Jony Ive discusses the Apple Watch collaboration with Hermès, sharing an insight into their luxury partnership

Speaking with The Wall Street Journal, Apple’s design chief Jonathan Ive and Hermès artistic director Pierre-Alexis Dumas shared an interesting insight into the collaboration which saw the two companies launch Apple Watch Hermès, ‘a partnership based on parallel thinking, singular vision and mutual regard’ of creating a unique, luxury timepiece. 

According to Jonathan Ive, Apple’s discussions with Hermès started long before the first generation Apple Watch, now known as the ‘Apple Watch Series 1’ launched, with the two directors meeting over lunch in Paris which is “something highly unusual for Apple to do—to talk about an unannounced project.”

After discontinuing the head-turing Apple Watch Edition, the Apple Watch Hermès is now the company’s most expensive wearable however, this doesn’t mean Apple gave it anymore attention compared to their best seller, the Apple Watch Sport according to the design chief…

“We don’t think in those terms.” – “Look at this next to one of the sport collection,” he said, referring to the $349 rubber-bracelet version. –  “There’s not one that had more care invested in its designing or making.”