Hermès is one of few fashion brands also capable of making haute horlogerie combining traditional artisanal techniques with contemporary technology. A shimmering example of this is the Hermès Arceau L’Heure de la Lune. In a patent-filed execution of the moon phase, two rotating white or anthracite lacquered dials revealing the shape of the moon as seen from both the northern and southern hemispheres. The moons made of mother-of-pearl are fixed on a backdrop of rough-textured meteorite or sparkling aventurine, both materials experiencing a high tide in watchmaking at the moment. Also note the Pegasus painted on the top moon. Hermès showcases 5 novelties at SIHH 2019, including a watch with a howling wolf on the dial A full rotation of the satellite subdials showing date and time takes 59 days, since a lunar cycle is 29.5 days – or, if you want to be exact, 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 2.8 seconds (29.530587981 days). This cosmic creation with a self-winding manufacture movement is housed in a 43mm white gold, asymmetric Arceau case, originally designed in 1978. Hermès Arceau L’Heure de la Lune comes in a limited edition of 100 with the meteorite dial, and 100 with the aventurine. An unexpected homage to the ongoing moonstruck trend in the horological world is the Arceau Awooooo displaying a wolf howling at the moon. The motif, which comes from an Hermès silk scarf designed by Alice Shirley, is achieved with enamel on a gold dial, employing a micro painting technique. Again the Arceau case is used, but this one measures 41mm. The automatic movement is also made in-house by Hermès in yet another example of the brand’s capabilities in combining modern technology with artisanal crafts of yesteryear. The 1837 equestrian roots of Hermès are very clear in the new collection Galop de Hermès. The case is obviously inspired by stirrups, but also conveys a bell shape, thus marrying equestrian artefact with horological history. Top 11 timepieces for men at SIHH 2019 This is Hermès’ first collaboration with American designer Ini Archibong, who claims architecture, stories, mathematics and nature to be his sources of inspiration. This goes for this first foray into the watch world as well as his furniture pieces, which have been exhibited at the V&A Museum in London, Homo Faber in Venice and WantedDesign in New York, as well as at the SaloneSatellite and the Milan World Expo. Galop d’Hermès plays with the powerful femininity of today – there is no need to be dainty to speak to women. At the same time it flirts with an androgynous masculinity. Thus the watch is a unisex product. SIHH 2019: 6 of the best women’s timepieces unveiled in Geneva Another equestrian nod is the number 8, which is an inverted stirrup. The bell-shaped case available in gold or steel invites exploring numbers of different size. A gradual decrease the closer you get to 12 o’clock gives a sense of speed, as if you were on a crazy canter with the wind blowing through your hair. In case you happen to be on such an adventure, rest assured the everyday, quartz-powered timepiece would be securely held in place by a Barenia calfskin or alligator strap. The dial has two layers, with opaline and grained finishes, which invite a play of light. Or, as the 35-year-old Archibong prefers to explain his design philosophy: “The material I work with is light. I create shapes to catch the light. I have learned to design aerodynamic shapes and futuristic lines that use surfaces in order to explore light effects.” Want more stories like this? Sign up here . Follow STYLE on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter