Apple to Partner With Hermes For New Apple Watch Bands and Watch Faces

[bunnicula]

It's safe to assume no, considering that the Watch case has the unique Hermes face and "HERMES" engraved on the back. It's supposed to be one of a kind, much like the Edition.

I wonder how much maneuvering it would take to get Apple to let me trade up to one.

I'm always curious about their customer-satisfaction policies.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

I wonder how much maneuvering it would take to get Apple to let me trade up to one.

I'm always curious about their customer-satisfaction policies.

I thought you were an AW whore? Just buy another one like you've been doing all along

 

[bunnicula]

I thought you were an AW whore? Just buy another one like you've been doing all along

LOL.

I am, but even I have my limits.

 

[BlueAquarian]

These are also more expensive than the regular SS Apple Watches though.

That's ok..if it isn't more than $2000. A woman has to have Hermes at least once in her life.

 

[Mac 128]

I don't think so. The general design was carried over, but parts were rethought:

* The numeric font is different, but seems to be of a similar style in keeping with the overall design. I personally dig it, especially the funky "3". Also note the numeric fonts on the 3 editions are different but similar
* There's a tiny moon phase just below the Hermes logo. Moon Phase complications this small may be difficult to do on mechanicals, but less of a problem with digital
* The date "window" has been moved to be just above the 6 o'clock (placement of date windows used to be restricted by the movement and date disk; 6 o'clock placements are possible, but less common because commonly used movements from the likes of ETA didn't do it so often)
* The date "window" has cutouts so it's not a complete square
* Seconds hand is orange, sorta matching the bracelet color

Parse it any way you want, the fact remains it's a skuemorphic representation of a mechanical watch face intended to mimic a signature watch of an important brand -- complete with a prominently displayed Hermes logo on the face. Apple designed the Watch, not Hermes. The only thing Hermes did here is design a band to attach to Apple's lugs. And yet they put their name all over it. In some respects this is far worse then the path taken by the Huawei watch you reference. There's really no difference between what they did and what Apple is doing now with Hermes.

 

[whtrbt7]

The website is up now:
https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-hermes/

The double tour 38mm is $1250
Single tour 38mm and 42mm start at $1100
The cuff 42mm is $1500

The colors all look pretty authentic to their bag lines. I just wonder about the leather going into those bands. The bands look very modern and much like the existing leather strap options. IMO, they should seriously consider doing an alligator strap or something a bit more Hermes.

 

[benjai]

The website is up now:
https://www.apple.com/apple-watch-hermes/

The double tour 38mm is $1250
Single tour 38mm and 42mm start at $1100
The cuff 42mm is $1500

The colors all look pretty authentic to their bag lines. I just wonder about the leather going into those bands. The bands look very modern and much like the existing leather strap options. IMO, they should seriously consider doing an alligator strap or something a bit more Hermes.

Do those prices include the watch or just the straps? Seems pretty cheap if includes the watch. I might get the brown single leather one.

 

[zetaplus93]

Parse it any way you want, the fact remains it's a skuemorphic representation of a mechanical watch face intended to mimic a signature watch of an important brand -- complete with a prominently displayed Hermes logo on the face. Apple designed the Watch, not Hermes. The only thing Hermes did here is design a band to attach to Apple's lugs. And yet they put their name all over it. In some respects this is far worse then the path taken by the Huawei watch you reference. There's really no difference between what they did and what Apple is doing now with Hermes.

I suppose that's another way to see it, though I disagree.

Apple designed most of the watch, but the watch face and bands are important parts of the overall design. Did Apple design the watch face, or did Hermes? Or perhaps both? It'd be interesting if we ever find out the answer.

I don't think this is skuemorphic. If there were applied indices and the watch face tried to mimic the 3D feel of it, then it'd be. Or if there are drop shadows trying to mimic the 3D or texture, then it'd be. Or if they took some of the textures found on the Cape Cod watch face (with the raised square), then it'd be. Or if they started trying to replicate the way the light reflects off of the watch face, then that'd be skuemorphic.

They took a flat design on a traditional watch and created a similar one on a digital watch face. It looks much better than what Huawei did with its tacky direct copy.

There's really no difference between what they did and what Apple is doing now with Hermes.

You should see all the threads and controversy about homage watches on watch forums... the fact that Apple respected and worked with Hermes is, in and of itself, and huge difference compared to what Huawei did.

 

[Mac 128]

Apple designed most of the watch, but the watch face and bands are important parts of the overall design. Did Apple design the watch face, or did Hermes? Or perhaps both? It'd be interesting if we ever find out the answer.

Apple states clearly on their website they designed the watch face in California, not Hermes in Paris.

the fact that Apple respected and worked with Hermes is, in and of itself, and huge difference compared to what Huawei did.

Which is what? Design a custom watch face that emulates actual watch face designs? Just because you don't like it doesn't mean others won't. At least Huawei doesn't boast to be a brand it isn't by prominently displaying the name of a prestigious fashion house across the watch face.

 

[zetaplus93]

At least Huawei doesn't boast to be a brand it isn't by prominently displaying the name of a prestigious fashion house across the watch face.

They'd like to but can't. They'd be sued if they put Breguet's logo on there.

 

[Mac 128]

They'd like to but can't. They'd be sued if they put Breguet's logo on there.

Yes, because everyone wants to sell their product under another company's brand. /s

Just because Apple is in a position to sell their well designed product under the branding of another prestigious company to presumably attract customers for their product it couldn't on its own, doesn't mean they should, nor that they are somehow above Huawei and the others in their practice.

 

[bandrews]

Parse it any way you want, the fact remains it's a skuemorphic representation of a mechanical watch face intended to mimic a signature watch of an important brand -- complete with a prominently displayed Hermes logo on the face. Apple designed the Watch, not Hermes. The only thing Hermes did here is design a band to attach to Apple's lugs. And yet they put their name all over it. In some respects this is far worse then the path taken by the Huawei watch you reference. There's really no difference between what they did and what Apple is doing now with Hermes.

I think you're mixing your "skeuomorphs" and your "visual metaphors". If there was a digitally simulated brushed metal effect or wood grain then yes, it would be skuomorphic. However the Hermes watch face is no more skuomorphic than any other "analogue" watch/clock on an LCD screen. It is quite obviously digital and in no way tries to mimic other materials.

 

[Mac 128]

I think you're mixing your "skeuomorphs" and your "visual metaphors". If there was a digitally simulated brushed metal effect or wood grain then yes, it would be skuomorphic. However the Hermes watch face is no more skuomorphic than any other "analogue" watch/clock on an LCD screen. It is quite obviously digital and in no way tries to mimic other materials.

I don't believe skeuomorph is that precisely a defined term. The idea of depicting analogue watch hands which sweep around a dial is enough to qualify as skeuomorph, whether they have shadows, brushed metal or otherwise. Merely adding a virtual representation of a knob or slider to a control panel is enough to be called skeuomorphic as it imitates a real object. The intent with this edition is to replicate the face of a classic Hermes Cape Cod watch, and they do so by incorporating real physical elements of the watch that are otherwise unnecessary on a digital display.

My point being that what Apple is doing with the Hermes watch face is no different than what Huawei is doing. The addition of 3D effects and animated textures are irrelevant to the design intent of both watches -- which is to emulate a real mechanical wristwatch.

 

[bandrews]

I don't believe skeuomorph is that precisely a defined term. The idea of depicting analogue watch hands which sweep around a dial is enough to qualify as skeuomorph, whether they have shadows, brushed metal or otherwise. Merely adding a virtual representation of a knob or slider to a control panel is enough to be called skeuomorphic as it imitates a real object. The intent with this edition is to replicate the face of a classic Hermes Cape Cod watch, and they do so by incorporating real physical elements of the watch that are otherwise unnecessary on a digital display.

My point being that what Apple is doing with the Hermes watch face is no different than what Huawei is doing. The addition of 3D effects and animated textures are irrelevant to the design intent of both watches -- which is to emulate a real mechanical wristwatch.

Actually it is THAT precisely a defined term.

 

[Mac 128]

Actually it is THAT precisely a defined term.

That's not what Wikipedia, online dictionaries and authoritative design articles indicate. What I've found with respect to digital, the original Mac desktop metaphors are themselves considered skueomorphs, and there's absolutely no textures involved. Merely digital representations of analogue objects -- the very definition of a round watch face on a digital display panel.

 

[bandrews]

That's not what Wikipedia, online dictionaries and authoritative design articles indicate. What I've found with respect to digital, the original Mac desktop metaphors are themselves considered skueomorphs, and there's absolutely no textures involved. Merely digital representations of analogue objects -- the very definition of a round watch face on a digital display panel.

I don't want to get into an argument over semantics but if we're going to split hairs the Huawei (and others) face is a good example of pastiche. The AW Hermes is more homage. It isn't trying to be an analogue watch - it's obviously digital. The Huawei is trying to photorealistically imitate the materials used in analogue timepieces - the Hermes merely strips all that nasty gloss away and just gives a simple watch face with the design elements of the Cape Cod without trying to imitate the materials it's made from. It's quite obvious to anyone with even a basic understanding of design.