Sandra‘s Closet

The Arceau watch, designed by Henri d’Origny in 1978, lends its understated yet unique aesthetic to a new expression of time according to Hermès. A playful and paradoxical creation that diverts the moon from its expected role.

Here, the Earth’s satellite itself indicates the time as the numerals whirl in the moonlight, while the minutes hand points to the distant stars of a constellation. Ever since its creation, the round 36 mm case of the Arceau has rested on a rectangular stirrup, tracing a timeless silhouette. Its black bezel adorned with black spinels radiates an intense nocturnal light. Its sunburst glossy black dial is enlivened by a carousel of sloping numerals sweeping over an iridescent moon. Standing out against this radiant darkness are a moon and stars crafted in mother-of-pearl and revealed by luminescent lacquer.

Issued in a limited edition of 300, the Arceau Ronde des heures watch in steel is fastened to the wrist by a strap in black alligator crafted by Hermès artisans. Price: CHF 6450.00.

I find it very beautiful and you?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Hermès

When you cry ‘wolf ’, it appears on the dial of the new Arceau Awooooo ! watch. Crafted in enamel, the silver-furred animal stands out against a starstudded backdrop featuring a slim moon crescent. This miniature scene is beautifully framed by a white gold case and a matte graphite alligator strap.

A new character in the bestiary designed by Alice Shirley, the Arceau watch now calls “Awooooo!” with its motif initially created for a line of men’s scarves. The fascinating yet feared white wolf of myths and fairy stories emerges from the woods, gloriously wild and depicted in miniature on an enamel-painted dial.

In reproducing the refined original design, the wolf and its star-studded background spring to life by dint of meticulous workmanship. The artisan crafts both sides of the transparent white enamel dial, then carefully polishes it to achieve a perfectly smooth surface. The outlines of the motif are then traced and, using an extremely fine brush, various enamel powders are applied mixed with natural oils. Then come several successive stages of coatings, interspersed with drying and firing in the oven, before the painting takes shape in all its magnificent realism.

Using a graphic style and subtle shades of grey, the animal is shown in its natural, essentially nocturnal way of life. A starry night and a slim moon crescent also evoke the cycle of nature, within which the predator plays an essential role. The overall tone matches the white gold case, whose round shape topped by stirrup-shaped lugs houses a Manufacture Hermès movement.

Fitted with a matte graphite alligator strap, its classic design imagined 40 years ago by Henri d’Origny accentuates the elegance of this eight-piece limited edition.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Numbered limited edition of 8
DIAL
White gold base enamelled using the miniature painting technique.
Awooooo motif from a Hermès scarf designed by the artist Alice Shirley
CASE
Round, 41 mm in diameter in 750 white gold (≈ 52 g)
Anti-glare sapphire crystal and case-back / Water-resistant to 3 bar
21 mm interhorn width
STRAP
Matte graphite alligator with a 750 white gold pin buckle (≈ 5.34 g), 17 mm
MOVEMENT
Manufacture Hermès H1837 movement/ Mechanical self-winding, Swiss made
26 mm in diameter, 3.7 mm thick / 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz)
50-hour power reserve / Circular-grained and snailed mainplate
Bridges and oscillating weight satin-brushed and adorned with a sprinkling of Hs,
Hermès Paris engraving.
FUNCTIONS
Hours, minutes

LoL, Sandra

Photos: © Hermès / David Marchon

The Cape Cod watch was born in 1991 from the out-of-the-box mindset cultivated by Henri d’Origny. He had been asked to imagine a square watch, but he preferred rectangular ones. Based on a somewhat crazy idea – cutting the iconic «Anchor Chain» motif in two – he dared to combine shapes. A square embedded in a rectangle, the Cape Cod watch is magnified by its double tour strap that gives the watch an additional touch of originality and boldness. As playful as ever, and something decidedly different.

Cape Cod welcomes new versions that will be presented at SIHH 2018. Here is your exclusive preview. The first features a rhodium-plated dial, polished to create a mirror-like effect and coated with a precious translucent lacquer. It is available in two versions – Large Model and Small Model – with a single or double tour Milanese mesh bracelet.

Two other variations are also introduced, in Large Model version only, with a single or double tour étoupe or Malta blue strap. The dial of the first features a black gold treatment, while the second is blue lacquered. «Anchor Chain» motifs are applied to the dials of these two models – a detail that once again emphasises the spirit of the Cape Cod, which is all about nuances and subtle discoveries.

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
DIAL Rhodium-plated and mirror-polished dial, coated with a blue-tinted translucent lacquer. Grey transferred Arabic numerals in an anthracite frame. Rhodium-plated hands CASE A square embedded in a rectangle / Large model (GM), 29 x 29 mm, lug width of 19 mm / Small model (PM), 23 x 23 mm, lug width of 14 mm / Imagined by Henri d’Origny in 1991 316L steel / Sapphire crystal with anti-glare treatment / Water-resistant to 3 bar STRAP Milanese mesh bracelet in 316L steel, single or double tour MOVEMENT Quartz, Swiss made FUNCTIONS Hours and minutes

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

DIAL Blue lacquered or black gold-treated and polished dial, coated with a translucent lacquer. Applied «Anchor Chain» hour-markers. Rhodium-plated hands CASE A square embedded in a rectangle / Large model (GM), 29 x 29 mm, lug width of 19 mm / Imagined by Henri d’Origny in 1991 316L steel / Sapphire crystal with anti-glare treatment / Water-resistant to 3 bar STRAP Malta blue grained or étoupe smooth calfskin, single or double tour, equipped with a 316L steel 17 mm pin buckle MOVEMENT Quartz, Swiss made FUNCTIONS Hours and minutes

I am in love with the blue one and you?

LoL, Sandra

Photos: Courtesy of Hermès