When Apple revealed its partnership with Hermès on Wednesday, even the Apple Watch skeptics had to admit that the pairing was an attractive bid to woo more fashion consumers.
But upon closer inspection, some have wondered how one of the Hermès bands, the elaborately designed Double Tour, will work with the Apple Watch's sensors, which are meant to lie flush against the wrist. Apple design chief Jony Ive provided answers to such questions about the luxury offering on Friday.
The initial production of the Double Tour band was difficult, according to Ive, who detailed the process in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. In early testing, the second loop of the Hermès Apple Watch band would slip under the device's sensor, preventing precise readings on the smartwatch.
In order to prevent the slippage of the second loop, Hermès added extra padding to that part of the smartwatch band, allowing the wearer to achieve the desired look without losing any of the fitness tracking and heart rate monitor functions of the device.
Also revealed in the interview is the fact that Apple began the partnership with Hermès before the first Apple Watch was even launched, a fact that further helps to explain the company's unusually strong marketing push in magazines like Vogue.
"It's something highly unusual for Apple to do—to talk about an unannounced project," Ive told the paper. Ive also commented on the company's decision to feature the Hermès logo and name prominently on the watch face of the special edition device, a move that defies Apple tradition.
"I've been at Apple 23 years and this is conspicuous and singular," said Ive. "I’ve never known anything like this."
Available in October, the Apple Watch Hermès will sell for $1,250 (Double Tour), $1,100 (Single Tour) and $1,500 (Cuff).
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