The forever piece: a leather-strap watch

It’s difficult to adequately describe just how storied French fashion house Hermès really is. Founded in 1837 as a saddler, the firm gained a reputation for first-class leathers that soon saw it branch out into bags. The brand’s iconic styles have gone on to be toted by the world’s most discerning dressers, from Hollywood stars to jet-setting heiresses and even royalty. So, although Hermès is a relative newcomer when it comes to creating watches (it started in earnest in the late ’70s), it’s easy to see why the house’s effortlessly elegant timepieces are some of the most coveted on the market. Designed in France and hand-crafted in Switzerland, each piece – from diamond-encrusted evening styles to the clean lines of the more minimalist creations – comes complete with a butter-soft leather strap (we wouldn’t expect anything less). The Galop’s distinctive shape, which recalls a stirrup, represents a playful nod to the brand’s equestrian roots, while the Heure H, complete with a stylized ‘H’ bezel and interchangeable strap, has both a classic and contemporary feel. However, its signature style has to be the Cape Cod, which became a true collector’s item when fashion legend Martin Margiela, who helmed the house between 1997 and 2003, updated it by adding a double strap – a seemingly small tweak that gave this timepiece true cult status.