Simply Abu Dhabi XXII

2 3 1 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I C reated in a 12-piece limited edition, the Arceau Tigre is a wonderfully decorative watch that will appeal to a specific customer. Framed by the asymmetrical Arceau case is an arrestingly evocative image of a tiger. The image was taken from an illustration by artist Robert Dallet, who worked at Hermès during the late 1980s and whose animal artworks subsequently appeared on Hermès scarves. They were selected precisely because they cut against Hermès’ more traditional love of geometric patterns and equestrian leanings, and were so successful that in 1996 Hermès head man Jean-Louis Dumas bought 80 of Dallet’s works to build up a store of images which subsequently appeared on wallpaper, clothing and now, at last, on a watch. The technique revived by craftsman Olivier Vaucher is called email ombrant and has no connection to electronic messages of course. It actually means shaded enamel, and the technique serves to create pictures that are revealed only when light passes through them. “The technique calls for an entirely different approach from that of traditional relief engraving,” says Vaucher. “And it requires a perfect interaction between the engraver and the enameller in order to master the complex nuances surrounding each work. Together they have to analyse the initial design, its degree of transparency and the personality of the piece so as to determine the halos and zones of light and shade. Each of the craftsmen needs to know each other’s way of working so that they achieve an artwork which is adequate to the expectations. You need a lot of back and forth to get ahead.” The initial drawing by Dallet was extremely detailed, going so far as to capture individual hairs on the tiger’s coat, and Vaucher has succeeded in reproducing an ultra detailed depiction. The resulting watch is a true work of art and is powered by the in-house mechanical self-winding H1837 movement. This wild portrait is housed in a slim, 3.7mm deep, 41mm wide automatic case of white gold, with a 50-hour power reserve. Hermès Arceau Tigre