These Rs 13 lakh headphones from Hermès are as luxurious as you’d expect

If there’s one thing you can count on from Hermès Ateliers Horizons – the brand’s wild-card bespoke division – it’s that when they decide to make something, they go for it with unmatched gusto.

The same team that once lined vintage cars in Hermès leather and crafted custom boomboxes has now set its sights on a new frontier – headphones. Hermès has entered the audio segment, and their debut headphones cost a whopping $15,000 or approximately Rs 13 lakh. No kidding.

Luxury meets audio in a way only Hermès could pull off

These are no ordinary cans. Over two years in the making, Hermès’ first-ever headphones aren’t about subtlety. They’re big, bold, and wrapped head-to-toe in hand-stitched cowhide leather, the same stuff used for their legendary Kelly bag.

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The metal accents shimmer like they’re straight out of a high-end watch, and the colour palette – ranging from rich chocolate to deep Prussian blue – makes a strong case for headphones as a fashion statement.

Sure, they’ll set you back a whopping $15,000 or nearly Rs 13 lakh, but these aren’t mass-market gadgets. They’re pieces of art, meticulously crafted by roughly 50 artisans at Hermès Ateliers Horizons who know their way around leather, metal, and a certain kind of understated flash.

This isn’t Hermès’ first brush with audio. They’ve made custom AirPods cases and even teamed up with Bang & Olufsen. But this is their first full dive into the world of standalone audio gear, and it’s hard not to wonder where they might go next.

Could we see a Hermès-crafted speaker? A leather-lined turntable? Or, wild as it sounds, a full-on luxury television?

Until then, these headphones exist at the intersection of craftsmanship and absurdity, where the line between wearable tech and high fashion blurs in the most Hermès way possible. To keep yourself up to date with the latest launches in the world of tech, stay tuned to Unboxed by Croma.