Hermès launched the Cape Cod wristwatch in 1991.
The Cape Cod was designed by Henri d’Origny and became one of Hermès’s best-known watch models. Its rectangular case was inspired by the Chaîne d’Ancre, a chain motif created for Hermès in the 1930s. The design combines a square within a rectangle, creating the watch’s characteristic proportions.
Hermès’s watchmaking history predates the Cape Cod. The company introduced the Arceau in 1978, and the Cape Cod later established a more geometric, jewelry-like presence in the collection. Its interchangeable leather straps also highlight the house’s expertise in leather craftsmanship.
The Cape Cod is sometimes confused with the Arceau because both are signature Hermès watches. The Arceau is the older model and is identified by its asymmetrical lugs; the Cape Cod is identified by its rectangular, chain-inspired case.