Hermes – ARCEAU Into the Canadian Wild Edition

Hermès – ARCEAU Into the Canadian Wild Gold 38 mm Edition

A miniature painting on aventurine adorns the Arceau watch, like an anthem to the luxuriant Nature abounding in Canada.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

The round case with its asymmetrical stirrup-shaped lugs is the hallmark of the timeless allure exuded by the Arceau watch, designed by Henri d’Origny in 1978. This understated yet singular curvature lends itself to the creativity and demanding expertise of Hermès. Available in two limited series of 24 each, the Arceau Into the Canadian Wild watch in white gold and diamonds captures the spirit of wild Nature on its dial.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

The animal themes interpreted here – a polar bear and a snowy owl – both stem from the Into the Canadian Wild silk scarf designed by British artist Alice Shirley in 2017, on the occasion of Canada’s 150th anniversary. The original drawing depicts the abundance of flora and fauna, natural treasures of Canada’s vast territories bathed in oceans, lakes and rivers. From this hymn to nature, Hermès Horloger has drawn two interpretations: a snowy owl – emblematic of Quebec – f lying amid the Northern Lights (aurora borealis) graces the first model; while the other features a polar bear with its cub, standing on top of waves populated by fascinating creatures.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

The artisan devotes more than a week per dial to accomplishing this miniature work, tracing the contours of the motif on the glittering aventurine base, before placing it in the kiln to fire it in place. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

The different volumes of the landscapes and animals are then formed by means of successive layers of paint alternating with successive firings. The major requirement of such a work lies in the miniaturisation of a drawing with multiple volumes, tones and subtle details.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

Combining watchmaking and craftsmanship, the Arceau Into the Canadian Wild watch is powered by a mechanical self-winding Hermès movement. It displays hours and minutes on the model adorned with a polar bear, along with a moon phase on the model featuring the snowy owl.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

An elegant white gold case set with 82 diamonds frames the hand-crafted dial and is complemented by a smooth sapphire blue alligator strap, also made by the Hermès Horloger artisans.

 =========================
TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Model:  ARCEAU Into the Canadian Wild Gold Edition

MOVEMENT
Manufacture Hermès H1912 movement
Mechanical self-winding, crafted in Swiss made
Diameter: 23.9mm
Thickness: 3.7mm
Power reserve: 50 hours
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4Hz)
Functions: Hours, minutes
CASE
Shape/size: Round, 38 mm in diameter
Material: White gold set with 💎82 diamonds
Crown: Set with 💎1 diamond
Crystal: Anti-glare sapphire crystal and case-back
Water resistance: 3 bar
DIAL
Miniature painted aventurine dia
STRAP
Sapphire blue alligator 

Limited and numbered edition of 24

 ---------------------------------
Press Release - 2020
--------------------------------------------
=====================
Hermès Horloger Press Relations
Katy Jolidon
katy.jolidon@montre-hermes.ch
+41 (0)32 366 71 00
---------------------------------------------------
INTERNATIONAL HERMÈS PRESS OFFICE
Sophie Seibel-Traonouïl - 10-12, rue de la Ville-l’Évêque,
75008 Paris - Tel.: + 33 (0)1 40 17 47 89.
Fax: + 33 (0)1 48 10 17 88 
Photos: Claude Joray
----------------------------------------------------------
www.facebook.com - Hermes
----------------------------------------------------------
www.Hermes.com

BLANCPAIN – VILLERET Traditional Chinese Calendar Edition

BLANCPAIN – VILLERET Traditional Chinese Calendar 45 mm Limited Edition - 2021 Year of the Metal Ox

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO - Foto 👉 @shortyshome

An exceptional timepiece bearing
the emblem of an ox

Blancpain celebrates Chinese New Year with a limited series of 50 watches dedicated to this tradition and its festivities. The Year of the Metal Ox begins on February 12th 2021 and ends on January 31st 2022. Housed in a precious platinum case, the Traditional Chinese Calendar bearing the emblem of the ox features an exclusive complication appearing on an elegant Grand Feu enamel dial.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

With the Traditional Chinese Calendar, Blancpain took up the challenge of mechanically combining two different interpretations of time. Five years of research and development were required to associate within this timepiece the main indications of the Chinese calendar as well as the date based on the Gregorian calendar. Given that the basic unit of these two time-division systems is not the same, this represents a real technical feat. While the Gregorian calendar is based on the solar day, the lunisolar Chinese calendar is based on the lunar cycle, composed of 29,53059 days.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

A year of 12 lunar months is about 11 days shorter than a solar year. In order to maintain consistency with the seasonal cycle, a leap month is added to the Chinese calendar every two to three years. This distinctive feature is the reason behind the variability of the Chinese New Year date. But the complexity of this calendar does not stop there, since it uses a system of subdividing the day into 12 double hours, thus replacing the 24 hours composed of 60 minutes each featured in the Gregorian calendar. Each of these double hours is named, in successive order, after one of the twelve earthly branches and represented by one of the animals of the Chinese zodiac.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

Unlike the Gregorian calendar, whose unit of measurement is based on the solar day, the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar is based on the lunar cycle as well as exact astronomical observations of the sun’s longitude. Thus, in addition to the hours and minutes, date and moon phases, Blancpain's Traditional Chinese Calendar watch offers the main indications of the traditional Chinese calendar: double hours, days, months and leap months, zodiac signs, five elements and ten heavenly stems. The latter, combined with the 12 earthly branches – symbolised by the animals of the zodiac – produce 60 different pairs forming the sexagesimal cycle of the Chinese time measurement system.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

Despite their complex combination, these functions are clearly displayed on a dial with Roman gold numerals and hollowed-out sage leaf-shaped hands. The ox, the animal of the year 2021, appears in an aperture at 12 o'clock above the double-hour counter. Symmetrically positioned at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock, two subdials respectively indicate the celestial stems and the five elements, as well as pointer-type month and date indications and leap months through a round aperture. In a manner typical of Blancpain's Complete Calendar watches, the moon phases that determine the months of the Chinese calendar can be read off at 6 o'clock, while a blued serpentine hand sweeps over the date numerals around the dial circumference.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

 
This timepiece, which is even more complex than a perpetual calendar, is driven by the self-winding 3638 movement. The latter is distinguished in particular by a seven-day power reserve made possible by the use of three series-coupled barrels, equipped with high-performance springs. It is secured against inappropriate manipulation of the functions and equipped with a silicon balance-spring.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

This exceptional movement is housed in a 45 mm platinum case featuring a crown and oscillating weight adorned with a cabochon-cut ruby. It incorporates five under-lug correctors – a patented Blancpain invention – enabling easy fingertip adjustment of functions without the need for a correction tool.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

This innovative complication, a genuine mechanical challenge whose development required five full years to master, is incorporated into the self-winding 3638 calibre. Endowed with a seven-day power reserve, this Haute Horlogerie movement is housed in a 45 mm case featuring a crown set with a cabochon-cut ruby. It is equipped with Blancpain's patented under-lug corrector system allowing easy function adjustments. The sapphire crystal case back enables one to admire the finishing of the movement and its white gold oscillating weight, engraved with the Chinese zodiac sign of the year

Blancpain's Traditional Chinese Calendar is also available in a non-limited version in red gold with a finely guilloché oscillating weight.

-----------------------------------------
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Model: VILLERET Traditional Chinese Calendar Edition

References:  00888I-3431-55B - Platinum 45 - Edition
References: 00888I-3631-55B - Red Gold 45
 
Complications
Traditional Chinese Calendar
[double-hour indication, signs of the zodiac, date and month of the Chinese calendar. Indication of the
five elements, the celestial stems and the leap months]
Specificities

• ∙ Gregorian calendar
• ∙ Moon phases
• ∙ Under-lug correctors
• ∙ Secured movement
• ∙ White grand feu enamel dial
• ∙ Oscillating weight set with a Madagascar ruby
• ∙ Sself-winding

Case

• Platinum
• Red Gold

Case thickness:     15.00 mm
Case diameter:     45.00 mm
Water resistance:     3.00 bar
Between horns:     23.00 mm
Sapphire back
Engraved on the - "Chinese Calendar - № ХX/50 Piece"
Dial
Full fired enamel
White grand feu enamel
Movement
Calibre 3638
Reference:   3638   
Self-winding
Calibre thickness:  8.30 mm
Calibre diameter:  32.00 mm
Power reserve in hours:  168
Jewels:  39
3 mainspring barrels
Secured movement
Titanium free sprung balance with gold regulation screws
Components:     464
Strap/Bracelet
Alligator lined with alzavel
Black color strap
Platinum folding clasp
Brown color strap
Gold folding clasp

Platinum version - Only  Limited edition of 50 Piece


---------------------------------------------- 
Press release - 2020
----------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------
Blancpain S.A.
Le Rocher 12
1348 Le Brassus
Suisse
International PR: Lucie Notar
Tel.  (+41) 21 796 3619
Fax (+41) 21 796 3637
E-mail: pr@blancpain.com
---------------------------------------------------
press.blancpain.com
------------------------------------------------------------
www.facebook.com - Blancpain
--------------------------------------------------------------
www.Blancpain.com