The Apple Watch—it could have gone the way of the universally panned Google Glass—the smart watch was initially dismissed by some critics as ugly and worse still, boring. Now we are sitting up and paying attention because Apple has come together with master leather craftsmen at Hermès and the result is glorious.

More of us are using our smartphone as a timepiece but what is the Apple Watch, exactly? In short, it has most of the functionality of a smartphone but is worn on the wrist—a vibration alerts of emails and texts, it can measure heart rate like a Fitbit, and even be used to pay for lunch via the Apple Pay app.

Hermès brings the luxe looks to the impressive technology, humanizing the futuristic with its rich legacy. In contrast to the ‘smart’ capabilities, the bands (cuff, double tour or single tour) are hand stitched and feature classic Hermès design.

Apple Watch Hermès includes an exclusive watch face that can be customized with three typefaces, three numeral displays, and three complications — stopwatch, date, and world clock.

Sometimes, the missing part of a good idea is beauty, Hermès is here to help.

images courtesy Hermès hermes.com

In store from 5th October 2015