is true of every one of our watches. All of these disparate elements come together to tell you a story all your own.

—Finding inspiration in time

At Hermès Horloger, we often say that we create not in the office but elsewhere, especially when we’re on the road. For me, “elsewhere” is nature. Time spent in the mountains is a source of inspiration that’s very important to me. Alpine life frees me from the notion of time as something constraining or stressful. Walking in the mountains is what grants me this freedom and ultimately allows me to arrive at a different way of thinking.

The important thing is to put yourself into a place where you can feel liberated and unconstrained. I also value taking time to do nothing. My understanding of time is completely different when I am doing something and when I am doing nothing. To be able to sit down somewhere and do nothing—it’s a very luxurious way to use time.

—A Japanese understanding of time

Once, when I was dining at a restaurant in Japan, I was lucky enough to be seated right in front of the chefs. As I watched them work, I realised that they had a true understanding of time. They took their time completing the dishes, ensuring that everything was perfectly measured and carefully prepared. There was no sense of urgency or stress in their work; they simply served the food as it became ready. I thought, “This is what time should be.”

—Visiting Maison Hermès in Ginza

I am always impressed by this creation of Renzo Piano. His use of light is truly impressive. This is a building of light, clarity, and luminosity. These qualities together form a beautiful signature that the company should be proud of.

HERMÈS CUT

A new watch

Crafting the Hermès Cut, our latest watch, was about exploring simple forms. Why simplicity? Because what sets Hermès’s objets apart is that they are, above all, simple.

To design its rather distinctive shape, we looked far into the past for inspiration. There are many examples of prehistoric flints and pebbles that were shaped solely from rocks being broken apart. This watch replicates the simplicity of those stones, whose natural forms are reassuringly ergonomic and manifest a sense of solidity. These elements served as design cues for this sporty model.

I hope that you will feel something special when you look at this watch. Needless to say, we took our time developing it.

Philippe Delhotal

Philippe Delhotal, creation and development director of Hermès Horloger in Switzerland, was born in France in 1962. In his role overseeing product creation and development at Hermès Horloger, he is responsible for the overall design of Hermès’s timepieces.