Arceau Harnais français remix | © David Marchon for Hermès
© Studio des fleurs for Hermès

Arceau Harnais français remix: the porcelain dream of Hermès

If you love porcelain, we’ve got something special for you. And it is Hermès Arceau watch that is adorned with a dial of a painted porcelain miniature. With its round case featuring stirrup-like asymmetrical lugs, the watch radiates a timeless, understated and distinctive allure. Appearing in a white gold case set with 82 diamonds framing an engraved and hand-painted porcelain dial, the Arceau Harnais français remix limited edition truly shows off the expertise and creativity of Hermès Horloger.

The dial motif, composed of a pair of splendidly harnessed horses, echoes the element of the “Harnais Français Remix” silk scarf. The latter was originally designed by Hugo Grygkar, the in-house designer from the 1940s to 1959. The artist was inspired by the private collection of Émile Hermès: a team of horses richly caparisoned and topped with multicoloured feathers, designed by two young XIX century architects – Fontaine and Percier. They were the architects comissioned to design a coach for the coronation of Napoleon I in 1804.

Transposed to the dimensions of the Arceau watch dial, this equestrian depiction requires almost a month of meticulous craftsmanship. The profile of the horses is hand-engraved on bisque (unglazed) Limoges porcelain. The matt appearance of the material corresponds to the production stage preceding enamelling. Here, the different colours are applied directly to this raw material with its unique rendering.

Finally, produced in a limited and numbered series of 24, the Arceau Harnais français remix watch is driven by the H1912 mechanical self-winding movement. It, like the gem-set gold case and raspberry alligator strap, is crafted in the Hermès Horloger workshops.

Technical specifications

Arceau Harnais français remix | © Studio des fleurs

Limited and numbered edition of 24

Movement: manufacture Hermès H1912 movement Mechanical self-winding, crafted in Switzerland
Diameter: 23.9 mm
Thickness: 3.7 mm
Power reserve: 50 hours
Functions: hours, minutes
Case shape / dimensions: round, 38 mm in diameter
Material: white gold set with 82 diamonds
Glass: anti-glare sapphire crystal and case-back
Water resistance: 3 bar
Dial: painted and engraved porcelain

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