Skip to main content

The new Hermès Arceau Robe Légère watch is a piece of art

A watch with a dial tells a beautiful story

Arceau Robe Légère
Arceau Robe Légère Hermès / Hermès

The new Hermès Arceau Robe Légère perfectly represents craftsmanship and art in a single timepiece. Everything, from the dial to the bezel, is a piece of art. One of the most eye-catching details is the horse on the dial.

Before it found its way to this magnificent watch, this piece of art was initially featured on a scarf designed by Théo de Gueltzl. Afterwards, skilled watchmakers imprinted it on the new Hermès Arceau Robe Légère watch.

Recommended Videos

Hermes is quite popular in watchmaking due to its rich history. It regularly launches exquisite pieces that reflect its deep history through imagery and art.

As a brand that focused on horse products in the 1800s, Hermes has always been proud of its story and wears its heart on its sleeve. That’s why it features horse-related art on its timepieces.

Hermès Arceau Robe Légère
Hermès Arceau Robe Légère Hermès / Hermès

Well, the artistic image on the Hermès Arceau Robe Légère was brought to life by an old technique: paillonné enameling. This technique involves placing enamel on the surface of a dial to enhance its reflective properties.

The enamel is made from powdered glass, and it’s quite effective in accentuating the watch’s floral pattern.

Featuring a bezel with 71 diamonds, this new timepiece embodies style and elegance.

And when it comes to chronograph performance, it is powered by the H1912 self-winding movement, which can be viewed when the watch is flipped over, thanks to the clear caseback.

Only 24 pieces of this watch will be created.

Anyone interested in the watch has to contact the brand to get a quotation.

Nathan S.R
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Nathan has devoted his life to collecting watches, studying horology, reviewing watches, and writing about timepieces. As a…
Topics
anOrdain launches handcrafted porcelain watches
From fire to clay: anOrdain's porcelain revolution brings accessible artistry
anOrdain launches handcrafted porcelain watches

AnOrdain, a Glasgow-based company, built a loyal following—it made excellent hand-enameled watch dials and offered clear customer service. The Scottish maker then moved into a new material: porcelain. The company introduced its Model 2 Porcelain collection after three years of focused study. This collection gives customers a way to experience anOrdain's handmade dial art.
Work with porcelain began in 2022. At that time, anOrdain saw a need to broaden its selection. The company also wanted to keep its standards for handmade products high. Instead of buying porcelain dials from others, the company chose to learn this old art itself. AnOrdain's team spent three years with master potters from Stoke-on-Trent—a town known as a center for English pottery—learning how to make watch dials from English clay.
Making porcelain dials requires different methods than working with enamel. AnOrdain’s well-known grand feu enamel dials use glass powder on metal discs, which are baked at 840°C. But the new porcelain dials use English clay. Workers paint them with glass-like coatings and fire them at much higher temperatures, up to 1300°C. To achieve the black finish seen in the collection, the company experimented with many glaze mixtures, finally using a high amount of iron oxide.
After this hot firing, each dial shows slight differences. Small dips and dots appear as a sign of the handmade process. AnOrdain says these natural variations mean no two porcelain dials look the same. This celebrates the human touch in making fine watches.
The Model 2 Porcelain keeps the well-liked size and look of anOrdain’s enamel collection, but with some updates. The 39.5mm steel case holds the La Joux-Perret G101 automatic movement, which performs well. The hands have been significantly improved. White glowing material now fills loops that were previously empty, finished with fine gold frames. The seconds hand is more striking, with a bright red outer coat and a white tip.
Production capacity is small—anOrdain can finish about 30 pieces each month. The price is $2,440, which is $750 less than the enamel versions, even though they use the same cases and movements. The current wait time is six months, and customers can buy only one watch each. The Model 2 Porcelain shows anOrdain's commitment to preserving traditional crafts in modern watchmaking. It also offers affordable luxury through transparent dealings with customers.

Read more
Breitling honors Scott Carpenter with platinum watch
Orbital legacy: Breitling's platinum tribute to space exploration pioneer
Breitling scott carpenter platinum watch

Sixty-three years after Scott Carpenter circled Earth, a custom Breitling Navitimer sat on his wrist. The Swiss maker now honors him with a platinum watch, which has a limited run. The Navitimer B02 Chronograph 41 Cosmonaute Scott Carpenter Centenary observes the American pilot's 100th birthday—it also recalls the story of the first Swiss watch to leave Earth's air.

On May 24, 1962, Carpenter became the second American to circle Earth. He flew as part of NASA's Mercury-Atlas 7 mission. A special Navitimer was on his wrist. Breitling altered it for space travel. The work began with a personal letter from Carpenter—he requested specific changes. He wanted a wider bezel for gloved hands and a stretch metal band for his space suit. Most notably, he asked for a 24-hour dial. In orbit, sunrise and sunset happen every 90 minutes. A regular 12-hour display does not show time well there.

Read more
TAG HEUER returns to the Formula 1 Circuit with a bold new era
TAG Heuer reignites its racing legacy at Monaco Grand Prix 2025
TAG Heuer Monaco Split-Seconds Chronograph

As part of its role as the official timekeeper of the newly renamed Formula 1 TAG Heuer Grand Prix de Monaco, TAG Heuer has released three new watches. The triumphant return has the Swiss watchmaker doubling down on its legacy of premium luxury and motorsport precision. These three new pieces continue a rich tradition of excellence by encompassing the essence of Monaco’s racing spirit.

TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph x Gulf

Read more