Hermès has become a serious contender in recent years, including launching in-house movements five years ago and introducing the much-lauded Slim d’Hermès range.

But the luxury house hasn’t neglected its fun side, announcing new steel versions of the playful Cape Cod watch with Swiss-made quartz movements.

Elegant and stylish, the Cape Cod has been a Hermès mainstay for more than 25 years following its launch back in 1991.

It was the brainchild of Henri d’Origny, artistic director, who was charged with making a square watch – the result was the Cape Cod, a cheeky riff on a square dial in a rectangular case.

The case design took inspiration from an anchor chain, a particular influence on the case’s extended lugs.

The first new Cape Cod also features the anchor chain motif on the index-free dial. There are two dial colours, either blue lacquered, or black gold-treated and polished to become ‘étoupe’, a dark brown-grey shade.

It comes in one size, the 29 x 29mm Large Model (part of Hermès’ slightly confusing sizing scheme), and on either a single or double tour strap in matching shades.

The other new model has a mirror-polished rhodium dial, with grey Arabic numerals outlined in darker anthracite.

It comes on a single or double Milanese bracelet – a first for Hermès. It comes in two sizes, Large Model or the 23 x 23mm Small Model.

This article was first published on Salon QP