Vintage Hermès Arceau Watch

Vintage Hermès Arceau Watch (Two-Tone, White Dial)

A watch is one of the few things you look at all day. Every time you check the hour, there it is at the edge of your vision — a small circle on your wrist. Which is reason enough to choose one that stays quiet, and stays interesting.

The Arceau was designed in 1978 by Henri d’Origny for Hermès. Its asymmetric lugs were drawn from the stirrup — a direct nod to the house’s beginnings as a harness maker. The numerals lean slightly, in a typeface made for this model alone. They’re often called the galloping numerals, and once you notice them, you don’t unsee them.

The case is stainless steel with gold-filled detailing. The gold bezel frames the white dial, and in daylight the outline lifts softly away from the sleeve. At roughly 2.5cm across it’s a modest size, and lighter on the wrist than you’d expect — understated, but there.

The strap has been replaced with a new leather band (not original Hermès). Black leather sits easily beside gold or silver, so nothing else you’re wearing has to negotiate with it. A white shirt, a knitted cuff — it simply belongs. Not saved for occasions. Worn on ordinary mornings.

That two-tone case has a quiet practical advantage, too: it doesn’t ask you to commit to one metal. A gold ring, a silver bangle — this watch stands comfortably between them, in any season.

Material: Stainless steel and gold-filled (two-tone), leather strap (new, non-original)

Movement: Quartz (battery)

Size: Case diameter approx. 2.5cm (excluding crown) / Wrist size up to approx. 16.8cm (adjustable by strap holes)

Condition: Pre-owned. No noticeable scratches or soiling, no plating loss. Crystal free of scratches. Confirmed running.

Accessories: None (no box or papers)

Sourced from: Japan

Note on vintage quartz watches: the movement is tested and confirmed running before dispatch. Vibration during transit can occasionally shift the battery and cause the watch to stop; reseating or replacing the battery will restore function in most cases.