BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
Founded in 1837 as a harness and saddle maker, Hermès entered watchmaking in the 20th century, combining traditional Swiss expertise with a design philosophy that often reinterprets time in unexpected ways. Case in point, the new iterations of the L’Heure de la Lune and Le Temps Voyageur from their Arceau collection.
Arceau L’Heure de la Lune
The Arceau L’Heure de la Lune maintains its unconventional moon phase display with rotating time and date counters over a meteorite dial. Two mother-of-pearl moons depict the lunar surface, one featuring a Pegasus motif by Dimitri Rybaltchenko. The counters complete a full rotation in 59 days, revealing moon phases in both hemispheres. Each version has a distinct meteorite dial: lunar for Blue Grey Moon, Vesta and Erg Chech for Vesta and Erg Chech respectively.
The 43mm case comes in three versions: Blue Grey Moon (white gold with a blue DLC-coated titanium bezel), Vesta (rose gold with a grey DLC-coated titanium bezel), and Erg Chech (white gold with a rose gold bezel). The Arceau’s asymmetrical lugs remain unchanged.
Powering the watch is the Hermès H1837 automatic movement, fitted with a 117 component “L’Heure de la Lune” module, operating at 4Hz and providing a 40h power reserve.
Each version is paired with a matte alligator strap matching the dial color scheme. The three models are sold exclusively as a set, limited to 12 sets worldwide, with a price of EUR 251,000.
Arceau Le Temps Voyageur
This model enhances its world-time function with two new references: a 41mm white gold case and a 38mm rose gold case with 78 diamonds on the bezel. The Arceau lugs retain their signature equestrian-inspired design.
Both models feature the “Planisphère d’un Monde Équestre” dial, an artistic world map designed by Jérôme Colliard. The white gold model has a grey-blue lacquered dial with silver landmasses, while the rose gold version features a white mother-of-pearl dial with champagne-colored landmasses. The mobile local time counter moves over the dial, and the home time is displayed in an aperture at noon.
The watch is powered by the Hermès H1837 automatic movement with a 122-component world-time module developed by Chronode. Operating at 4Hz, the movement delivers a 45h power reserve.Both models are fitted with Hermès alligator leather straps, color coordinated with the respective dials, available for EUR 37,000 each.
