Hermès and horses have taken on a dazzling new avatar, and the world is fortunate to witness them in this glittering horsescape. Pierre Hardy, creative director of Hermès Jewellery, has drawn inspiration from the maison’s equestrian past for a spectacular new high jewellery collection. It is, quite literally, the transformation of Hermès’ nearly two-century-old equestrian roots into precious, wearable art. Titled Into the Horsescape, the collection presents the horse and its world in a more glamorous form than ever before. Unlike the Birkin or Kelly bags, where the horse remains more of a quiet influence than a literal presence, this collection places it firmly in the spotlight, paying homage to the majestic animal in Hermès’ ninth high jewellery collection. No fewer than 90 one-of-a-kind creations inspired by the house’s equestrian roots are designed to enthrall jewellery lovers.
Among the pieces that instantly impress is a lasso-like necklace that appears as though a magical line has been drawn around the neck. Baguette-cut diamonds twist effortlessly around the wearer, creating a composition that is sinuous, sensual, and striking in equal measure. It is proof that Hardy is as interested in movement as he is in gemstones, designing jewellery that feels alive rather than static. While the necklace offers a delicate interpretation of the equestrian theme, the 18th-century-inspired Sellette bracelet is one of the collection’s strongest storytelling pieces, reported Wallpaper. It is based on a miniature saddle from the Émile Hermès Collection, the maison’s private archive of objects, artworks, and equestrian artifacts. Hardy transforms the saddle into a sculptural wrist jewel crafted from yellow gold, white gold, diamonds, satin-finished titanium, and black ceramic.
The choice of materials is as thoughtful as the design itself. The titanium has been given a dark, satin-like finish intended to evoke the look and feel of aged black leather, creating a subtle reminder of Hermès’ origins as a saddler. The grandeur lies in the details, particularly in the Clou de Forge Lumière necklace, where the humble blacksmith’s nail used to shoe a horse is elevated into a dramatic composition of white gold and diamonds, crowned by five pear-shaped white diamonds. It is perhaps the collection’s most poetic statement, transforming one of the least glamorous objects in a stable into one of its most breathtaking jewels.
Equally captivating is the Hermès Apparat necklace, inspired by the ceremonial coverings worn over a horse’s head and neck. Wrapping gracefully around the body like precious armor, it is crafted in rose gold and white diamonds and centers on a spectacular 9.55-carat oval orange-brown diamond. Throughout the collection, Hardy deliberately avoids simply reproducing horses in precious stones. Instead, he celebrates the world around them, from saddles and stirrups to bridles, nails, and harnesses, proving that the horse’s influence extends far beyond its silhouette.
The collection represents a true full-circle moment for Hermès, which officially dates its first jewellery creations to 1927. Even a century ago, the house identified the Filet de Selle bracelet as its first jewellery design, its form derived directly from equestrian tack. In many ways, Into the Horsescape feels less like a departure and more like a homecoming, revisiting the very language that has defined the maison since Thierry Hermès opened his harness workshop in Paris in 1837. “I implicitly tell Hermès’ story, its relationship with time and materials, before drawing on the imagination to transform them into an adornment,” Hardy shared. “We take mundane items and turn them into something sublime, whether by creating pieces inspired by boots and lassoes, or by finishing a blacksmith’s nail in gold and diamond, transforming it into a sun that illuminates one’s face. This collection journeys between the abstract and the narrative, where the ordinary becomes extraordinary.”
It is also a journey through Hermès’ relationship with jewellery over the past century, telling a story of evolution, craftsmanship, charm, and design. From equestrian tack transformed into its earliest bracelets to saddles, lassoes, and blacksmith’s nails reimagined in diamonds and gold, the collection shows how the maison’s oldest inspirations continue to evolve without losing their original spirit. As with most haute joaillerie collections, Hermès has not published prices. The one-of-a-kind creations are expected to be offered privately to the maison’s top collectors. It is safe to say if there is anything more unique than that Birkin you have been eyeing it is this collection; every one of the 90 creations is unique, meaning there will never be another identical piece.
