The designer vaulted into the saddle and set his foot in the stirrups to offer small square comic-book-style panels within the large square shape of the silk scarf . Squares , bubbles , animation … A heroine crosses Paris on jet skis , rollerblades , in cars and of course on horseback . Two amused golfers wonder who this intrepid woman is ? Amazon , secret agent , Parisian heroine ? All that and more : she is the Hermès woman .
The Wow effect comes not only from the pattern , but also from the way in which is created , including a different colour scheme on each side : a multicolored interpretation on the front and a monochrome version on the back .
The idea made its way from Paris to Switzerland and the workshops of Hermès Horloger . A double-sided dial ? Why not , as long as it is thin and translucent like the silk thread that inspired it . The obvious choice was mother-of-pearl , a dainty , elegant and feminine material through which the ray of light could shine and enable the artisan to set about creating a playfully radiant motif .
On the first side , the design is initially reproduced in black ink , visible on both sides . It guides the deft touch of the artisan until the last brush stroke . The entire décor of the motif is then hand-painted on this first side . The pastel colours are applied one by one : thick enough to give depth to the design , yet thin enough to let the light shine through – a subtle balance calling for the finest skilled craftsmanship . It takes about 20 layers to bring out every nuance of this design . Each is fired in the kiln at 90 ° C to solidify the precious pigment .
The horse and heroine are majestically enthroned on the second face corresponding to the upper dial side of the watch . The colour is sharper , the volume denser , the design is every bit as lively as the rider and her mount . Together , they literally burst out of the dial . The Hermès gallop responds to the silky , muted solid colours painted on the reverse side of
the watch with its brightly varied shades , its relief effects and its boldness . While the horse ’ s movement makes a sudden appearance , it stems from a wealth of meticulous and diligent work involving more than 35 hours to produce a single dial .
This timepiece with its Arceau case designed by Henri d ’ Origny in 1978 comes in two versions powered by the same Manufacture H1912 self-winding movement . The first flaunts a dial in soft pink tones , while the second opts for bluish accents . Paired with a Hermès calfskin strap , each of these white gold Arceau Wow model features a bezel set with 82 diamonds and is issued in a 24-piece limited edition .
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Issue 57 2023 THE ART OF LUXURY