Hermès pocket watch Slim d’Hermès Pocket Roaaaaar turns a lion motif into a wearable work of art, combining wood marquetry, grand feu enamel, and a slim automatic movement, the brand said.
Hermès based the design on a pattern by Alice Shirley and translated the artwork into a three dimensional lion on the watch cover using traditional marquetry techniques. The lion design is scaled to fit a 45 millimeter case and assembled from many different woods, the brand said.
The marquetry relies on up to ten different woods, including purpleheart, maple, and burl, to create the mane’s tonal layers. Craftspeople cut the woods into extremely small pieces, glue them in place, then sand and lacquer the surface so the design retains its natural grain while showing depth and contrast, Hermès said.
The result is a cover that reads as relief sculpture rather than a flat print, Hermès said, with each tiny veneer contributing to the lion’s expression and the sense of motion in the composition.
Opening the cover directs attention to the dial, which is offered in two colors: pine green and gem blue. Both dials use grand feu enamel over a finely engraved chevron ground so the finish shifts with the light.
Hermès described the enamel process, saying powdered glass is mixed with oil and applied to the metal dial blank, then fired at more than 800 degrees Celsius so the enamel fuses to the base. Because each firing can alter color slightly, no two dials are exactly alike, the company added.
Hermès pocket watch proportion follows the Slim d’Hermès line, with a clean round case and restrained dial architecture that favors legibility and elegance.
The case is made in white gold and measures 45 millimeter across. It includes an anti glare sapphire crystal on the front and back, and is rated to 3 ATM water resistance. Inside sits the H1950 automatic movement, which is 2.6 millimeter thick, runs at 21,600 vibrations per hour, and offers about 48 hours of power reserve, Hermès said.
The pocket watch comes with a short snouted crocodile leather cord and a matching leather pouch, color matched to the dial in either pine green or gem blue and finished with a matte texture for a tactile feel, Hermès said.
Hermès pocket watch collectors will note the highly manual production sequence: wood marquetry, multiple enamel firings, assembly, and finishing all require hand work that extends production time and adds variability between pieces, the brand said.
Hermès is releasing the Slim d’Hermès Pocket Roaaaaar in two colorways, limited to three pieces per color for a total of six pieces. The watches are priced at HK$1,732,000, approximately $222,000 (before tax), the company said.
Hermès did not disclose distribution details in its announcement. Interested buyers are invited to contact Hermès boutiques or the brand’s watch department for availability and ordering information.
