Hermes Mini Constance Guillochee Belt Buckle & Reversible Leather Strap 24 mm Swift and Epsom Calfskin Étoupe Blanc

Run a thumb across this one and you find the difference: the guillochee buckle is engine-turned with a fine repeating pattern, so light travels over it in short waves instead of one flat glare. It is the same compact Mini Constance shape, only dressed a little more intricately.

Colours are Etoupe and Blanc, a warm grey-taupe on the Swift calfskin face and chalk white on the Epsom reverse. The 24 mm strap is slim and threads the narrow loops of tailored trousers; the yellow gold plating warms both the taupe and the white rather than competing with them. On a cream or camel outfit the etched buckle catches the light just enough to be noticed across a table.

Swift’s smooth grain looks best in daylight and with softer fabrics, so I wear the Etoupe side with knitwear, camel coats and suiting. Epsom is heat-embossed and resists scuffs, and its matte white stays brighter longer than most pale leathers, though it is still white: keep it away from raw denim, dark bags that rub at the hip and anything that might transfer dye.

The engraved lines of the buckle collect a little dust and polish, so an occasional pass with a soft cloth is worth the minute it takes. As with any reversible strap, the opposite colour shows along the edge and the leather holds a slight curve from its last wearing, both of which ease with time.

Offered in waist measurements of 70 to 115 cm. Both pieces come from France.