A glimpse of Hermès' style in a skeleton watch / Hermès "Arceaux Skeleton"

Hermès is beloved around the world as a maison dedicated to the highest level of craftsmanship. Among the timepieces offered by the company, the Arceau collection is one of the most well-known. The collection, featuring elements such as armor-inspired lugs, is imbued with elements that could be considered the identity of Hermès, a brand whose long history began as a saddlery maker. Now, 42 years after its launch, in 2020, the Arceau collection has been expanded with a captivating skeleton watch.

Hermès "Arceaux Skellet"

The Arceau is a signature timepiece of Hermes, created in 1978 by Henri d'Origny, a designer with ties to the house.

　When talking about the Arceau, it is essential to mention its asymmetrical design of two lugs at the 12 o'clock position and two at the 6 o'clock position. These lugs are suspended on either side of the saddle, reminiscent of the stirrups that horseback riders place their feet in.

　The indices, with their italic font, are reminiscent of the mane of a galloping horse. As is clear from these exterior features, Henri d'Origny gave the Arceau a design that gives a glimpse of Hermès' historical roots as a saddlery company.

　The new Arceau Skeleton watch, which adheres to the Arceau design codes and elegantly conveys the sophistication of the Maison's watchmaking, is called the Arceau Skeleton. As its name suggests, the watch features a "Squelette" (skeleton) dial and movement.

An approach that sets it apart from other skeleton watches

　Arceau Skeleton's approach to skeletonization sets it apart from other skeleton watches. Typically, skeleton watches emphasize the "openness" of the watch by hollowing out not only the dial but also the movement's base plate and bridges. For this reason, many skeleton watches are designed to maximize the area of ​​the skeletonized portion, minimizing the presence of the dial to the wearer. However, this means that it can be difficult to read the time.

　However, the dial of this model is made of sapphire crystal and features a gradient smoke finish that intensifies towards the periphery, with a dotted minute scale and silver-colored indexes placed around the deep black periphery.

　This allows you to enjoy the hollowed-out movement in the transparent center, which is the true enjoyment of a skeleton watch, while eliminating the hassle of timing.

　The Hermès Arceau Skérette comes with a matte black alligator strap made in-house with distinctive lugs and a stainless steel buckle.