Hermes – Swiss Watch Makers https://swisswatchland.com Professional Watch Repair Wed, 03 Oct 2018 19:55:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.7 https://swisswatchland.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cropped-New-Swiss-Watchmakers-Logo-Watch-Repair-32x32.jpg Hermes – Swiss Watch Makers https://swisswatchland.com 32 32 Hermès Introduces Leather Marquetry Watch Dials https://swisswatchland.com/2018/10/03/hermes-introduces-leather-marquetry-watch-dials/ Wed, 03 Oct 2018 19:55:26 +0000 https://swisswatchland.com/?p=3619 The word “marquetry” is derived from a French word for “inlay work”, marquetry started in the 16th century with cabinet makers in Rome and France. They assembled  small pieces of different exotic woods to form a single, patterned panel when building church furniture. Over the late years this technique was applied to leather goods and high-end pieces.

Hermes has taken this difficult task and applied it to their watch dials. Small pieces of leather are cut out to form an animal motif. The technique makes its watchmaking debut on two signature Hermès watches: the asymmetrical, stirrup-shaped Arceau, and the more formal, streamlined Slim d’Hermès.

The Arceau Cavales Marquetry is made from full grain calfskin and is available in either “Hermès Red” or “Indigo Blue”, each a six-piece limited edition. The pieces of leather are 0.5mm thin and require tweezers to be laid out on the dial.

Hermès Arceau Cavales

The Arceau features an 18k white gold, 41mm in diameter, and is powered with the automatic H1837 made by Vaucher.

Limited to only 12 pieces, the Slim d’Hermès Les Zèbres de Tanzanie uses the artisanal technique by combining leather marquetry with traditional champlevé and miniature enamelling.

Slim d'Hermès Les Zèbres de Tanzanie 2

The process of creating these dials are completely laborious with many steps in creating the perfect dial. The Slim d’Hermès Les Zèbres de Tanzanie has a 39.5mm, 18k white gold case and is powered by the ultra-thin H1950 calibre with a micro-rotor, again produced by Vaucher for Hermès.

Pricing

The Arceau Cavales is priced at US$37,400, or S$50,400.

The Slim d’Hermès Les Zèbres de Tanzanie is US$56,100, or S$75,500.

]]> How Hermès Makes ‘Square’ Crystal Dials For The Arceau Lift Millefiori (Video) https://swisswatchland.com/2018/09/25/how-hermes-makes-square-crystal-dials-for-the-arceau-lift-millefiori-video/ Tue, 25 Sep 2018 19:18:44 +0000 https://swisswatchland.com/?p=3607 Sometimes when looking at watches you might wonder, “How do you even make that?”. Many watches have very dazzling details which look very majestic. An example of that is how Hermés makes square crystals for its dials. In making the dial of 2018’s ultra-limited Arceau Lift Millefiori, the process is made more contemporary-looking by adding a new color scheme and shape to the traditional process.

Hermès Arceau Lift flying tourbillon (photo courtesy Claude Joray)

This dial added more uniqueness and rarified nature to it  which was a great idea to add to the Lift tourbillion. The first Hermès Arceau Lift flying tourbillon came out in 2013 inspired by the Double H element that was first used on a lift (elevator) installed in 1923 in Hermès’ flagship boutique. A testament to that era’s love of wrought iron and art deco design, the Double H was created in honor of the marriage of the founder’s grandson, Émile Hermès, to Julie Hollande, the daughter of a local businessman.

The process to make square crystals for the dial includes high glass blowing skills to achieve the crocodile-leather-like look of the Arceau Lift Millefiori’s dial.

Basics:

Case: 43 x 12.65 mm, white gold
Dial: crystal using the Cristalleries Saint-Louis Millefiori technique
Movement: manually wound Hermès Caliber H1923 with one-minute tourbillon, 3 Hz/21,600 vph frequency, power reserve 90 hours
Functions: hours, minutes
Limitation: 3 pieces
Price: 200,000 Swiss francs

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