Hermes Kelly Watch
View Similar Items
Hermes Kelly Watch
About the Item
- Creator:Hermès (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 3 in (7.62 cm)Width: 0.75 in (1.91 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:1980-1989
- Date of Manufacture:1980s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Los Angeles, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU185334254533
Hermès
For Hermès, what began as a maker of leather equestrian goods for European noblemen would eventually grow into one of the most storied fashion labels in the world. In 1837, German-born French entrepreneur Thierry Hermès opened a saddle and harness purveyor in Paris. Gradually, the house extended into accessories and luggage for its riders, and today, in paying homage to its origins, the family-run luxury brand resurfaces horse motifs in everything from clothing and modernist jewelry to pillows and handbags.
The first top-handled bag ever produced by Hermès was the Haut à courroies, which made its debut in 1892. A tall bag secured with a folded leather flap (fastened with bridle-inspired straps), it was designed to transport riding boots and a harness. As the world made the switch from horse to automobile, the bag adapted, becoming a multifunctional travel satchel instead of a designated saddlebag. Today, 120 years later, the HAC remains in Hermès’s line — and its distinctive flap and clasping straps have laid the groundwork for some of the house’s other iconic bags.
In the 1930s, Robert Dumas (son-in-law to Émile-Maurice Hermès, Thierry’s grandson) designed a smaller, trapezoidal take on the flap bag with a handle and two side straps. Later, actress Grace Kelly, then engaged to Prince Rainier of Monaco, is said to have used one of these bags to conceal her pregnancy during the 1950s. Because she was photographed constantly, the coverage catapulted her handbag to international popularity. In 1977, Hermès officially renamed the model for her, and the Kelly bag was born. Each Kelly bag takes between 18 and 25 hours to produce, and its 680 hand stitches owe solely to one Hermès artisan.
Robert Dumas was also responsible for another one of the brand’s most iconic offerings: the launch of its first silk scarf on the occasion of Hermès’s 100th anniversary in 1937. Based on a woodblock designed by Dumas and printed on Chinese silk, the accessory was an immediate hit.
Today, vintage Hermès scarves, typically adorned in rich colors and elaborate patterns, serve many functions, just as they did back then. Well-heeled women wear it on their heads, around their necks and, in a genius piece of cross-promotion, tied to the straps of their Hermès bags. Kelly even once used one as a sling for her broken arm.
In 1981, Robert Dumas’s son Jean-Louis Dumas, then Hermès chairman, found himself sitting next to French actress and musician Jane Birkin on a plane, where she was complaining about finding a suitable carryall for the necessary accoutrements of motherhood. After the two travelers were properly introduced, Birkin helped design Jean-Louis’s most famous contribution to the Hermès canon: the Birkin bag, a roomy, square catchall with the HAC’s trademark leather flap top and the addition of a lock and key. Owing to the brand’s legendary commitment to deft, handcrafted construction, the Birkin is an investment that is coveted by collectors everywhere.
While the Kelly and Birkin may be standouts, gracing the arms of everyone from royal heiresses to hip-hop stars in the past few decades, the handbags are but a small part of Hermès’s fashion offerings. Since the 1920s, the brand has produced some of the most desirable leather goods in the world. There’s the Constance bag, a favorite of Jacqueline Kennedy, the recently relaunched 1970s-era Evelyne and, on the vintage market, a slew of designs dating back to the 1920s.
Good design never goes out of style. Find a variety of vintage Hermès handbags, day dresses, shoes and more on 1stDibs.
- Hermes Riding CropBy HermèsLocated in Los Angeles, CAVintage Hermes riding crop with deer antler handle. The shaft is covered in a beautifully braided leather and finished at the bottom with twine. The...Category
Vintage 1960s English Sports Equipment and Memorabilia
MaterialsSilver
$1,500 - Mini Hermes Playing CardsBy HermèsLocated in Los Angeles, CAHermès mini playing cards in the original box and original wrapping. Made in France. Both sets are sealed and unused. Gold gilded edges on both decks. One b...Category
Vintage 1970s French Games
MaterialsPlastic, Paper
- Hermes Playing Cards, 1970s FranceBy HermèsLocated in Los Angeles, CAHermès playing cards in the original box and in good vintage condition. Made in France. Both sets are complete and feature gold gilded edges on bo...Category
Vintage 1970s French Games
MaterialsPlastic, Paper
- Hermes Silver Cube Lighter, 1960s FranceBy HermèsLocated in Los Angeles, CAMagnificent cube lighter by Hermes, Paris, circa 1960s France. Hermes H displayed on all 4 sides. Silver plated. Stamped Hermes, Paris underneath. Heavy a...Category
Vintage 1960s French Mid-Century Modern Tobacco Accessories
MaterialsMetal, Silver
- High Hand Pinball Arcade Game, 1973 USALocated in Los Angeles, CAVintage 'HIGH HAND' pinball machine from 1973. Made by D. Gottlieb & Company and designed by Ed Krynski. In excellent working condition. Great visuals and sounds. Extremely fun paced...Category
Vintage 1970s American Games
MaterialsMetal
- Giraffe Taxidermy Mount, 1970sLocated in Los Angeles, CAStunning Giraffe taxidermy mount. Just over 7 feet tall. Beautiful expression to face. Overwhelming presence in the room. Good coloring to fur and go...Category
Vintage 1970s American Taxidermy
MaterialsFur, Glass, Wood
- Vintage Hermes Kelly Watch Gold PlatedBy HermèsLocated in North Hollywood, CAVintage Hermes Kelly Watch. 1989 Hermes tan leather Kelly Watch gold plated. Removable gold plated lock charm watch which dangles from a gold-plat...Category
Vintage 1980s French Organic Modern Collectible Jewelry
MaterialsGold Plate
- Ellsworth KellyLocated in New York City, NYThe definitive monograph on one of the most revered artists of our time Ellsworth Kelly will forever be remembered as one of the most distinctive and influential artists of our ti...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Books
MaterialsPaper
$60 / item - 1960’s Hermès Bullet BoxBy HermèsLocated in Hong Kong, HK1960’s Hermès Bullet Box (signed “Hermès Paris” at the bottom of the box) Half a Bullet in Brass is attached on the top of the lid The inside of ...Category
Vintage 1960s French Decorative Boxes
MaterialsMetal
$4,200 - 1950s Hermès Anchor ClipBy HermèsLocated in Hong Kong, HK1950s Hermès anchor clip engraved at the bottom “Hermes Paris” The clip has a brass anchor fixed on the top and would have been used to hold documents...Category
Vintage 1960s French Nautical Objects
MaterialsMetal, Brass
$4,200 - Hermes Chess Set, 1985By Hermès, Rena DumasLocated in Palm Springs, CAA beautiful and elegant chess set designed by Rena Dumas for Hermes circa 1985. Come with a leather folder. Pieces are made of steel and brass. The King...Category
Vintage 1980s French Games
MaterialsMetal
$8,400 Sale Price20% Off - Kelly Wearstler: SynchronicityLocated in New York, NYKelly Wearstler, one of the most irreverent and successful designers working today, continues to push boundaries with her inventive and opulent residential and commercial interiors. Celebrated for pioneering and provocative interiors that guide global trends, Kelly Wearstler is known for her iconic designs of residences and boutique hotels. Pairing an exploration of materiality, color, and form with an intuitive juxtaposition of contemporary, vintage, architectural, and organic sensibilities, she has defined an aesthetic that is all her own. With a social media following that has grown to exceed two million and expansion into her own lines of furniture, lighting, and decor, hers is one of the most distinctive voices in the interiors world. Here, in her first new book in four years, Wearstler takes a decidedly bold and minimalist approach to presenting her recent work, profiling seven of her latest and most striking residential and hospitality designs with immersive full-page photography and extraordinary detail. Wearstler’s unique eye and decisive touch are visible throughout, from a sleek and monochromatic home in Venice Beach to a richly textured beach house in Malibu and the dynamic new Proper hotels in Santa Monica and Austin, Texas. Insightful text from Dan Rubinstein guides readers through each space and the tactile furniture...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Books
MaterialsPaper
$60 / item
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
The Hermès Passe-Guide Bag Might Not Be as Well Known as the Birkin or Kelly, But It’s Every Bit as Chic
Find out why this under-the-radar piece is so exceptional.
How to Spot a Fake Hermès Birkin Bag
The iconic Birkin bag is much coveted — and often copied. Find out how to tell the real deal from a convincing fake. Of course, you don't have to worry about this on 1stDibs, where every seller is highly vetted.