So, you’ve got Hermès, right? The name alone conjures up images of silk scarves, Birkin bags that cost more than my car, and… watches? Yeah, watches. And those watches, a lot of ’em anyway, aren’t *just* pretty faces. They’ve got some serious Swiss guts. We’re talking about “movements,” the tiny little engines that make the hands go tick-tock.
Now, historically, the watch world in Switzerland was like, a big ol’ party where everyone was bringing something to the table. You had companies specializing in making tiny screws, others doing dials, and others putting it all together. Enter Vaucher. They’re like, these super-skilled Swiss movement makers. But then, BAM! Hermès swoops in and *owns* Vaucher. Isn’t that wild?
This means some of the Hermès watches, like the Arceau (especially the Arceau L’heure de la lune, which is just ridiculously cool looking) use movements, specifically a caliber H1837 automatic movement, made by Vaucher. Which, technically, Hermès owns. So, it’s kinda like they’re making their *own* movements, but also… not quite? My brain hurts.
And then there’s the Slim d’Hermès! Mentioned as a game-changer because it featured the ultra-thin in-house H1950 movement, also Swiss-made. This little detail shows Hermès’ dedication to pushing boundaries and crafting true masterpieces.
Why does any of this matter? Well, for one, it gives the watches some serious street cred. You’re not just buying a pretty bracelet watch with a fancy name. You’re getting a piece of Swiss engineering, and let me tell you, those Swiss know their stuff. It’s like the difference between buying a generic brand chocolate bar and a handcrafted Swiss truffle. You just *know* there’s a difference.
But honestly, and this is just my opinion, the whole in-house vs. outsourced thing is a little overblown sometimes. Like, sure, it’s cool that Hermès technically owns Vaucher and uses their movements. But at the end of the day, what *really* matters is whether the watch looks good, feels good on your wrist, and tells time accurately. If it does all those things, who cares where the movement comes from?
And let’s be real, Hermès could slap a potato in a watch case and people would still buy it because, well, it’s Hermès. BUT, the fact that they’re going the extra mile with these intricate Swiss movements shows that they’re not just relying on their name. They’re actually trying to make something beautiful and technically impressive. Which, yeah, I gotta respect that.
