To be honest, I wan not in the hunt for a watch. My trip to Langkawi, a holiday island in the North of the the Malaysian peninsular was purely for rest and relaxation. However, the small boutique shop at the resort that I was staying in had a small section offering preowned knickknacks. In one of the boxes was five watches, a Rado, a Longines, the Hermes and two other brands that I cannot recall. The Hermes was the only watch in the batch that called to me. Visually, the watch looks legit. Unfortunately, the watch did not come with any paperwork or the watch box. However, based on the code stamped on the strap, the watch was manufactured in 2007.
After investigating further (I even did a water drop test and the cold test for the sapphire crystal), I concluded that that the watch is indeed original. Without thinking further, I paid RM500 for it.
As the watch is approximately 19 years old, I may need to send it for a total service with some buffing on the casing. Total investment will still be well below the current price of about RM8,000 for a preowned (albeit complete with papers and box).
As the watch is approximately 19 years old, I may need to send it for a total service with some buffing on the casing. Total investment will still be well below the current price of about RM8,000 for a preowned (albeit complete with papers and box).
On reflection, this is my first watch by Hermès. It is also on a smaller side as it is categorized as a ladies watch.
Hermes Watch Brand
As this is the first Hermès watch in the collection, I will provide a short introduction to the brand.
Although Hermès started as a Paris saddle-maker in 1837, the brand released its first watch in 1928. Today, the company fully owns its watchmaking division, combining its world-famous leather expertise with 100% Swiss craftsmanship. They even have their own special leather workshops dedicated entirely to making high-quality watch straps. Hermès is known for its creative designs rather than just standard timepieces. Some of their most iconic styles include:
- Heure H: Instantly recognizable by its bezel shaped like the brand's signature "H".
- Hermès H08: A modern, sporty watch with a unique cushion shape (square but with soft, rounded corners) perfect for everyday wear.
- Arceau: Features an asymmetrical stirrup-style lug (the part connecting the watch face to the strap), paying tribute to the brand's equestrian roots.
- Cape Cod: A distinct, bold look that fits a square watch face inside of a rectangular case.
The Cape Cod Design
In 1978, Hermès founded La Montre Hermès in Biel and entrusted Henri d’Origny with designing the brand's watches. It was in 1991 that Henri d’Origny imagined the Cape Cod:
a square inscribed in a rectangle, anchored in the Chaîne d’Ancre
motif. Graphic and luminous, it is as much a design object as a
functional jewel. In 1998, Martin Margiela created the famous “Double
Tour” strap: leather wrapped twice around the wrist, an iconic gesture
of natural Parisian chic. Cape Cod exists in several sizes, and in many dial and interchangeable strap
variations.
Personally, I feel that the Cape Cod is the quintessential timepiece that truly represent Hermès as a classic dress watch maker. The other designs by the brand are very much fashion-related and hence more 'jewelry'-like.
The Watch
Made out of stainless steel, it has a shape that is rather unique yet organic. The case has all the characteristics that made the Cape Cod an icon for Hermès. It has a square middle section that measures 29 mm by 29 mm with extended lugs inspired by the brand’s own Chaîne d’Ancre links. Thanks to the lugs (lug-to-lug length is approximately 40.5 mm), the watch wears larger than what the 29 mm measurement might suggest. But even so, the Cape Cod remains to be a modestly sized watch as it is quite thin too, with a thickness of 8.5 mm.
Another notable feature of the watch is the curvature of the casing to conform to the shape of the wrist. All edges are rounded. You can also see the small signed crown located at 3:00. The signed crown is small but grippy, offering smooth tactile feedback when setting the time or quick-setting the date. As I have been accustomed to wearing larger watches, wearing a Cape Cod will take some getting used to.
The case-back is a solid plate and screwed to the main casing by four screws at the corners. It is deeply stamped with the iconic Hermès "Ex-Libris" motif with the model number "CC1.710" and the serial number etched as well. The "Ex-Libris" motif is a horse and carriage logo and is the official emblem and central logo of the French luxury house, originally created as a personal bookplate (ex-libris) by Émile-Maurice Hermès in 1923. It serves as the foundation for the global Hermès brand identity.
Underneath the case-back is the ETA 2000-1, self-winding movement operating at ta frequency of 28,800 BPH or 4Hz. It has a power reserve of 42 hours and date complication at 3:00.
The watch comes with the standard leather strap and not the Hermès Double Tour style strap. The Hermès Double Tour strap is an iconic fashion accessory designed to wrap around the wrist twice, originally created for Hermès by designer Martin Margiela in 1998. It is highly sought after both for traditional Hermès timepieces and as a premium leather band option.
The watch comes with the standard leather strap and not the Hermès Double Tour style strap. The Hermès Double Tour strap is an iconic fashion accessory designed to wrap around the wrist twice, originally created for Hermès by designer Martin Margiela in 1998. It is highly sought after both for traditional Hermès timepieces and as a premium leather band option.
The leather strap has a light grey tint at the outer layer while the inner layer is brown. It has white stitching at the side and the buckle is signed with the brand.
The strap is 19 mm wide at the lugs and tapers to 16 mm at the buckle. Instead of just a pin-buckle, the buckle is part of a deployant mechanism that is machined from a solid block of stainless steel.
At the edge of the strap is a stamp that provide a good evidence of the age of the watch. The stamp "K" in a square box denotes the year 2007 as per the Hermes Date Stamp Chart (see below). This fact also highlights something important. The leather on this watch still looks good even after 19 years! There is no cracking or any other damage on the leather strap. I am impressed (Now I know why leather goods from Hermès is ultra-luxury - e.g. Belkin bags).
The Wearing Experience
The 2007 Hermès Cape Cod Automatic is an understated design icon. It doesn't shout for attention like a oversized sports watch, nor is it as austere as a traditional rectangular dress watch.
The real secret to the Cape Cod’s comfort, however, lies in its profile geometry:
- Curved Ergonomics: The caseback isn't flat; it features a gentle concave arc that contours naturally over the top of the wrist.
- Integrated Lugs: The rounded anchor-chain lugs extend smoothly downward, ensuring zero "lug overhang" even on smaller wrists.
- Cuff Presence: At roughly 10mm thick, it easily slips under a tailored shirt cuff or denim jacket, striking a balance between substance and subtlety.
On the wrist, it delivers nonchalant Parisian sophistication: tactile leather craftsmanship, architectural harmony, and reliable Swiss mechanical performance. Whether worn with a crisp white shirt, a cashmere knit, or a relaxed tee, it remains one of the most comfortable and stylish daily wearers from mid-2000s watchmaking.
Specifications
Model No.: CC1.710
Material Casing: Polished 316L stainless steel
Material Glass: Anti-glare sapphire crystal
Material Glass: Anti-glare sapphire crystal
Material Strap: Brown leather with signed deployant clasp
Dial: Silvered opaline dial with signature "anchor chain" (Chaine d’Ancre) motifs
Width: 29.0 mm
Lugs-to-Lugs: 40.5 mm
Thickness: 8.5 mm
Lug Width: 19.0 mm
Weight: xxxx
Caliber: ETA 2000-1, self-winding movement
Frequency: 28,800 BPH or 4Hz
Power Reserve: 42-hour
Jewels: 20
Functions: Hour, minute, central sweeping seconds, and a quick-set date function
Water Resistance: 3 Bars (30 meters)
Condition: Pre-owned, no documents or box
Manufactured Year: 2007
Serial number: 1679780
Vendor: Boutique, Tanjung Rhu Resort, Langkawi
Purchase Date: 19 July 2026
Purchase Price: RM500
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