ARCEAU Petite Lune ciel étoilé
The Arceau watch designed by Henri d’Origny in 1978 combines understatement with creativity in a round shape resting on a stirrup, a nod to the brand’s equestrian roots. Its steel case featuring asymmetrical lugs and a gem-set crown is adorned with 70 diamonds using a cut-down setting technique that highlights the diamonds’ many facets.
This setting frames a celestial dial that captures the gaze and propels it into a star-studded night sky. In a play on chiaroscuro effects, the textured mother-of-pearl reveals its nuances and reliefs in shades of blue lacquer. The moon appears in an iridescent glow, while a constellation of seven diamonds lights up the surrounding darkness.
Swept over by slender leaf-shaped hands, this starlit universe is brought to life by the Manufacture Hermès H1837 movement powering the hours and minutes as well as the moon-phase functions appearing between 10 and 11 o’clock The sapphire crystal caseback reveals the circular-grained, snailed and satin-brushed finishes, as well as the ‘sprinkling of Hs’ motif adorning the bridges and oscillating weight.
This timepiece with its fascinating deep hues is fitted with a sapphire-blue alligator strap crafted in accordance with the brand’s saddlery and leather goods expertise.
ARCEAU Mon Premier Galop
Its singular aesthetic reveals a joyful interpretation of the Mon Premier Galop shawl by artist Tong Ren. Fascinated by traditional basketry work, the Chinese-born designer combines simple lines, colour blocks and refined decorative-trimming motifs. His drawing depicts a horse moving across the sand, accompanied by a fluttering butterfly and lit up by a mischievous sun playing with the clouds. Its faltering gait imbued with a sense of fragility and daring evokes the moment of grace of those first steps of horseback.
This magical moment comes to life on the dial of the Arceau Mon Premier Galop watch with its 30-piece jigsaw-like nature uniting several skills deeply cherished by Hermès. The sky and the radiant sun are crafted in enamel, a meticulous technique that involves applying a multitude of enamel layers with a brush and drying them in a kiln to guarantee unique colours and contrasts.
SLIM D’HERMÈS Le sacre des saisons
Crafted by experienced artisans, Slim d’Hermès Le Sacre des saisons highlights a palette of skills that are as demanding as they are remarkable. Each embodying a season, four animal figures drawn from a Hermès silk scarf take on a new artistic dimension on the dial in a profusion of nuances and captivating details. Designed by Philippe Delhotal in 2015, Slim d’Hermès expresses the very essence of Hermès: a singularity that is all about rigorous discipline and pleasing balance. Its pure, contemporary yet timeless lines evoke the inimitable style and imaginary world of Hermès. Showcasing a range of rare and often unexpected crafts, it boldly – yet with a light touch – revisits the silk scarf titled Le Sacre des saisons and designed by artist Pierre Marie.
