Credits: Article and images by Ian Skellern @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2024/09/04/hermes-arceau-duc-attele-featuring-a-triple-axis-tourbillon-and-minute-repeater/
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The gift that keeps on giving
For the Arceau Duc Attelé, Hermès taps once again into their rich history, starting with utilizing the Arceau case designed by Henri d’Origny in 1978.
Over the nearly half a century that the Arceau case is part of Hermès heritage, it has been used by modest yet elegant quartz-powered watches, up to utterly complex horological masterpieces like the Arceau Duc Attelé. The Arceau case gives all models a timeless class.
The stirrup design is different, but not so much that it becomes eccentric. It works well with smaller watches, but it has perhaps even more to offer to larger designs like the Arceau Duc Attelé. With a diameter of 43 mm, it is quite a watch, but given the movement, this cannot come as a surprise.
The case design places the strap very close to the case, making it wearable for even modestly sized wrists. To achieve this, Hermès also tapered the strap to the extreme, as it is 22mm wide between the lugs, yet 17mm at the folding clasp.
The only challenge left then is the height, as the movement alone is already 16 mm thick.
Hermès Arceau Duc Attelé in titanium
The smooth, round shape of the case and the domed sapphire crystal help in making living with the Arceau Duc Attelé quite easy, but it won’t always slip under a tight cuff.
The question is also if buyers of such an exquisite watch even want that, as it is the horological counterpart of the supercar, and there aren’t many of those that look so understated that you might take them for a Toyota.
When you say Hermès, many minds wander immediately to their spectacular store at 24 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris. It oozes pure elegance, and that extends to the decorations on the elevator. Crafted from metal, it might be a detail, but it is a sight to remember.
Hermès has used this design in the past, but it seems more fitting than ever that they incorporated it in the outer cage of the triple-axis tourbillon. As it is constantly in motion, it brings another tangible link to the heritage of the brand, without making it look forced.
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Credits: Article and images by Ian Skellern @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2024/09/04/hermes-arceau-duc-attele-featuring-a-triple-axis-tourbillon-and-minute-repeater/
