Hermès is best known for the Birkin, Kelly, silk scarves, and its meticulous leather craftsmanship. But fewer people realize that Hermès is also a serious watchmaker—one with genuine horological credibility, Swiss manufacturing infrastructure, and partnerships with some of the most respected names in the watch industry.
While some fashion houses rely on outsourced production, Hermès produces its watches differently. Behind its elegant Parisian design language is a manufacturing story rooted in Switzerland, combining in-house capabilities with strategic ownership stakes in top-tier watch suppliers.
So, who actually makes Hermès watches? The answer is a sophisticated mix of Hermès-owned Swiss companies, high-end movement specialists, and historic watchmaking regions. This article reveals the full manufacturing truth, from movements to cases to straps.
Hermès Watches: Designed in Paris, Built in Switzerland
Hermès develops its watch designs at its creative headquarters in Paris, where the brand’s artistic directors sketch cases, dials, fonts, and overall aesthetics. However, every Hermès watch is manufactured in Switzerland, making the brand a legitimate Swiss watchmaker rather than a fashion-house watch label.
Hermès has invested heavily in Swiss watchmaking over the past two decades, ensuring that as much of its production as possible remains vertically integrated.
Who Actually Manufactures Hermès Watches?
Hermès watches are produced by a combination of:
- Hermès-owned Swiss watch companies
- Manufacturers in the heart of the Swiss Jura region
- Movement specialists (including companies Hermès owns a stake in)
- Its own leather ateliers for straps
Unlike fashion brands that outsource watchmaking to mass OEMs, Hermès relies on a Swiss haute-horlogerie supply chain similar to brands like Cartier, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton.
Let’s break down each part of the supply chain.
La Montre Hermès SA – Hermès’ Swiss Watchmaking Company
Hermès manufactures its watches through La Montre Hermès SA, established in 1978 and based in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland. This facility handles:
- movement casing
- assembly
- quality control
- case finishing
- final Swiss certification
Biel/Bienne is also the home of Omega and many major Swiss suppliers, making it one of the most important watch regions in the world. Hermès’ presence there signals its commitment to authentic Swiss watchmaking.
Hermès watches are therefore not designed by a third party—they are assembled and finished in Hermès’ own Swiss company.
Who Makes Hermès Movements? Hermès Owns a 25% Stake in Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier
One of the biggest reasons Hermès has true watchmaking credibility is its investment in Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier, one of Switzerland’s top high-end movement makers.
Vaucher is the movement-manufacturing arm of Parmigiani Fleurier and is known for producing:
- ultra-thin automatic movements
- premium micro-rotor calibres
- hand-wound haute-horlogerie movements
- COSC-certified calibres
By owning 25% of Vaucher, Hermès directly influences movement development and gets priority access to custom-made, high-end movements.
This partnership powers many of Hermès’ most prestigious watches, including:
- Slim d’Hermès
- Hermès H1912 calibres
- Hermès H1837 calibres
Rather than relying on generic ETA movements, Hermès receives exclusive, Hermès-modified Swiss movements designed specifically for the brand.
This places Hermès far above typical fashion-watch labels and aligns it with true luxury horology.
Dial and Case Production: Swiss Partners, Swiss Craftsmanship
Like many Swiss maisons, Hermès works with highly specialized case and dial manufacturers located in the Swiss Jura region. These suppliers handle:
- case machining
- polishing
- engraving
- sapphire crystal fitting
- enamel or lacquer dial work
- guilloché finishing
Some cases (especially for limited editions) feature hand-engraved motifs, grand feu enamel, or artisanal métiers d’art, executed by Swiss craftspeople who previously worked for renowned haute-horlogerie brands.
Although Hermès does not disclose every supplier—common practice in Swiss watchmaking—the work comes from top-tier Swiss dial and case specialists.
Leather Straps: Handcrafted by Hermès Artisans in France
One of the strongest differentiators of Hermès watches is the strap craftsmanship. While most luxury brands outsource straps, Hermès produces them in-house, using the same artisans who create Birkin and Kelly bags.
Every strap—Barénia, Swift, Epsom, or alligator—is:
- hand-cut
- hand-stitched with the signature saddle stitch
- edge-painted
- burnished
- punch-finished
- handcrafted in Hermès leather ateliers in France
This gives Hermès watches a unique tactile identity—no other watch brand, not even Patek Philippe or Rolex, produces leather straps with Hermès-level craftsmanship.
Hermès’ dedication to strapmaking is so respected that the company supplies straps for other luxury watch brands, including Apple for the Apple Watch Hermès line.
Quartz Models: Still Swiss-Made
Even Hermès’ quartz watches use Swiss movements. These typically come from:
- ETA (Swatch Group)
- Ronda (Swiss manufacturer)
However, the casing, finishing, and assembly still take place at La Montre Hermès in Switzerland, ensuring that every model meets the legal requirements for the Swiss Made designation.
Are Hermès Watches Made by the Same Factories as Other Luxury Brands?
In some cases, yes. The Swiss watchmaking ecosystem is deeply intertwined. Hermès shares suppliers with:
- Parmigiani Fleurier
- Richard Mille
- Chanel (which owns a stake in Kenissi)
- Audemars Piguet (for artisanal projects)
However, thanks to its investment in Vaucher and its own manufacturing capabilities, Hermès maintains control over proprietary movements, cases, and finishing details.
Unlike “fashion brands” whose watches are made in China or mass-produced Swiss OEMs, Hermès places itself firmly in the luxury watchmaking category.
Iconic Hermès Watch Models That Demonstrate Its Manufacturing Strength
Slim d’Hermès
Powered by a Vaucher-made micro-rotor movement, the Slim d’Hermès is a genuine piece of haute horlogerie. The typography for the numerals was specially designed by Philippe Apeloig, and the movement is finished with elegant Hermès touches.
Cape Cod
A design icon since 1991, the Cape Cod’s case is produced through Swiss machining and hand-finishing. Leather straps are handmade in France.
Nantucket
A more delicate evolution of the Cape Cod, also produced in Switzerland with the same artisanal finishing.
Arceau
Hermès’ oldest watch line, designed in 1978. Many Arceau models feature complications or artistic dials created by Swiss craftsmen.
These watches demonstrate that Hermès takes watchmaking as seriously as leather goods.
How Hermès Differs From Other Fashion Houses in Watch Manufacturing
Many fashion brands rely on outsourced, mass-produced watch OEMs. Hermès stands apart because:
- It owns a Swiss watch company (La Montre Hermès).
- It owns part of a major movement manufacturer (Vaucher).
- It produces its own straps in-house.
- Its watches are fully Swiss-made.
- It invests in high-end watchmaking, not just branding.
- It uses proprietary movements rather than generic ones.
This makes Hermès more comparable to Cartier, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton—all of whom have invested heavily in true watchmaking.
Hermès is now considered a legitimate luxury watchmaker, not a fashion brand selling watches.
So, Who Makes Hermès Watches? The Complete Answer
Hermès watches are produced by a high-end, vertically integrated Swiss-French manufacturing network involving:
- La Montre Hermès SA (Swiss facility – assembly & quality control)
- Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier (Swiss movements – Hermès owns 25%)
- Swiss Jura region specialists (cases, dials, complications)
- Hermès leather artisans in France (handmade straps)
Every watch is Swiss Made, designed in Paris, assembled in Switzerland, and finished with Hermès’ signature leather expertise.
Hermès is not outsourcing to mass factories. It is investing in real horology—one of the reasons its watches maintain strong reputation, rising resale value, and increasing collector interest.
Conclusion: Hermès Watches Are True Swiss Luxury, Not Fashion Accessories
Hermès may be famous for handbags and silk scarves, but its watches are far from fashion accessories. They are genuine Swiss-made timepieces crafted through a vertically integrated manufacturing ecosystem involving:
- Swiss movement masters
- artisan case and dial specialists
- Parisian designers
- Hermès’ legendary leather workshops
This combination of heritage craftsmanship, technical precision, and aesthetic refinement places Hermès firmly in the world of true luxury watchmaking—on par with major Swiss maisons, and far more authentic than typical “fashion watches.”
Knowing who makes Hermès watches reveals how deeply the brand invests in its art, its supply chain, and the integrity of each timepiece that carries its name.
