HERMÈS

A poetic design that evokes a sense of travelling in another dimension, setting foot on the moon and losing one’s sense of time and space, the Arceau L’heure de la Lune by Hermès offers a cosmic and dreamlike experience with a unique vision of Earth’s satellite through the simultaneous display of moon phases in both northern and southern hemispheres. Two mobile counters gravitate on a lunar, Martian or Black Sahara meteorite dial, revealing mother-of-pearl moons in step with an exclusive module, coupled with an in-house movement.

An offbeat expression of a classic horological complication, the watch also offers an original interpretation of Hermès watchmaking expertise. Encased in white gold or platinum, the mechanics adopt a light, barely-there role. Meteorite inlaid with mother-of-pearl forms a cosmos in which satellite dials float above hemispherical moons. These mischievous displays have swapped cardinal points, with the south above and the north below. A topsy-turvy direction inviting observers to lose their bearings, with their head in the stars.

The horse, representing the origins of Hermès, gallops elegantly into the world of dreams. At 12 o’clock, the moon is adorned by a Pegasus designed by the “dreamerdesigner” Dimitri Rybaltchenko. Entitled Pleine Lune (Full Moon), this portrayal of the winged horse hints at a passage between two worlds, where magic and reality merge. On the other side, at 6 o’clock, the view of the moon from the northern hemisphere provides a realistic depiction of its surface.

Within this space-time, metal, stars and rock seamlessly merge the watch

exterior with the movement to form an unprecedented technical and aesthetic display of simple and graphic readability.

The double moon here eclipses a traditional aperture-type display, covering the entire surface of the dial. The result is a freespirited and impertinent vision of mechanical watchmaking according to Hermès. The Arceau case with its asymmetrical lugs, designed by Henri d’Origny in 1978, becomes a lunar crater made of meteorite stone, while the lacquered dials, gravitating like satellites, display Arabic numerals with a distinctive sloping font. This Haute Horlogerie timepiece is fitted with a matt alligator strap in black, Havana or Veronese green.