Hermes Etrier Bracelet Rose Gold Swift Calfskin and Metal Gold H100016FO37T2

Two golds, one warm leather and one plated metal, meet in this Etrier bracelet and somehow agree. The cord is a honey-toned braided Swift calfskin, the closure is a stirrup-shaped fitting in rose gold plating, and together they give that specific effect of jewellery that looks easy, which is much harder to achieve than jewellery that looks expensive. It comes in a fit that covers 5.7 to 6.1 inches.

Functionally, the design is simple and good: the cord threads through the metal stirrup, pins back through the braid and holds, so there is no buckle on the underside and no fixed hole positions. On my wrist, which sits in the middle of the stated range, the bracelet closes with a little spare cord, and the loop improves the way it sits rather than getting in the way.

I wear mine in warm weather with white and sand, and in town with a camel coat, where the leather blends into the palette rather than standing out from it. It is also a fine bracelet for travel, since it folds flat in a pocket and does not set off a metal detector in the way a bangle might. Three trips, no complaints.

The honest part: gold-dyed Swift is a colour that changes fastest. Sun, skin oils and handling all push it toward a deeper tan, which some wearers cherish and others dislike, and the plated metalwork will dull slightly with wear. Keep it out of water, store it dry, and treat the change as aging rather than damage. Made in Italy.