The Hermes Arceau watch, designed by Henri d’Origny in 1978, highlights two crafts in a new creation imbued with the Art Deco spirit. Crafted from mother-of- pearl marquetry and set with diamonds, a dial with a moving heart reinterprets the H déco pattern of the porcelain tableware: a black and white motif inspired by the ironwork adorning the boutique on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris.

Hermes Arceau H Déco
Hermes Arceau H Déco

In the centre, slender hands sweep over two intertwined Hs, stamped on a mother-of-pearl disc that twirls to the rhythm of the wrist movements. In a contrasting duo, the black version is lit up by gemset hoops; while the white version, paved with 432 diamonds, is marked with arched gold decorative fillets. This meticulous work accomplished by the Hermès artisans requires two days of work for a single dial.

Hermes Arceau H Déco Hand Fnish Dial
Hermes Arceau H Déco

The white gold base is first sculpted in preparation for the mother-of-pearl inlay, and then polished. The mother-of-pearl artisan carefully puts in place each fragment of the motif cut to just 0.2 mm thick and the gemsetter finally adorns it with several hundred diamonds.

Hermes Watch Dial
Hermes Arceau H Déco

Housing a mechanical self-winding Manufacture Hermès movement, the discreet round case with its asymmetrical lugs is lit up by two rows of diamonds, as well as a rose-cut diamond on the crown. It is topped by a sapphire crystal engraved with the Hermès logo that appears to be levitating. Its stirrup-inspired lugs secure it to a smooth black alligator strap crafted in the Hermès Horloger workshops, as too is the white gold case.

The New Hermes Arceau H Déco
Hermes Arceau H Déco

Hermes Arceau H Déco, Version with black mother-of-pearl

Technical specifications:

Movement

Type: Mechanical self-winding, Swiss made Manufacture Hermès H1912 movement

Diameter: 9 mm

Thickness: 3.7 mm

Power reserve: 50 hours

Frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour / 4 Hz

Functions: Hours, minutes

Case

Shape/Size: Round, 34 mm in diameter

Material: White gold set with 198 diamonds

Crystal: Anti-glare sapphire crystal and case-back

Crown: Set with a rose-cut diamond

Water resistance: 3 bar

Dial

White gold set with 372 diamonds, H déco motif,

black mother-of-pearl marquetry

Strap

Smooth black alligator

Hermes Arceau H Déco Ladies Watch
Hermes Arceau H Déco

Hermes Arceau H Déco, Version with white mother-of-pearl

Technical specifications:

Movement

Type: Mechanical self-winding, Swiss made Manufacture Hermès H1912 movement

Diameter: 9 mm

Thickness: 3.7 mm

Power reserve: 50 hours

Frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour / 4 Hz

Functions: Hours, minutes

Case

Shape/Size: Round, 34 mm in diameter

Material: White gold set with 198 diamonds

Crystal: Anti-glare sapphire crystal and case-back

Crown: Set with a rose-cut diamond

Water resistance: 3 bar

Dial

White gold set with 432 diamonds, H déco motif,

white mother-of-pearl

Strap

Smooth ember alligator Smooth black alligator

Ladies Hermes Watch
Hermes Arceau H Déco

The price for the Hermes Arceau H Deco is 58,000 CHF/ 50,000 EUR/ 56,900 USD.

For more information visit Hermes Online.