Limited to 24 pieces worldwide. A new Arceau creation inspired by Canada's rich natural landscapes | HERMÈS
HERMÈS | The Arceau Canada
A Rich World on the Dial, Rendered in Miniature. "Arceau Canada's Natural Beauty"
Designed in 1978 by Henri d'Origny, the "Arceau" collection embodies a unique aesthetic that expresses Hermès' distinctive concept of time. Its new iteration, "Arceau Canada's Natural Beauty," is a tribute to the rich natural landscapes of Canada. The timeless silhouette, with its asymmetrical, stirrup-inspired lugs embracing the round case, remains unchanged. However, the aventurine dial, adorned with miniature painting, elevates the entire timepiece. In Japan, only the model featuring a polar bear motif will be available, with a worldwide limited edition of 24 pieces, scheduled for release in August 2020.
Text by OZAKI Sayaka | Edit by TSUCHIDA Takashi
Métiers d'Art Depicting Canada's Wilderness in Miniature
The timeless "Arceau" watch, designed by Henri d'Origny in 1978, is characterized by its unique design, which combines a round case with asymmetrical, stirrup-shaped lugs. From this collection, which showcases Hermès' creativity and the exceptional savoir-faire of its artisans, comes the new "Arceau Canada's Natural Beauty."
The two "Arceau Canada's Natural Beauty" models, featuring dials that evoke the vitality of nature, are limited editions of 24 pieces worldwide, set in white gold cases and adorned with diamonds. The polar bear and snowy owl depicted on the dials were originally designed by British artist Alice Shirley for the Hermès silk scarf "Canada's Natural Beauty," created in 2017 to commemorate Canada's 150th anniversary. From the scarf, which illustrates the rich flora and fauna, seas, lakes, and rivers of Canada's vast landscape, the motifs chosen are the snowy owl, Quebec's provincial bird, flying amidst the aurora, and a polar bear family standing on the water with marine life swimming below.
Artisans dedicate over a week to applying this miniature painting technique to a single dial. The motif is painted onto the aventurine dial, which sparkles with subtle light, then fired in a kiln. This process is repeated numerous times to achieve the intricate depiction of the animals and surrounding landscape, creating varying volumes, tones, and delicate details.
The movement driving this fusion of watchmaking and Métiers d'Art is an automatic winding movement from the Hermès Manufacture. In the polar bear model, this movement powers the hour and minute hands, while in the snowy owl model, it also controls the moon phase indicator in addition to the hour and minute hands. The elegant white gold case, set with 82 diamonds, features a dial hand-finished by artisans. This is complemented by a smooth, sapphire-blue alligator strap, also crafted by the skilled hands of Hermès Horloger's artisans.
In Japan, only the model featuring a polar bear motif will be available, with a worldwide limited edition of 24 pieces.
