Watches by Hermès' latest Arceau collection depict natural wonders of Canada
Over a week was spent creating each dial by artisans.
It's impossible to survive for 183 years without learning a thing or two about reinvention, and Hermès has mastered that skill, among others, and one recent example is the redesign of one of its most prized timepieces with a nature-inspired approach.
It has been a mainstay of the house since 1978 when Henri d'Origny designed the Arceau watch. In recent decades, the classic round case silhouette and signature curvature of the watch have served as a canvas for many iterations, but two new limited editions, each of which has just 24 pieces, take their aesthetic cues from the majestic Canadian wilderness.
With its polar bear and snowy owl designs derived from the Into the Canadian Wild silk scarf created by British artist Alice Shirley for Canada's 150th anniversary, this new version, dubbed the Arceau Into the Canadian Wild, features a polar bear and a snowy owl, respectively, with designs inspired by the scarf. In addition to the owl, the polar bear and cub represent the variety of terrain and wildlife in the region. The horologer’s choice of fauna is not an accident.
A Parisian brand's highly skilled artisans meticulously traced the contours of each dial's motif for over a week to create a sense of depth and texture. Upon completion of the adventurer base, another firing in the kiln was completed, after which the painting was created by strategically layering paint and firing it again between each layer to create the animals and landscapes depicted. As a result of these techniques combined, despite its tiny scale, this watch creates a multidimensional background, a fact highlighted by the 82 diamonds that are encircling its 23.9 mm white gold case.
In addition to their good looks, both styles boast a self-winding mechanical movement, manufactured by the Swiss company Hermès, that is powered by a 50-hour power reserve and is water resistant up to a depth of 3 meters.
Despite the fact that Hermès revamped the dial of the Arceau, the brand didn't neglect to retain the features that have made the watch a classic. In fact, the new Arceau still retains the stirrup-shaped lugs and the beautifully handsome blue alligator strap that made the watch a classic. Find it in-store come September at an excellent price.
