Year of the Horse 2026: Hermès Watches & Shell Cordovan Straps Guide

When the Lunar New Year calendar revealed 2026 as the Year of the Horse, it felt like the perfect excuse to talk about something most people don't know: Hermès-yes, that Hermès with the legendary leather goods-has been celebrating horses since before anyone's great-great-grandparents were born.

Now, before this sounds like another luxury brand story that has nothing to do with real life, stick around. There's a part about how anyone can tap into this heritage without spending a fortune-and it involves upgrading any watch with the same equestrian craftsmanship Hermès built its reputation on.

Hermès Equestrian Heritage: From Horse Saddles to Luxury Watches

Most people know Hermès for their prestigious handbags or high-end accessories. But here's what the brand doesn't always advertise: Hermès didn't start as a fashion house at all.

In 1837, when founder Thierry Hermès opened his workshop in Paris, he had one focus: creating the finest saddles and harnesses for horses. That's it. No fashion, no accessories, no perfume. Just premium leather goods for the animal that powered the world.

For decades, European aristocracy trusted Hermès to craft the equipment their prized horses would wear. Every stitch, every cut of leather, every detail had to be perfect-because when you're making gear for a Czar's stallion or a Duke's racing mare, there's no room for mediocrity.

That legendary Hermès leather craftsmanship everyone knows about? It started with saddles. So when Hermès eventually ventured into luxury watchmaking and created horse-themed timepieces, they weren't adding a trendy motif. They were coming home to their equestrian roots.

Hermès Arceau Horse Watches: Handcrafted Equestrian Timepieces

The Arceau collection-designed by Henri d'Origny in 1978 with its signature asymmetric, stirrup-inspired lugs-has become Hermès's canvas for celebrating their equestrian heritage. And these aren't just watches with horse pictures. Each Hermès horse watch represents weeks or even months of painstaking handwork by master artisans using traditional métiers d'art techniques.

Hermès Arceau Cheval Cosmique : Against a starlit aventurine sky, a white gold horse leaps in eternal motion - each detail carved by hand into precious metal thinner than a credit card.

The Arceau Cheval Cosmique Aventurine - features a trotting horse hand-engraved in white gold against aventurine or mother-of-pearl backgrounds. An artisan works almost a week on a gold plate less than half a centimeter thick, first engraving waves and accentuating them with fine black lacquer, then fixing the engraving before covering the surrounding area with aventurine or enamel. Finally, the beautifully engraved horse is positioned as the perfect finishing touch. Only 24 pieces of each version exist.

Hermès Arceau Cheval d'Orient ; Ornate Persian horses captured in brilliant reds and golds, their flowing manes and decorative saddles preserved through ancient lacquer techniques requiring a month of careful layering.

The Arceau Cheval d'Orient showcases Persian-inspired equestrian scenes created through French lacquer craftsmanship-an artistic process requiring patience and precision. Artisans apply up to 30 coats of pigmented lacquer over weeks, respecting three days' drying time between each layer. After achieving a deep black base, they hand-paint the colorful horse motif, then add 20 layers of transparent lacquer requiring 10 days of drying. The result? Vivid colors and subtle depth that only traditional lacquer techniques can achieve.

Hermès Arceau Robe Légère : Delicate blooms and leaves adorn the horse's dappled coat - 71 diamonds frame this masterwork where silver fragments smaller than grains of sand create shimmering botanical patterns.

The Arceau Robe Légère brings a silver-spangled horse to life using paillonné enamel-a demanding technique where wafer-thin spangles of silver leaf are applied under a microscope to create flowers and leaves on the horse's coat. These delicate silver pieces are then sealed with successive layers of translucent enamel, fired multiple times in a kiln to create shimmering, transparent depths. Limited to 24 pieces in white gold set with 71 diamonds.

Hermès Arceau Horse with Studded Leather Dial: The galloping silhouette pressed into actual leather studwork - as if a fragment of an 1837 saddle was transformed into a watch dial and frozen in time.

The Arceau Horse with its studded leather dial graced with a horse silhouette demonstrates yet another métier d'art-proof that Hermès can interpret equestrian elegance through virtually any craft technique.

These luxury equestrian watches often reach five or six figures. Which brings us to what matters for most watch enthusiasts.

The Secret That Makes Any Watch Feel Premium

What if the essence of equestrian luxury-that same heritage Hermès built over 187 years-could enhance any watch? What if it didn't require a five-figure investment in a luxury timepiece?

Enter horse leather watch straps.

Most people have never experienced genuine horse leather on their wrist, but once they do, regular watch straps feel like a downgrade. Horse leather possesses unique characteristics that set it apart from typical calf or cow leather-properties rooted in the same material Hermès has been mastering since 1837.

At the absolute pinnacle sits shell cordovan-and it's not just "premium horse leather." Shell cordovan comes from a specific membrane layer beneath the hide, a dense fibrous section that exists in only two small patches on each horse. This extreme rarity drives both its price and performance. That signature glass-like sheen deepens rather than fades over years, with a density that makes it nearly impervious to water and scratches. Shell cordovan straps commonly outlive the watches they're attached to.

This Panerai PAM1117 Luminor Marina's titanium case finds its perfect match in Bourbon Horween Shell Cordovan - the warm, rich tones elevating the watch's rugged Italian character while beige stitching adds refined contrast that's impossible to ignore.

The most prestigious shell cordovan comes from Horween Leather Company in Chicago, tannery masters who've been perfecting the craft since 1905. Their shell cordovan represents the pinnacle of American leather craftsmanship, using techniques that take six months from raw hide to finished product.

On the wrist, this Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso shows what happens when Art Deco elegance meets equestrian craftsmanship- the Italian Handmade Racer watch band in Genuine Tuscan Horse Leather with beige stitching echoing the watch's refined geometry in a pairing that feels both classic and bold.

For authentic equestrian character at a more accessible price, premium horse hide straps provide an excellent alternative. Horse hide offers exceptional suppleness with remarkable strength, superior water resistance, and distinctive grain that develops rich character over time-at a fraction of shell cordovan's investment.

Handmade Italian Racer in Genuine Tuscan Deep Brown Horse Leather brings unexpected sophistication to this IWC Timezoner, the blue threading creating a visual connection that transforms the watch from impressive to unforgettable.

Whether you choose shell cordovan's ultimate luxury or premium horse hide's proven quality, you're accessing the same equestrian leather tradition that built Hermès's reputation.

The IWC Miramar's bronze-toned dial comes alive against quick-release Italian Handmade Racer strap in Genuine Tuscan Brown Horse Leather, with blue stitching that doesn't just complement the aviation heritage-it amplifies the entire composition with tactical precision.

Why Horse Leather Straps Matter for Year of the Horse 2026

For watch enthusiasts looking to upgrade Panerai straps, IWC leather straps, or bands for any luxury timepiece, horse hide or shell cordovan offers unmatched quality. Whether you're seeking a Panerai strap replacement or want to elevate an IWC Pilot watch, these horse leather straps deliver authenticity that mass-produced straps simply can't match.

So while Hermès horse-themed watches represent the absolute pinnacle of equestrian horology-with their hand-engraved gold horses, weeks-long lacquer processes, and microscopic paillonné enamel work-premium horse leather straps (like Horween shell cordovan) offer something equally valuable: a way for anyone to connect with that same heritage, celebrate this Lunar New Year with authenticity, and invest in quality that honors both the Year of the Horse and the timeless craft of working with the finest materials.

This year, the horse isn't just a zodiac symbol. It's an invitation to appreciate craftsmanship that's stood the test of time-whether at Hermès's highest level with their métiers d'art masterpieces, or through an expertly made strap that transforms an everyday timepiece into something with genuine equestrian character.

Written by Vienna C., images by Toni and others as noted

Holiday Schedule Notice:

 

We're getting ready to slow down and enjoy some precious family time during Lunar New Year. Our office and showroom will be away from operations from Friday, 13 February 2026 through Friday, 20 February 2026. Any orders that come in during this period will be shipped from Monday, 23 February 2026 onward.

Important: Our CNY order cut-off is coming up: Last orders accepted: Thursday, 12 February 2026, 3:00 PM

If you need any assistance during the office closing period, we're still here for you! While response times may be longer than usual, we'll reply to all inquiries received when we resume work.

Should you need any assistance, please approach us here: Contact us

We appreciate your understanding and wish you a wonderful year ahead!

 

May 2026 bring you strength, freedom, and unstoppable momentum! Charge into the Year of the Horse with bold confidence, powered by the rugged elegance of our Horse Leather Strap..

 

Kind regards.

Strapcode Team