The new Hermès Arceau ‘Rocabar de Rire’ watch showcases a playful fusion of animation, engraving, miniature painting, and horsehair marquetry. Its dial reinterprets the mischievous horse created by Dimitri Rybaltchenko for the "Rocabar de rire" silk scarf. This new watch is available in a limited edition of only 12 pieces. Like a snapshot captured in time, this playful and joyful image of the horse covered with his blanket animates on a hand-engraved and hand-painted mobile element, powered by a spring mechanism activated by a pusher at 9 o'clock.
Playing with dimension and perspective, the engraver meticulously sculpts the horse using traditional burins and gravers. After the applique is carefully crafted, the miniaturist painter expertly searches for perfect color tones before applying them in multiple layers of micro-painting. These layers are then kiln-dried to reveal a rich palette of unique shades, textures, and intricate details.
For the final component, the artisan creates the woven dial background by carefully selecting individual horsehair strands in various colors. Each strand is precisely cut and painstakingly glued one by one onto the brass base, creating the distinctive marquetry pattern that completes this extraordinary timepiece.
When engaged, the pusher at 9 o’clock makes the mischievous horse extend its tongue playfully while showcasing its elegant profile against vibrant stripes of horsehair marquetry. Bringing these diverse craftsmanship techniques together demands extraordinary patience, precision, and skilled handiwork, particularly challenging given the dial's miniature dimensions.
The watch is equipped with a 41 mm 18K white gold case and the dial is a work of art with the horse’s head inlaid on a brass base and hand-engraved mobile applique horse and miniature painting. The playful horse with his tongue sticking out ‘on-demand’ is cute but elegant.
The Hermès Arceau ‘Rocabar de Rire’ watch is powered by the Manufacture Hermès H1837 movement with hours, minutes, and "on-demand impulse" animation function. Through the sapphire crystal case back, one can appreciate the movement's refined finishing and signature scattered H pattern adorning the bridges and oscillating weight.
The watch is delivered on a bleu abysse—dark blue— alligator strap with tone-on-tone stitching complementing the color scheme with blue, red, and yellow tones of the dial. Each of these extraordinary watches belongs to a strictly limited edition of 12 numbered pieces.
Sticker Price USD 162,200. For more info on Hermès click here.
