Arceau Hermès Limited Edition spotlight New Releases New Watches

Hermès Arceau Ronde des Heures is the dance of time with the moon heralding in the hours and the stars the minutes

The latest Hermès Arceau Ronde des Heures presents the concept of moon in a very unique and striking manner.

Hermès Arceau Ronde des Heures is the dance of time with the moon heralding in the hours and the stars the minutes 

The latest Hermès Arceau Ronde des Heures presents the concept of moon in a very unique and striking manner.

The Context

Coming hot on the heels of the GPHG winning Arceau L’Heure De La Lune, the latest addition to Hermès’ Arceau collection, the Arceau Ronde des Heures — Round Hour Arch — is another ode to the timeless beauty of the moon. 

Like form follows function, the watch dial of the the Arceau Ronde des Heures is designed around the idea of the moon and stars telling the time. 

Arceau L Heure De La Lune Aventurine Close Up Copyright Joel Von Allmen Copy Scaled
Arceau L’heure de la lune aventurine close up © Joël Von Allmen
Courtesy © Hermès 2020. All rights reserved.

The Watch

The latest Arceau Ronde des Heures is downright stunning as far as watches with the depiction of moon on the dial face go. But it’s not a moon-phase complication watch. And in that, it’s very unique and intriguing. 

The moon has been used to tell the time instead, and is used replacing the traditional hour hand. The centre of the moon (above the star that is below the moon) depicts the hour, and the numbers swivel from the middle of the dial to indicate time. 

Hermès Arceau Ronde des Heures
© Joël von Allmen | Courtesy © Hermès 2020. All rights reserved.

The watch is essentially a dance of time with the moon heralding in the hours. 

The watch retains the popular and familiar 1970s case design by Henri d’Origny, and the black-coated glossy sunburst dial has been perfectly executed. 

This dark backdrop nicely frames the crescent in natural white mother-of-pearl. The addition of luminescent lacquer to the mother-of-pearl really adds that extra bit of flair that makes the moon appear to be very realistic. 

Hermès Arceau Ronde des Heures
© Joël von Allmen | Courtesy © Hermès 2020. All rights reserved.

The centre of the dial features the Pegasus constellation — Pegasus is a constellation in the northern sky, named after the winged horse Pegasus in Greek mythology — with stars in luminescent natural white mother-of-pearl. 

These stars and moon poetically appear to float with the help of the contrast provided by the black dial and the matte black gold-coated rotating hours and the rhodium-plated minutes hand. 

The polished and shiny black lugs of the case are small and almost non-existent appearing in the form of a rectangular stirrup — a stirrup is a light frame or ring that holds the foot of a rider — that seems to trace a timeless silhouette. 

Hermès Arceau Ronde des Heures
© Jo Metson Scott | Courtesy © Hermès 2020. All rights reserved.

The Specs

The heart used is a Swiss made quartz movement featuring the functions of hours and minutes. 

The movement is encased inside a 36mm diameter brushed glossy black PVD-coated 316L steel case that was originally designed way back in 1978. The bezel comprises of 66 black spinels. The latter are gemstones made of magnesium oxide and magnesium-aluminium oxide.

The watch face is protected by a sapphire crystal with anti-glare treatment.

Hermès Arceau Ronde des Heures
© Jo Metson Scott | Courtesy © Hermès 2020. All rights reserved.

Watch Ya Gonna Do About It?

In the Hermès Arceau Ronde des Heures the moon takes centre stage and how. 

The stereotypical Arceau design influenced carousel of sloping numerals are shown here sweeping over a moon that shines through with luminous colours that appear to change when seen from different angles.

This combination of a fixed moon with hour numerals dancing around it is simply different and fun.

There is also a subtle play of textures and depths on the dial that is worth noting: the framework that holds together the matte black gold-coated rotating hours is raised and brushed, contrasting with the sun-ray dial. And the stars are in the form of sunken cutouts that add further to the play of depth.

The black bezel is another highlight of the watch, that is adorned with black spinels that are like shiny black gems circling the moon. The watch is issued in a limited edition of 300 pieces and comes on a complimenting polished black alligator strap with a pin buckle in black 316L steel.

The branding at 12’o clock has a shadow on the dial, and at some angles you can see two impressions of the branding. Probably not the best aspect about this watch, but also perhaps the only flaw we can see. 

The Hermès Arceau Ronde des Heures is a desirable & daily wearable watch, coming in at 36mm size and featuring an okay 30m (3 ATM) water resistance. A dress watch with a difference, it will look good both at a formal event or on a casual day out. 

For more information on this watch and other Hermès watches, head to their website here.

Leave a Reply

Discover more from Watch Ya Gonna Do About It

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading