The new Hermès Arceau Squelette timepiece, presented at Watches & Wonders, is mysterious and enigmatic. Its skeleton heart appears beneath a smoked crystal, punctuated by openwork numerals.
Designed by Henri d’Origny in 1978, the Arceau timepiece is the epitome of formal classicism. Its sober and carefully studied design, its round case with asymmetrical stirrup-shaped lugs, along with its sloping font evoking a galloping horse, all contribute to establishing its timeless yet contemporary nature. This new interpretation of Hermès time reveals the complexity of mechanical architecture.
The Arceau Squelette timepiece features a round steel case framing a smoked sapphire crystal dial. From the deep black gradient on the chapter ring, enhanced by a beaded minute circle and silvered numerals, to the transparency of the centre revealing the skeleton movement. The bridges, the anthracite wheels and the openwork oscillating weight play with the lightness of the slender hour and minute hands, while the cut-out numerals and the Hermès signature appear to be levitating. This aerial display is powered by a mechanical self-winding movement.
Technical information:
Movement:
Type: Mechanical self-winding, crafted in Switzerland
Functions: Hours, minutes
Case:
Shape/Size: Round, 40 mm in diameter
Material: Steel
Water resistance: 3 bar
Dial:
Dial in gradient-shaded black sapphire, transparent in the centre.
Silvered Arabic numerals.
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