Hermes Sterling Gold Chain Necklace
View Similar Items
Hermes Sterling Gold Chain Necklace
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:20 Century
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Lambertville, NJ
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2881099952
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.
- Pickleball Paddle Necklace in Sterling Silver w Paperclip Chain SterlingBy Five Star JewelryLocated in Austin, TXThis Pickleball Paddle Necklace was handcrafted by our jewelers at Five Star Jewelry in Austin, Texas! We love pickleball and play almost everyday so...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Contemporary Pendant Necklaces
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Alex Jona Gold Plated Sterling Silver Woven Long Chain NecklaceBy Alex JonaLocated in Torino, ITAlex Jona design collection, hand crafted in Italy, rhodium plate sterling silver gold plated long chain necklace, 35.43 inch- 90cm long, made of woven small chains. Alex Jona jewel...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary Chain Necklaces
MaterialsSilver, Sterling Silver, Gold Plate
- Garnet Link Chain Necklace in Sterling SilverBy Stephen DweckLocated in Lyndhurst, NJIndulge in the rich allure of this Garnet Link Chain Necklace, a stunning addition to any jewelry collection. Crafted with precision in sterling silver, each link of the chain showca...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Link Necklaces
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Betony Vernon "Pierced Chain Necklace" Sterling 925 Necklace in StockBy Betony VernonLocated in Rome, ITThe "Pierced Chain Necklace" was designed by Betony Vernon in 1998 and manufactured in lost wax elements. Part of the iconic "Tokens of Paradise Collection", it is a symbol of virili...Category
1990s Italian Contemporary Chain Necklaces
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Alex Jona Sterling Silver Woven Long Chain NecklaceBy Alex JonaLocated in Torino, ITAlex Jona design collection, hand crafted in Italy, rhodium plate sterling silver long chain necklace, 35.43 inch- 90cm long, made of woven small chains. Alex Jona jewels stand out,...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Chain Necklaces
MaterialsSterling Silver
- Keiko Mita 14 Karat Gold and Sterling Silver Mai Lariat Chain NecklaceBy Keiko MitaLocated in New York, NYKeiko Mita's unique Mai Lariat Necklace is handmade from 14 Karat Yellow Gold and Sterling Silver- The artistic lariat necklace is 32" long and has a lobster clasp closure. The lengt...Category
2010s American Contemporary Chain Necklaces
MaterialsGold, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver, Mixed Metal
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.