HERMES Paris Pair Gold & Hard Stone Bands
View Similar Items
HERMES Paris Pair Gold & Hard Stone Bands
About the Item
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 Paris Diamond Yellow Gold Rolling Ring BandsBy HermèsLocated in Feasterville, PAA fabulous Hermes rolling ring showcasing 1 band set with original Hermes round brilliant cut diamonds intertwined with a plain band. Each band is fully...Category
1990s Band Rings
MaterialsDiamond, Yellow Gold
- Cartier Paris 7-Band Gold RingBy CartierLocated in New York, NYChic and wearable 7-band ring. Made, signed and numbered by CARTIER PARIS. 18K yellow gold. Consists of seven individual bands. The bands alternate; three are beveled and four ar...Category
Vintage 1930s French Band Rings
MaterialsGold, 18k Gold
- Hermes Paris H Ring Band In 18Kt White Gold With VVS Round DiamondsBy HermèsLocated in Miami, FLH ring designed by Hermes. This is the iconic H ring, created in Paris France by the house of Hermes. This ring was crafted in solid white gold of 18 karats with high polished finish. Accented with the iconic H in the center mount with white colorless diamonds. This vintage gold model is very hard and difficult to get. Diamonds: Mount in a pave setting, with 12 round brilliant cut diamonds, 0.24 carats, white colorless E/F color, VS-1 clarity. Birthstone: For the month of April. Weight: 6.75 Grams, (4.33 Dwt). Size: 5.25 and may be easily sized on request. Measurements: The width is 7 mm (0.28 Inch). Hallmarks: Stamped with French marks, the maison maker's mark, the head of the eagle mark for the assay of the gold, the serial numbers and signed, "HERMES 49...Category
20th Century French Modernist Band Rings
MaterialsDiamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
$2,396 Sale Price20% OffFree Shipping - Cartier Paris 1970s Coral Onyx Gold Band RingBy CartierLocated in London, GBVintage coral & onyx ring by Cartier. Set with six rectangular cabochon onyx alternated by six rectangular cabochon coral, spaced with fine yellow gold bars and outer border, to a sm...Category
Vintage 1970s French Band Rings
MaterialsCoral, Onyx, Yellow Gold, Gold
- Hermes 18K White Gold H Band RingBy HermèsLocated in Southampton, PAThis sleek, simple 18K White Gold Hermes band ring is an understated piece that will forever make a statement. Accented by the brand’s iconic “H” symbol, i...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Band Rings
Materials18k Gold, White Gold
- Hermes Paris Yellow Gold Belt Buckle RingBy HermèsLocated in Feasterville, PAA chic Hermes belt buckle ring in 18k yellow gold. Size 5 1/2Category
1990s Cocktail Rings
Materials18k Gold, Yellow Gold
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.