MUSICAL CAVALCADE
The Parisian maison takes a new ride into high horology territory by combining two complex mechanisms in one watch – a three-axes tourbillon and a minute repeater – offered in rose gold or platinum.
Each timepiece imagined by Hermès carries with it aesthetic references, generally linked to its past, perfectly in tune with the playful spirit with which the Parisian company approaches the question of time. These faithful, mischievous notes, placed here and there, turn up onto the Arceau Duc Attelé watch, the model presented at the Geneva Watches and Wonders trade show and limited to 24 pieces with a 43mm-diameter case in rose gold and 24 in titanium. This timepiece showcases the brand’s technical expertise, while retaining its signature stylistic touch.
It combines two complex mechanisms: a three-axes central tourbillon, with three different rotation speeds (300, 60 and 25 seconds), fitted with a titanium triple cage featuring the double H, symbol of the marriage between Emile Hermès (1878-1951) and Julie Hollande in 1900 (1878-1961), and a minute repeater with tuning fork, i.e. two elongated U-shaped arms that run along the flange and are struck by two hammers with a horse profile at 6 o’clock, diffusing a particular musicality thanks to the sapphire crystal bridge. This duo of devices is integrated into the H1926 caliber, a high-frequency (5hz) hand-wound mechanical movement with carriage-like gears that delivers a 48-hour power reserve. This stored energy is indicated at the bottom of the dial, which is decorated with navy aventurine glass or a graphic guilloché pattern evoking sound waves and tinted anthracite. Two peripheral blued hands run around a wide ring on which Arabic numerals in the typography typical of the Arceau collection display the hours and minutes.