W&W 2025: Hermès Arceau Rocabar de Rire – A Playful Ode to Equestrian Artistry
The Hermès Arceau Rocabar de Rire watch is a delightful fusion of artistry and craftsmanship, reflecting the brand’s rich heritage and innovative spirit. First designed by Henri d’Origny in 1978, the Arceau line has been a canvas for Hermès’ creative expressions. This latest iteration, adorned with horsehair marquetry, engraving, and miniature painting, captures the whimsical essence of a mischievous horse, a nod to the Rocabar de rire silk scarf by Dimitri Rybaltchenko. This limited-edition watch with an ‘on-demand impulse’ function offers collectors a piece that is as exclusive as it is enchanting.
Case
The Arceau Rocabar de Rire is housed in a round 41 mm white gold case, which elegantly frames the playful dial. The case design, with its asymmetrical stirrup-shaped lugs, is a hallmark of the original Arceau watch created by Henri d’Origny. This distinctive feature not only adds to the watch’s aesthetic appeal but also pays homage to Hermès’ equestrian roots. The case is equipped with an anti-glare sapphire crystal, both on the front and the caseback, allowing for a clear view of the intricate dial and the beautifully finished movement. Water-resistant to 3 bar, the case ensures that the watch is suitable for everyday wear, albeit with a level of care due to its precious materials. The 9 o’clock pusher is a unique addition that activates the delightful “on-demand impulse” animation, which is driven by a spring mechanism.
Dial
The dial of the Arceau Rocabar de Rire is where Hermès’ mastery of craftsmanship truly shines. It features a mischievous horse, inlaid on a brass base, brought to life through a combination of horsehair marquetry, engraving, and miniature painting. The dial’s creation is a labor-intensive process, requiring artisans to meticulously select and glue horsehair strands onto the dial, creating a vibrant striped background reminiscent of Hermès’ iconic Rocabar blankets. The horse itself is crafted with precision, using traditional engraving tools to sculpt its form, followed by layers of micro-painting to achieve a rich palette of colors and textures. This elaborate process results in a dial whose motif resembles a photograph. As a playful feature, the ‘on-demand impulse’ animation enables the horse to stick out its tongue, adding a touch of humor to the timepiece.
Movement
At the heart of the Arceau Rocabar de Rire is the mechanical self-winding Manufacture Hermès H1837 movement. With a diameter of 26 mm and a thickness of 3.7 mm, this movement is finely crafted. It features circular-grained and snailed mainplates, along with satin-finished bridges and an oscillating weight adorned with a sprinkling of Hs. This meticulous finishing is visible through the sapphire crystal caseback, offering a glimpse into the intricate workings of the watch. The movement operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz) and boasts a power reserve of 50 hours, ensuring reliable performance. The inclusion of the ‘on-demand impulse’ function, activated by a pusher at 9 o’clock, highlights Hermès’ innovative approach, blending traditional horology with playful mechanics.
Strap
Complementing the vibrant dial of the Arceau Rocabar de Rire is a Bleu abysse alligator leather strap. The choice of Bleu abysse, a deep and rich shade, is a deliberate one, designed to harmonize with the anthracite, red, and straw-colored hues of the dial. The strap is meticulously crafted, reflecting Hermès’ expertise in leatherwork, a cornerstone of the brand’s heritage. It is secured with a white gold buckle, ensuring both style and security.
Price & Availability
The Arceau Rocabar de Rire is a limited-edition timepiece, with only 12 pieces available worldwide. Each watch in this limited series is individually numbered, underscoring its uniqueness and rarity. With a price tag of 168,000 euros, the timepiece is placed in the upper price segment of the luxury watch market. Interested collectors are encouraged to contact Hermès boutiques or authorized dealers for more information on availability and pricing.
On 2 October 2024, what had long been the subject of speculation was finally confirmed: LVMH and Formula 1 officially announced a new partnership. In a year that sees Formula 1 celebrating its 75th anniversary, LVMH gains the opportunity to bring its portfolio of 75 brands into the pinnacle of motorsport – and to grant…
The Zenith Chronomaster Sport Meteorite introduces a dial crafted from genuine meteorite to the collection, combining it with the technical hallmark of the El Primero – the ability to measure time intervals to one-tenth of a second. At the same time, it draws on historically rooted elements such as the Tri-Compax layout of the subsidiary…
As the main sponsor of the Les Voiles De St Barth sailing regatta, Richard Mille presents the limited edition RM 60-01 Les Voiles De St Barth. Because the event cannot take place this year, the brand reaffirms its commitment and intends to donate all proceeds from the sale of an RM 60-01 to initiatives on…
Autumn is slowly beginning to reveal its colours, and with the new season comes a fresh palette for our wardrobes. Purple has been chosen as the trend colour for autumn on the catwalks and the watchmaking world is also embracing the shade. For the first time, the Wild One Skeleton 42 mm is now available…
With the Classics Première Salmon, Frédérique Constant presents a new model that is exclusively available in Europe. The watch features a 38.5 mm stainless steel case and a striking salmon-coloured dial with Arabic numerals. Inside lies the automatic FC-301 calibre, visible through the transparent case back. This timepiece combines traditional watchmaking with contemporary design elements.…
On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of Akrivia, the atelier is presenting the Rexhep Rexhepi Chronomètre Contemporain II, a successor to the successful timekeeper. The RRCC02 remains true to the neo-classical concept, but offers some improvements in the details. It also comes with a completely new, but familiar, movement that now offers jumping seconds.…
In the late 1970s, Porsche Design developed the stainless steel military chronograph. The timepiece, which was characterised by reliability and optimal readability, attracted the interest of the aviation industry. Soon, international air forces, such as the pilots of the US Air Force, wore a Porsche Design chronograph on their wrist. Today, more than 40 years…
The Zenith Calibre 135 Observatoire Limited Edition is the result of a collaboration between Zenith, watchmaker Kari Voutilainen and Phillips with Bacs & Russo. The small edition celebrates the manufacture's success in chronometer competitions held in the last century. Indeed, the in-house Calibre 135-O won the most awards in the history of watchmaking. For this…
With its new Seamaster Aqua Terra "Ultra Light", the watch manufacture OMEGA presents a watch that especially focuses on its light weight and its comfort during wearing – features that are particularly emphazising the model’s sporty character. Behind the development of this new Master Chronometer was one of golf’s major talents: Rory McIlroy. The OMEGA ambassador…
With the RM 47 Tourbillon, Richard Mille is presenting an extraordinary timepiece that pays an artistic tribute to Japanese culture. Instead of a dial, the wearer can admire a three-dimensional decoration depicting a samurai warrior. This symbolises the traditional Japanese values that still influence society today. The work of art is made entirely by hand…
Breguet is introducing an exceptional new timepiece in the form of the Breguet Classique Double Tourbillon 5345 Quai de l'Horloge. Inside the watch, two independent tourbillons rotate the movement on its own axis, thus moving the fixed hour hand around the dial. All bridges, plates, hands and gears are polished and decorated by hand. The…
At this year's Watches & Wonders 2020, A. Lange & Söhne presents a limited edition of the Zeitwerk Minute Repeater. Ever since 2015, this model has been the only watch to combine a mechanical jumping numerals display with a decimal minute repeater. Furthermore, only 30 pieces of the new model are available. It now comes…
Jaeger-LeCoultre presents a new interpretation of the Master Hybris Mechanica Calibre 362. The watch comes in a five-piece limited edition with a deep midnight-blue sunray dial. The watch was first introduced in 2014 and is now being released in a new version to mark the tenth anniversary. The watch is still the thinnest minute repeater…