he Arceau Jour de casting watch expresses the playfulness of the animal world through exceptional skills: miniature painting, wood marquetry and enamel reveal three portraits of mischievous, well-groomed dogs.

Designed by Henri d’Origny in 1978, the Arceau watch conveys the equestrian roots of the House through lines and curves. Its round case featuring stirrup- inspired asymmetrical lugs lends itself to various ways of expressing the imaginary world of Hermès, including this bestiary inspired by the Jour de casting silk scarf designed by artist Liz Stirling. Wearing their finest collars, Orson, Amy and Taco strike their canine pose in the dial centre, alongside a genuine leather bone echoing Hermès’ leather craftsmanship.

Through a variety of artisanal touches, the three Arceau Jour de Casting watches highlight a range of remarkable, highly demanding skills.

The black and white Orson dog is crafted from wood marquetry. Like a jigsaw puzzle, each detail of the animal is meticulously cut, assembled and glued. The muzzle, eyes, nose and tongue are painted to create light and depth effects across the eight different types of wood used to create this dial.

Meanwhile, Amy with her textured spectacles takes shape in the engraver’s workshop. Born of the artisan’s patient dexterity, the design comes to life under subtle brushstrokes showcasing a vibrant colour palette. Successive firing operations enhance it with subtle nuances and details portraying this mischievous animal.

Taco with his laughing eyes is crafted in miniature and cloisonné enamel. The artisan begins by evenly applying a thin layer of blue enamel to the dial, then hand-painting the dog’s white coat on the snailed background. The cloisonné enamel technique is used accentuate the relief effects of the fur and the depth of the collar. Gold wires of varying thicknesses serve to delineate the areas reserved for decoration, before melting into the enamel during firing. This technique requires a wide range of colours to achieve a richly refined finish.

The three dogs are framed by a 38 mm-diameter white gold case set with 71 diamonds and housing the mechanical self-winding Hermès H1912 movement. Each model is paired with a Swift calfskin strap matching the colour of the individual 12- or 24-piece limited edition.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

ARCEAU Jour de casting ORSON

• Numbered limited edition of 12

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 /4 Hz Functions: hours, minutes

CASE

• Rond, 38 mm in diameter
• White gold set with 71 diamonds
• Crown set with a rose-cut diamond
• Anti-glare sapphire crystal and case-back
• Water resistant to 3 bar

DIAL

• Wood marquetry and leather dial

STRAP

• Noir Swift calfskin