05/14/2020

A Tour Of The Galaxy With Hermès' New Arceau L'Heure De La Lune Editions

Hermès expands its Arceau L’Heure de la Lune collection with new materials that bring all the mystery and magic of the galaxy into three new limited-edition wristwatches.

By Sophie Furley

Contributor

First unveiled in 2019, the Hermès Arceau L’Heure de la Lune caught the watch world’s attention with its unique moon phase complication that put the phases of the moon center stage. Hermès is now enriching the collection with extremely rare meteorite dials that come from both the Moon and Mars.

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Une publication partagée par Watchonista (@watchonista) le 14 Mai 2020 à 6 :35 PDT

How The Hermès Arceau L’Heure De La Lune Works

The two moons on the Hermès Arceau L’Heure de la Lune represent the view of the moon from the Southern Hemisphere (top of the dial) and the Northern Hemisphere (bottom of the dial). The two mobile counters, featuring the time on one and the date on the other, cross the sky above the moons to indicate the moon phases in each hemisphere. This unique vision of Earth’s satellites is brought to life thanks to an exclusive patented “L’Heure de la Lune” module that works together with Hermès’ manufacture H1837 caliber.

Hermès Arceau L'heure de la lune Martian meteorite

Hermès Arceau L'heure de la lune Martian meteorite caseback

Dials From The Heavens

Although identical to the 2019 debut model, in a technical sense, at least, the three new versions announced last month feature rare meteorite dials that are millions, if not billions, of years old, putting the notion of time in a whole new perspective.

The first, limited to 30 pieces, comes with a dial made from a rare Black Sahara meteorite found in the Sahara Desert and is paired with silver lacquered mobile counters and a matte black alligator strap.

Hermès Arceau L'heure de la lune Black Sahara meteorite

The second edition, limited to 36 pieces, is adorned with a Lunar meteorite dial and elegant gradient brown lacquered mobile counters that offer a totally new look to the collection. Additionally, it comes with a matte Havana-brown alligator strap.

Hermès Arceau L'heure de la lune Lunar meteorite

The Red Planet

Last but certainly not least, Hermès unveiled a two-piece limited edition with a matte Veronese-green alligator strap and featuring a dial crafted out of a meteorite from the planet Mars.

It probably goes without saying, but Martian meteorites are particularly rare. Believed to have been formed on Mars before being ejected from the planet by an impact of some sort, they then traversed interplanetary space until circumstances brought them to Earth and the workshops of Hermès!

Hermès Arceau L'heure de la lune Martian meteorite

Turn Your Telescope To The Moon

All three meteorite dials were inlaid with mother-of-pearl moons and are works of art in their own right. A closer look at the Southern Hemisphere moon reveals a horse that represents the origins of the French Maison. The illustration of Pegasus, a winged horse from Greek mythology, is entitled “Pleine Lune” (full moon) and was designed by Dimitri Rybaltchenko, who has worked on a number of Hermès creations. In contrast, the Northern Hemisphere moon is a realistic interpretation of the moon’s surface and hints at the passage between the two worlds, where magic and reality merge.

Hermès Arceau L'heure de la lune Black Sahara meteorite

Final Details Of The Hermès L’Heure De La Lune

All three editions come in 43mm cases, but the Black Sahara and Lunar editions are housed in white gold while the Martian version is in platinum. The Arceau case, with its iconic asymmetrical lugs, designed by Henri d’Origny in 1978, provides the perfect frame for this mobile galactic system.

Hermès Arceau L'heure de la lune Lunar meteorite

Hermès Arceau L'heure de la lune Black Sahara meteorite

Hermès Arceau L'heure de la lune Martian meteorite

Hermès has definitely found its voice in the world of haute horologie with wristwatches that are totally unexpected. The Maison's vision to create timepieces that explore time differently, rather than to measure, order, and control it, has resulted in works of art that bring elegance and magic to the wrist like never before.