Hermès Arceau Duc Attelé

Haute Horlogerie and equestrian emblems meet and mingle in this grand complication Arceau watch: a unique composition featuring a triple- axis tourbillon and a minute repeater.

The classic design of the Arceau watch makes it an ideal showcase for expressions of horology and craftsmanship that are as creative as they are demanding. Designed by Henri d’Origny in 1978, its round shape with asymmetrical stirrup lugs is reinvented with the inherent ease of a resolutely timeless model. The understated yet distinctive 43 mm polished titanium or rose gold case of the Arceau Duc Attelé highlights the alliance between Hermès style and expertise. The central triple-axis tourbillon and the ‘tuning-fork’ minute repeater are in harmony with the Hermès world of Haute Horlogerie and equestrian aesthetics.

The association of these two major complications with a high-frequency movement – a first – is revealed at the heart of the watch, where every technical and stylistic detail reveals its share of unexpected elements and meticulous care. On the dial side, a sapphire dome tops the triple-axis tourbillon and its triple mirror-polished titanium carriage shaped with interlacing double “Hs”, symbolising the union of Émile Hermès and Julie Hollande in 1900. These entwined letters echo the ironwork adorning the lift in the original Parisian boutique at 24 Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré. Embodying a feat of mechanical miniaturisation, this tourbillon featuring three separate axes and rotation speeds (completing one full turn in 300, 60 and 25 seconds), operates within a curved, eccentric hour-circle. The hours-minutes display is punctuated by Arabic numerals inclined like a galloping horse. To enhance the visibility of this horological achievement, claw-shaped hands appear around the rim of the chapter ring. Their blue hue complements the 48-hour power-reserve indicator appearing at the base of the dial.