Hermès Arceau Baobab Cat

A mischievous leopard has slipped into the heart of a baobab flower. The Arceau watch is graced with a dreamy motif initially inspired by a silk scarf. This feline and its surroundings spring to life through meticulous mother-of-pearl painting and engraving craftsmanship lavished on a 12-piece limited edition.

Hermès is above renowned for creating objects that artisans’ hand shape to make them ideal companions for their wearers. Stemming from demanding, practical and functional expertise, they make daily life their playground and each passing moment uniquely special. A timepiece is an artwork, an heirloom, a beautiful artefact that can be worn for a lifetime and then passed on to the next generation.

Arceau tells the story of this majestic feline that embodied a noble status, while the baobab represented power and grace. The flowers of this colossal tree open only at dusk, when the leopard ventures out in search of its prey. The play on composition blends animal and plant life into a single being, haloed by a crown of white-speckled feathers. The artisan takes over two hours to bring this scene to life.

The overall tone is in harmony with the white gold case, whose round shape, framed by stirrup-shaped lugs, houses a Manufacture Hermès movement. Paired with a smooth sapphire blue alligator strap, its classic design created 40 years ago by Henri d'Origny accentuates the innate elegance of this watch.