At Hermès, they never take time too seriously. Of course, they take their watches very seriously indeed! But their approach to the passage of time is poetic and slightly mischievous, while retaining that incomparable chic. With the Arceau Petite Lune, the house of the iconic letter H defies the laws of gravity, inviting the moon and stars to wander across the wrist. Once again, Hermès demonstrates its ability to combine watchmaking expertise with artistic craftsmanship, to surprise and delight the wearer. This is no time to keep your feet on the ground – where’s the fun in that?
The latest version of the Arceau, originally designed in 1978 by Henri d’Origny, the Petite Lune, stays true to its roots, particularly the Arceau’s signature feature: a round case topped with asymmetrical stirrup-shaped attachments, a nod to the brand's equestrian heritage. This latest variant features a 38 mm steel case enhanced with opulent but understated gem-setting. The Arceau glimmers with 99 diamonds running discreetly along the upper part of the bezel, while a final rose-cut diamond adorns the crown. It’s a subtle lesson that elegance doesn’t always have to be minimalistic.
The dial is dominated by blue, but not just a single shade. Hermès plays with a range of hues from mysterious twilight to deepest midnight, creating a gradient lacquer at the edge of the dial that deepens to an abyssal centre. This depth is enhanced by an arc of 15 diamonds arranged in the centre of the dial. Between 10 and 11 o’clock, a celestial ballet unfolds as the moon phase mingles with the stars, appearing and disappearing as time passes. Two slender openworked hands complete the nocturnal scene.
To power this celestial dance, Hermès has fitted the Arceau Petite Lune with the in-house H1837 calibre, a self-winding mechanical movement with a 42-hour power reserve. Watch enthusiasts will appreciate the transparent sapphire caseback, which reveals the movement’s components. Every detail of the mechanism is carefully crafted, with pearlescent and snailed finishes and a sprinkling of H’s adorning the bridges and oscillating weight.
True to its roots in leather craftsmanship, Hermès has fitted the Arceau Petite Lune with an alligator strap made in its own workshops, colour-matched to the dial. The strap is interchangeable, which means the wearer can adapt their Arceau to their outfit, mood or whim.
This new Arceau truly whisks us off our feet, inviting us to touch both the stars and the moon. Hermès is known for playfully subverting the primary function of an object; here, we have a watch that tells the time, but also – and perhaps more importantly – serves as a pretext for overturning convention and taking us on a journey of the imagination.
