LIFE AT A GALLOP
We love the Hermès world of speed and horses, as well as the play of light and gentle architecture. A great example is the new collection of women’s watches, Galop, created by the US designer Ini Archibong.
The latest addition to the watchmaking catalogue of the Parisian brand, Galop d’Hermès is a form watch with a very special shape. The silhouette of the case recalls a stirrup revised and restyled by Ini Archibong. The designer born, in 1983 in Pasadena, California and now living in Basel, Switzerland, loves to observe and play with the light, and to develop shapes to capture and intensify it. A stylistic orientation that has led him to work with Hermès and to design this new women’s watch.
The Galop d’Hermès case is rounded but not circular, measures 40.8 x 26mm and comes in two metals, steel or rose gold. It is available in two different finishes, either polished or set with two rows of 150 brilliant-cut diamonds (0.66 carats). The crown is fairly flat and fluted and is located at 6 o’clock for greater ease of use, design fluidity and wearing comfort.
On the light-coloured dial, an hour rim on a wide, grained band features powdered, silvered or golden Arabic numerals encircled by anthracite. The opaline centre has two “softened” baton-shaped hour and minute hands, either rhodium-plated or made of rose gold. These features are powered by a Swiss-made quartz movement.
Since this is Hermès, the Galop watch comes with a wide range of leather straps with tang buckles, from the most traditional style (natural or black Barenia calf leather) to the most exotic (sapphire blue smooth, ember, raspberry, elephant grey or black alligator leather) via an elegant matt etoupe-coloured alligator leather strap.
Prices from 3,550 CHF (polished steel with Barenia leather) to 15,700 CHF (rose gold with diamonds and alligator leather) hermes.com
By Sharmila Bertin