STYLE Edit: Just 12 pieces of the Slim d’Hermès Pégase Paysage watch are available – will you be one owner?
Best known for its ultra thin cases and gorgeous dials, the Slim d’Hermès collection has always enjoyed an outstanding reputation among collectors. Created by the maison’s creative director, Philippe Delhotal, the original Slim d’Hermès introduced in 2015 was widely appreciated for its clean dial and perfect proportions. It was the simplicity of this dress watch with a remarkable finish that drew everyone’s attention to Hermès watchmaking repertoire.
STYLE Edit: Who’s with Harry Styles on Gucci’s Art Wall in Hong Kong?
Over the years, the collection has seen several variations of this chic watch – from perpetual calendar to GMT to now a beautiful, wood marquetry timepiece. The Slim d’Hermès Pégase Paysage is a unique tribute to the brand’s equestrian heritage.
How a hidden Versailles bedroom inspired Dior
Symbolising lightness, power and serenity, the watch dial recreates Hermès’ favourite motif of a horse with a blend of different woods. The most fascinating aspect of this watch is the complex layering of the rare wood species, which evoke a bird's-eye view of hills, water and terraced rice fields besides the prominent image of the horse. The craftsmen at Hermès achieved this incredible feat by carefully selecting the blend of precious woods such as Macassar ebony and Amaranth, which offer different textures and depths to the intricate design.
While Macassar ebony is a black wood with very fine grain and high density, the Amaranth has a white heart that turns dark after many years. The dial also uses wood from chestnut tree, which is silky white, soft and homogeneous. The yellow pear tree wood, which is compact and uniform, acquires a beautiful polish and the madrona burr – a tree growth in the wood veins – that is both very hard and difficult to work with, forms small waves of orange-brown to pale red colour. The various grains of wood perfectly adapt to the meticulous art of wood marquetry in the Slim d’Hermès Pégase Paysages.
Once the craftsmen miniaturise the motif on the dial, they deftly cut out the tiny elements of wood forming the pattern. The last phase includes gluing them in place and finishing them by sanding and varnishing. The entire technique demands a rigorous discipline, patience and dexterity. Each dial takes about three weeks of dedicated work and is unique in nature.
STYLE Edit: Which scarf inspired the Hermès Arceau Astrologie Nouvelle watch?
Limited to just 12 pieces, the Slim d’Hermès Pégase Paysage watch comes in a 39.5mm diameter white gold case fitted with a matt Havana alligator strap and is powered by the ultra-thin self-winding movement, H1950, crafted by the manufacture.
Want more stories like this? Sign up here. Follow STYLE on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter .
Created as a tribute to the luxury brand’s equestrian heritage, the Slim d’Hermès Pégase Paysage watch dial recreates Hermès’ favourite motif of a horse using a blend of different woods