Technical In watchmaking, refinement in design
Here’s a look at the watchmaking maisons who showcased at the renown watch trade show Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) this year from the 14th to the 17th January 2019. We’ve picked the showstoppers at the event and the next on our list is — the Hermes Arceau L’heure de la Lune.
You can find the full series here.
Hermes watches tend to have an unconventional aesthetic flair that is uncommon amongst more traditional watchmakers, making for novelties that tend to be curious and compelling. This year is no exception: the Arceau L’heure de la Lune (CHF26,000 about RM106,000) is a dreamy timepiece with a double moon theme. A dial that comes in either a starry adventurine or rugged, otherworldly meteorite (limited to 100 pieces each) sports two mother-of-pearl moons and a pair of time and date counters that bear the stylised Arabic numerals that are the hallmark of the Arceau series—all contained in an elegant 43mm white gold case.
It also has some surprisingly technical watchmaking, with a unique double moonphase complication where the counters themselves indicate the phase: they rotate around the dial to obscure the moons beneath, remaining correctly oriented as they do so. This was possible by Hermes engaging the services of Jean-Francois Mojon and his movement-building specialist studio Chronode. “We had many ideas,” Mojon says. “But the one that was the most interesting was to place the complication at the centre of the watch.” In the final result, the module pivots around a central anchor cleverly concealed beneath a screwless plate that preserves the mystery of the movement.
SIHH 2019 Recap
The 29th edition of Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) was another record-breaking one, counting 23,000 visitors over its four days. Geneva’s Palexpo convention centre was packed not only with people, but the latest about to be unleashed on the horological world from the 35 participating brands.
There were quite a few new beginnings and surprises. Ulysse Nardin reworked the iconic Freak, and Bovet’s debut introduced the fair to its historical pocket watch heritage. Vacheron Constantin and Hermes surprised with some truly innovative watchmaking, while Panerai showcased new limited editions that come with adventurous experiences attached. On their last appearances at SIHH, both Audemars Piguet and Richard Mille unveiled new collections—the former surprising with distinct and deliberate design, while the latter with a completely unexpected candy-themed range.
