french high fashion luxury goods manufacturer Hermès has unveiled a limited and numbered edition of 24 arceau watches adorned with a dial that resembles a painted porcelain miniature. originally designed in 1978 by henri d’origny, this timepiece exudes a timeless allure with its white gold case set with 82 diamond framing an engraved and hand-painted porcelain dial. called the arceau harnais français, this one-of-a-kind watch highlights the expertise and creativity of Hermès horloger.

Hermès unveils hand-painted porcelain dial in arceau harnais français watch

 

 

Hermès’ arceau harnais français has a stunning dial composed of a pair of harnessed horses which echo the central element of a silk scarf with the same name originally designed by hugo grygkar — Hermès prolific in-house designer from the 1940s to 1959. for the scarf, grygkar took inspiration from a work kept in the private collection of émile hermès displaying a group of caparisoned horses topped with multicolored feathers.

Hermès unveils hand-painted porcelain dial in arceau harnais français watch

 

 

the image of the opulent horses has been embodied to the modest dimensions of the arceau harnais français watch dial, requiring almost a month of meticulous craftsmanship. first, the profile of the horses is hand-engraved on unglazed limoges porcelain where the different colors are applied directly interspersed with precise firings in the kiln in order to fix and enhance the pigments.

Hermès unveils hand-painted porcelain dial in arceau harnais français watch

image by david marchon

 

 

produced in a limited and numbered series of 24, the arceau harnais français remix watch is driven by the H1912 mechanical self-winding movement, which, like the gem-set gold case and raspberry alligator strap, is crafted in the Hermès horloger workshops.

Hermès unveils hand-painted porcelain dial in arceau harnais français watch

image by david marchon

Hermès unveils hand-painted porcelain dial in arceau harnais français watch

Hermès unveils hand-painted porcelain dial in arceau harnais français watch

 

 

technical characteristics

 

arceau harnais français

limited and numbered edition of 24

 

movement
manufacture hermès h1912 movement
mechanical self-winding,
crafted in switzerland

diameter: 23.9 mm
thickness: 3.7 mm
power reserve: 50 hours
frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour / 4hz
functions: hours, minutes

 

case

shape / dimensions: round, 38 mm in diameter
material: white gold set with 82 diamonds
glass: anti-glare sapphire crystal and case-back
water resistance: 3 bar

 

dial: painted and engraved porcelain

 

strap: raspberry alligator