The case is curved on the back to allow it to sit on the side of the wearer's wrist with the face turned through 90 degrees so that the face is correctly orientated for telling the time without having to move your hand from the steering wheel.
Hermes didn't make the movement (which is Swiss) but presumably marketed this to the well off enthusiast/ driver of the pre or immediately post-war period.
I know that Fangio wore something similar (albeit by a different maker) and that his watch sold at auction a few years ago but I would be interested to know more history about this type of watch and in particular how popular they were in the period.
Edited by jonnylayze, 29 January 2011 - 07:26.
