"Hermes watches are not only classic and timeless, but more importantly, they have a free charm that can break free from the shackles of time. It gives people a sense of relaxation and pleasure, and at the same time injects witty fantasy, it also represents relaxing and enjoying a good time. Not to dominate time." At the "Watches and Miracles" watch exhibition held in Geneva not long ago, Hermès released new works in 2022 as an exhibitor, and Philippe Delhotal, the creative director of Hermès watches, explained Hermès watches in an interview. style characteristics. He believes that the charm of Hermès watches is to provide the wearer with "an interesting way to get along with time", "to be friends with time, indulge in happiness, and no longer try to control and restrain."

Hermes Arceau Le temps voyageur voyage time watch

In the eyes of Philippe Delhotal, the most impressive and most representative new watch of this kind of "uninteresting" is the newly launched Arceau Le temps voyageur watch. The watch features the "Travelling Time" device developed exclusively for the brand. The active hour and minute disc can move freely on the city circle represented by 24 time zones around the world, and the time of the city at this time is marked by the red pointer at the connection. At the same time, the window at the 12 o'clock position also displays the home time, and it is displayed for 24 hours, so that the difference between day and night is clear at a glance.
“The satellites in the watch travel leisurely between cities, giving the dial a new and innovative form, inviting the wearer to embark on a journey of discovery around the world. The satellites are suspended on an imaginary map, the style of which is derived from the graphic designer. The equestrian planet depicted by Jérôme Colliard for Hermès. You can clearly feel that Hermès is trying to deliver a rich sensory experience through extraordinary quality, immersing people in an atmosphere of meditation, reflection or joy, giving deep meaning to the passage of time.” said Philippe Delhotal .
This free time romance is also movingly presented on another watch. The Hermès Arceau Les folies du ciel Soaring Dream watch combines micro-painting, engraving and light design, and Hermès recreates a dreamlike journey in the watch. Through the plumes of blue smoke from the chimney, the pearl pattern of the mother-of-pearl dial, which is decorated with two plump hot air balloons in green and pink, can be seen. At the bottom of the two hot air balloons is a hand-painted white gold hanging basket that resembles a bird.

Hermes Arceau Les folies du ciel soaring dream watch

“At 12 o’clock, a hand-painted balloon hovers above two hot air balloons. It’s actually a balance wheel that turns in place with the movement of the wrist. This design embodies what Hermès holds dear. Unique expression and lightness of creativity.” said Philippe Delhotal, “In these works, you can see that Hermès timepieces always interpret the beauty of time differently: a time that transcends style and is full of fantasy; it is also intimate and enduring. A timeless, fun, joyful and wonderful time; a wonderful time with a story and a gripping heart at the same time.”
Dialogue with Philippe Delhotal, Creative Director of Hermès Watches

Philippe Delhotal, Creative Director of Hermès Watches

How to understand Hermès' watchmaking style, and in which details of this year's new products, we can see the embodiment of these characteristics?
The 3 main masterpieces released by Hermès at the 2022 Geneva Watch and Miracle Exhibition belong to 3 different categories. The first is the Arceau Le temps voyageur I just mentioned, which belongs to the unique category of Hermès complications. In addition, Hermès reinterprets the Kelly series watch, launching 5 different styles that are more gorgeous and feminine. Finally, there is the Arceau Les folies du ciel soaring dream watch, which is a high-end craftsmanship watch that cleverly combines a variety of superb skills and is full of interest.
These new pieces are soft in style, while maintaining a high level of craftsmanship, unique. Hermès watches are sophisticated and complex, not only ingenious in design, but also through painstaking research and development and careful polishing. Take the Arceau Le temps voyageur watch as an example, its dial is composed of 4 parts, which presents the profound effect we conceived in the early stage of creative design with exquisite craftsmanship. In the Kelly watch series, Hermès meticulously carved metal straps, making the watch even more luxurious.
Hermès still surprised us this year with the way time is presented. We know that behind such a surprise, it takes years of research and development from scratch to realize it. What does such innovation mean for Hermès?
That's right, the development of the Hermès Arceau Le temps voyageur watch lasted 3 years. All kinds of Hermès crafts are centered on works, and they are keen to freely release their imaginations in the creative design process. We are not afraid of the long development time, and focus on creating extraordinary works.
Each piece of Hermès is shaped by craftsmen skillfully, and it accompanies the wearer day and night. It is born in exquisite technology, transformed from superb techniques, and combines practical and ingenious functions, showing an unexpected lightness and agility. These objects turn the ordinary day into a splendid stage; let every moment that flows quietly become a precious time. Hermès aspires to inspire and feel the emotions of its customers, presenting them with unique and exclusive creations.
This year we saw the first use of lithography by Hermès on dial decoration. One is cutting-edge technology, and the other is a century-old watchmaking skill. How does Hermès find a balance between the two? In your opinion, will this combination form become the general trend in the future?
In the creative design process, we must always keep innovation in mind and pay attention to all kinds of new technologies emerging in the market. When designing and manufacturing new products, we must maintain an eclectic and open mind. Hermès took the initiative to contact the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (“CSEM”) in Neuchâtel as a partner in order to explore technological innovations suitable for creative design. The two parties collaborated on a silicon wafer dial project that brought to life the captivating “Crépuscule” (twilight) pattern created by graphic designer Thanh-Phong Lê.
The iconic Hermès Cape Cod watch introduces a new Crépuscule twilight dial style. The silicon wafer dial is specially treated by professional craftsmanship and inlaid with gold decoration, which highlights the delicate blue twilight pattern. The integration of innovation or high technology is essential for Hermès watches, and this philosophy is deeply rooted in our brand spirit. This time, we use microelectronics technology to reproduce the designs cherished by Hermès in an artistic way. This is a nanotechnology commonly used in the industry, but the fusion of craft finishes has a profound artistic flavor. It combines the craftsmanship that Hermès has relentlessly explored in watch design and production, and we will continue to work hard in this direction.