The Hermès Cape Cod crépuscule watch: unprecedented expertise for a dial featuring a unique aesthetic
In 1991, the Hermès Cape Cod watch was born beneath the bold pencil strokes of Henri d’Origny. With its “square in a rectangle” case formed by two “anchor chain” half-links, Cape Cod now welcomes a dial with a singular aesthetic uniting and revealing two ordinarily distinct worlds.
Neuchâtel, le 10 décembre 2021
Photo: David Marchon
In 2018, Hermès initiated a meeting with the Neuchâtel-based Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM) as part of its search for a technological innovation that would be dedicated to creativity. This gave rise to a project for a dial made from a silicon wafer, which was to feature the intimate and refined “Crépuscule” (dusk) motif by designer-graphic artist Thanh-Phong Lê.
Neuchâtel, le 10 décembre 2021
Photo: David Marchon
Used in microelectronics for its semiconductor properties, the silicon wafer was chosen here for its purely aesthetic qualities, representing a first. Depending on the amount of material deposited during production, its colour varies across an infinite palette of subtle and unique shades. This highly technological process is carried out by specialised engineers in the CSEM labs.
Neuchâtel, le 10 décembre 2021
Photo: David Marchon
The dials of the Hermès Cape Cod crépuscule are created from a single 0.5 mm thick plate, which is coated in an extremely precise manner with a tiny (72-nanometre) film of silicon nitride to obtain the desired intense blue colour.
Neuchâtel, le 10 décembre 2021
Photo: David Marchon
Then comes the photolithography stage, during which the wafer is exposed to a blue light so as to print the pattern. The process involves several successive baths, before the gold-coating stage, followed by other baths to remove any superfluous material. Finally, the plate is precisely cut to the shape of the Cape Cod case.
The dial with its slender gilded hands reveals the bluish shades sprinkled with yellow gold achieved by this unique method combining creativity and nanotechnology. A navy blue calfskin single or double tour strap crafted in the Hermès Horloger workshops sets the final touch to the Cape Cod crépuscule watch.
Hermès Cape Cod crépuscule Technical Specifications
Movements
- Type: Quartz, Swiss Made
- Functions: Hours, minutes
Case
- Shape/dimensions: Rectangular, 29 x 29mm,
- “square in a rectangle”
- Material: Steel
- Glass: anti-reflective sapphire crystal
- Water resistance: 3 bar
Dial
- Blue-tinted monocrystalline silicon dial with a photolithographic transfer,
- gold coating depicting the “crepuscule” (dusk) motif created by artist Thanh-Phong Lê
Strap
- Navy blue calfskin
