Oh what a difference a strap makes! Well, ok, the modifications extend a little beyond the strap, but the buzz generated over the Apple-Hermès collaboration announced last September was undeniable. And after months of waiting, the watches are finally available online!

It’s Cupertino genius, clad in his solid-colored basic tee, favorite pair of jeans and well-worn sneakers, meets impeccably dressed Parisian in stunning couture, oozing with sophistication.

There are noticeable differences between the regular Apple watch and the Hermès edition, with the latter’s polished stainless steel case paired with a dial that’s reminiscent of Hermès’ Cape Cod and Espace models.

The Single Tour

The Hermès signature is likewise given pride of place at 12 o’clock, effectively promoting the Hermès brand over Apple’s – a move Apple’s Chief Design Officer Jony Ive described as “unprecedented” in the company’s history.

What’s more, there appears to be no apparent Apple branding when the watch is worn; there is a small Apple logo engraved at the back, but which still sits next to an Hermès logo.

The Apple Watch Hermès is available with three specific customisable dial designs, along with the usual Apple Watch faces, and there are three strap varieties: the Single Tour, Double Tour and Cuff, which while all distinctly Hermès, allows the uncluttered and functional design we love so much of Apple products, to stand out.

The Double Tour in four colours

Adding the Hermès icon and aesthetic, and of course, its beautifully crafted leather straps, to the smart and truly sleek Apple watch, naturally comes with a price, but perhaps surprisingly, not a terribly steep one. The Hermès editions start at HK$8,888 – double that of a regular Apple watch – and can go as high as HK$12,088. The watches, naturally, are packaged in Hermès’ iconic orange box.

The Apple Watch Hermès is an interesting and brilliant move that sees both Apple and Hermès benefiting handsomely: it allows Apple to further broaden its already siable clientele to include the luxury market, and Hermès to tap a younger and more moderate-income customer base.

It also doesn’t leave customers feeling shortchanged, especially if they are buying their second Apple watch, as this edition presents enough specificities to justify the price leap, and perhaps warrant a second Apple watch purchase.