Leather marquetry

The maison Hermès incorporates unique craftsmanship into its watch creations, one of the most fascinating examples being leather marquetry.

Leather marquetry is an artisanal technique that involves cutting and assembling tiny pieces of leather in different colors and textures to create patterns. This process, typically reserved for decorating furniture and objects, is here applied to watchmaking, which presents a challenge due to the small size of the dials.

It is a true technical feat that requires hours of meticulous work. Each dial is unique, with nuances and details that are impossible to replicate exactly, making every watch as rare as it is precious.

What are the production steps?

Selecting the leathers: The artisan chooses high-quality hides with a carefully selected color palette to match the desired patterns and shades.

Cutting the pieces: He/she cuts tiny pieces of leather, sometimes only a few millimeters in size, using precision tools. Each piece is meticulously shaped to perfectly fit the design of the dial.

Assembly: The leather pieces are assembled one by one onto a dial base until the patterns come to life.

Finishing and protection: Once the pattern is complete, it is gently pressed and smoothed to ensure flatness, and a thin layer of protective coating is applied to ensure durability.