Silk threads interweave with colorful leather fragments against a limpid enamel sky, bringing to life the first strides of a galloping horse on the new Hermès Arceau Mon Premier Galop. Released in a 24-piece limited edition this new timepiece features a 38 mm 18K white gold case with a bezel set with 82 diamonds.

Designed by Henri d’Origny in 1978, the timeless Arceau watch revels in playing the transformation game. Epitomizing Hermès style, its round case with stirrup-shaped lugs welcomes several highly creative and demanding artistic crafts. The Hermès Arceau Mon Premier Galop —My First Gallop in the English language— is further enhanced by a gorgeous light blue enamel base dial with handpainted gold applique, leather marquetry and silk thread.

Its singular aesthetic reveals a joyful interpretation of the Mon Premier Galop shawl by artist Tong Ren. Fascinated by traditional basketry work, the Chinese-born designer combines simple lines, colour blocks and refined decorative-trimming motifs. His drawing depicts a horse moving across the sand, accompanied by a fluttering butterfly and lit up by a mischievous sun playing with the clouds. Its faltering gait imbued with a sense of fragility and daring evokes the moment of grace of those first steps of horseback.

Above: Mon Premier Galop shawl by artist Tong Ren

This magical moment comes to life on the dial of the Arceau Mon Premier Galop watch with its 30-piece jigsaw-like nature uniting several skills deeply cherished by Hermès. The sky and the radiant sun are crafted in enamel, a meticulous technique that involves applying a multitude of enamel layers with a brush and drying them in a kiln to guarantee unique colors and contrasts.

Standing out against this radiant light blue background, the horse is composed of silk threads along with fine tesserae in various shades of leather that are first trimmed to just 0.5 mm thick. Individually assembled on the dial, the leather and silk threads form a delicate, colorful decor enlivened by a tiny hand-painted gold mobile applique.

Issued in a 24-piece limited edition, the new Hermès Arceau Mon Premier Galop watch is powered by the Manufacture Hermès H1912 automatic movement with a power reserve of 50 hours. The sapphire case-back reveals the finishes and the ‘sprinkling of Hs’ motif adorning the bridges and oscillating weight.

Adding a final touch, the watch is delivered on a Zephyr blue Swift calfskin strap that accentuates the play of light and textures adorning the watch's face.

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