ARCEAU Petite Lune ciel étoilé
Adorned with textured mother-ofpearl, midnight blue lacquer and sparkling diamonds, the Arceau Petite Lune watch in gem-set steel extends an invitation to embark a journey beneath the starry canopy of space.
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 cutdown 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 moonphase 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
Silk threads interweave with colourful leather fragments against a limpid enamel sky, bringing to life the first strides of a galloping horse.
Designed by Henri d’Origny in 1978, the timeless Arceau watch revels in playing the transformation game. Epitomising Hermès style, its round case with stirrup-shaped lugs welcomes several highly creative and demanding artistic crafts. Enhanced with leather marquetry, silk threads and miniature painting, the Arceau Mon Premier Galop watch thus unites a diverse range of skills.
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.
Standing out against this radiant blue background, the horse composed of silk threads along with fine tesserae in various shades of leather that are first trimmed to just 0.5 mm thick. Individually assembled on the dial, the leather and silk threads form a delicate, colourful decor enlivened by a tiny hand-painted gold mobile applique.
Issued in a 24-piece limited edition, the Arceau Mon Premier Galop watch in white gold set with 82 diamonds beats to the rhythm of the Manufacture Hermès H1912 movement. The sapphire case-back reveals the finishes and the ‘sprinkling of Hs’ motif adorning the bridges and oscillating weight. Adding a final touch, a Zephyr blue Swift calfskin strap accentuates the play on light and textures adorning the watch face.
SLIM D’HERMÈS Le sacre des saisons
Depicting Nature’s bounty and a whimsical animal world, Slim d’Hermès embodies exceptional expertise. Four limited-edition models adorned with paillonné enamel, engraving or miniature painting vividly interpret the cycle of the seasons.
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.
A sun-haloed lion, an eagle with unfurled leafy wings, an ice-crowned wolf and a horse with a flower-strewn mantle: each animal symbolises a season and embodies the narrative universe and baroque fantasy of the French designer. The beauty of Nature and the depth of time are
reflected in the richness of the motifs, inspired by the costumes of 17th and 20th century French and Russian ballets. Appearing on a refined dial elegantly framed by a gold case, this mischievous bestiary reveals unique and precious skills.
WINTER
In winter, an ice wolf in paillonné enamel twirls in a white gold case set with 52 baguette-cut diamonds. This meticulous technique consists of inserting gold or silver flakes between enamel layers to create a play on light, transparency and
depth.
SPRING
Framed by a rose gold case set with 66 diamonds, spring – in the form of a horse adorned with luxuriant flowers – is born from the patient touch of the artisan who uses a brush to numerous micro-paint layers to lemon chrysoprase stone.
SUMMER
Summer, symbolised by a radiant lion, is engraved in sapphire crystal and painted from the back of the dial. This process gives it depth
and brilliance, accentuated by the white gold case set with 66 diamonds.
AUTUMN
Finally, autumn takes shape in the hollows and reliefs of the gold, sculpted using traditional burins and chisels. Its hand-painted features and volumes reveal a flamboyant eagle that unfurls its wings within the slender white gold case.
Eloquently expressing Hermès’ watchmaking expertise, these four remarkable watches are powered by a Manufacture H1950 ultra-thin mechanical self-winding movement. Each issued in a 12-piece edition, they are paired with a matt or smooth alligator leather strap, crafted in accordance with the in-house leather-making expertise.