Although maison Hermès is better known throughout the world for its luxury leather goods and exquisite scarves, this doesn’t mean it is a slouch when it comes to the brand’s watch department. Already, in the past couple of years, we have seen high-end watchmaking complications like the perpetual calendar in its collection; not to mention its unique array of watches that suspend time, hide it and count it down to an anticipated hour. Be that as it may, it’s great to see Hermès bringing some serious watchmaking complications to its more casual collection. And this year, as a precursor to the SIHH – Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie Genève – the Hermès Arceau Chrono Titane sees the chronograph make its debut within the Arceau family of watches.
Styled with its signature asymmetrical lugs, the case is a very masculine, bead-blasted titanium in 41mm. The dark galvanic black dial is nicely accented with rhodium plated and red hands giving the watch a vintage yet dynamic look. In keeping with the Arceau’s saddlemaking origins, the watch is fitted with either a natural Barenia calfskin strap or with a black embossed Barenia calfskin strap, both of which have saddle stitches testifying to the tradition of leather-making excellence within the maison. Last but certainly not least, purists will love that the movement is a mechanical manual-winding Swissmade movement with 42 hours of power reserve.
