Introducing Hermès Unveils The Arceau Rocabar de Rire

The French house Hermès has long been celebrated for its exquisite craftsmanship and deep ties to the equestrian world. While best known for its leather goods and silk scarves, the Maison’s watchmaking division channels the same creativity into timepieces, one such example is the Arceau collection, originally designed by Henri d’Origny in 1978 and expanded with numerous releases over the years.

As part of its participation in Watches And Wonders 2025, the brand presents its latest addition to the collection, the Arceau Rocabar de Rire, adorned with horsehair marquetry that pays tribute to Dimitri Rybaltchenko's Rocabar de rire silk scarf.

The watch is housed in a 41 mm white gold case, maintaining the iconic Arceau round design with its asymmetrical lugs. It is fitted with anti-glare sapphire crystals on both the front and back, ensuring an uninterrupted view of the intricate dial and finely finished movement. In addition, a pusher at 9 o’clock activates a delightful on-demand animation, enabling the horse to stick out its tongue.

The dial is where Hermès’ artisanal excellence truly comes alive. As the dial is meticulously painted by hand in a style reminiscent of Mondrian, serving as the backdrop for a finely crafted horse’s profile, and then the artisan attaches individual strands of horsehair by hand, lending the piece a rich texture and an added sense of realism.

Powering the watch is the Manufacture Hermès H1837 automatic movement, made by Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier S.A., of which Hermès owns 25%. The movement beats at a frequency of 28,800 vph (4 Hz) and offers a power reserve of approximately 50 hours. The bridges and oscillating weight are adorned with an intricate sprinkling of Hermès "H" motifs, visible through the transparent caseback.

The watch is paired with an elegant alligator leather strap, featuring anthracite, red, and straw-colored tones that compliment the vivid hues of the dial’s horsehair marquetry. The Hermès Arceau Rocabar de Rire is available as a numbered limited edition of just 12 pieces and is priced at EUR 168,000, approximately AED 675,900.

For more information, you can visit Hermès’ official website.