Hermès continues to push the boundaries of artisanal watchmaking with its latest creation, the Arceau Hermès Locomotion timepiece. Featuring transparent sapphire crystal on both the dial and the crystal itself, the watch employs miniature painting techniques to produce a captivating three-dimensional effect that mesmerized audiences at Watches and Wonders Geneva.
Designed by French artist and director Ugo Bienvenu—known for his work on short films, music videos, and collaborations with Marvel and Disney—the Hermès Locomotion silk scarf pattern vividly depicts Hermès’ flagship store on Paris’s Faubourg Saint-Honoré Avenue through a futuristic and pop art lens. Bienvenu’s retro-futuristic style and realistic backgrounds masterfully blend brushstroke textures and color palettes, crafting a unique, dreamlike universe. This silk scarf design transforms pencil sketches into brushstroke textures, showcasing expert control over proportions and perspective.
The Arceau Hermès Locomotion dial is made of transparent sapphire crystal with multiple layers of paint applied on both its front and back surfaces to create depth. The farthest elements—Hermès’ flagship store—are painted on the underside of the dial with gradual layers of pink, yellow, blue, and green pigments. The road beside the store and the avant-garde horse-shaped traffic structures are painted on the dial’s top surface, their bright colors enhancing the sense of three-dimensional perspective. Additionally, the flying horse and rider depicted in the upper left sky are hand-painted on the inner side of the arched sapphire crystal glass, creating a stunning visual of three layered perspectives that together form an extraordinary flat 3D effect.
Encased in a 38mm white gold case, the Arceau Hermès Locomotion is powered by Hermès’ in-house H1912 automatic movement. It pairs exquisitely with a pale purple short alligator leather strap, meticulously handcrafted by Hermès’ watchmaking atelier. This limited edition is capped at just 12 pieces.
