The Hermès Arceau Petite Lune
I find it charming that Hermès should celebrate an important milestone with this lovely thing, the Hermès Arceau Petite Lune.
This piece will mark the 35th anniversary of the Arceau collection, but - 1978 also meant much, much more - this was the year that Hermès became serious about watchmaking and created a designated department in order to do so. The cross-over from luxury accessories to a collection of high-end timepieces can be perilous, and it can take many years to gain respect in the industry, but Hermès have managed to achieve this and more. Lofty ambitions were realised in 2012 with the unveiling of the first Hermès Manufacture movement and perhaps almost as important was the honour of "Best Men's Watch" at the 2011 Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix for the superb Arceau Temps Suspendu and - last year I reviewed the Arceau Marqueterie de Paille, a showcase piece as worthy of the tag "Artisan Watch" as others who have been handcrafting dials for a century of two.
The Arceau Petite Lune features the distinctive case shape and unconventional stirrup-inspired lugs. Against mother-of-pearl the tilted numerals are graceful and pleasing on the eye. Between 10 and 11 o'clock is a perfectly placed crescent displaying the moonphase and a pointer date draws the eye to 6 o'clock. Inside is a mechanical self-winding movement with moonphase module created by Dubois-Dépraz.
Two editions of the Hermès Arceau Petite Lune will be available with a choice of white or black mother-of-pearl dials, more information at Hermès.
Also a look-back at the Arceau Temps Suspendu and the Arceau Marqueterie de Paille.