Galop d’Hermès by Ini Archibong
Hermès unveiled Galop d’Hermès, a new women's timepiece, earlier this year at Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH). Its dynamic design was inspired by the shape of a stirrup and the aerodynamics of a racehorse, and created by American designer Ini Archibong in his debut collaboration with the brand.
The artist: Born in 1983 in Pasadena, California, to Nigerian parents, Archibong founded his independent design studio, called Design by Ini, in 2010. He met Philippe Delhotal, creative director of Hermès Horloger, in Geneva while studying for his master's degree at L’École Cantonal d’Art de Lausanne. Prior to the partnership, Archibong specialised in lighting and furniture design.
The watch: Galop d’Hermès is particularly notable for its simple design. Classic, timeless, and modest, it flaunts a crown at 6 o'clock rather than the right side of the case. This creates a well-balanced structure that flows uninterrupted from top to bottom. All four versions feature Arabic numerals and come in ether steel or rose gold with a leather strap.
See also: All You Need To Know About Vacheron Constantin's Mécaniques Sauvages Series