The Swiss watchmaker has partnered with a French fish farm to source a unique leather for its Petite Promesse series of timepieces.

The Petite Promesse series by Baume & Mercier has always been a solid option for trendy women looking for a colorful accessory. And now, there will be another reason why these timepieces will be a great conversation starter on a night out. That’s because we have something new, and frankly a bit surprising, to look forward to from the series.

In a move that is equally fashion-forward and nature loving, the Swiss watchmaker will start using vibrant Banka leather for the Petite Promesse. What makes that notable is that the leather is actually made from fish skin.

The leather comes from rainbow trout, which are much better known for being delicious and on a dinner menu, rather than being used for fashion purposes.

The unique straps feature contrasting patterns that are accentuated by a special tanning process that brings out the natural scale pattern. The end result is a material that is both supple and strong, and also very unique.

The leather is sourced from a farm in the village of Banka, situated in the French Basque country on the Arpéa river. The protected natural environment provides exceptional conditions for farming trout, ensuring all environmental responsibility standards.

The idea to make leather goods from the trout came from the farm’s director, Peio Giocoechea. His fish are used to supply fine-dining and Michelin-starred restaurants, but he realized that something could be made of the skin as well.

After a year of development and in collaboration with a specialist tanner in Brittany, the farm can now offer an exclusive luxury product for the fashion and watch industries.

To begin with, a trio of bold colours have been made available for the Petite Promesse: an energetic red full of energy, a deep green, and a vibrant blue. And who knows, maybe trout leather can become the next lizard or crocodile grain in no time?