There's something delightfully subversive about Hermès placing impeccably groomed dogs on the dials of precious haute horlogerie timepieces. Yet here we are, face-to-face with Orson, Amy, and Taco—three charmingly mischievous canine portraits that transform the Arceau collection into a celebration of playfulness and exceptional artisanal craft. Unveiled at the Hermès "Time Suspended" Exhibition at the 706 Madison Avenue flagship in New York, from November 7 to 22, 2025, these three limited-edition watches demonstrate how the house continues to blur the boundaries between timekeeping and art.
Inspired by artist Liz Stirling's ‘Jour de casting’—casting day—silk scarf, each of the three Arceau Jour de Casting timepieces features a different dog wearing its finest collar, striking a pose at the dial center. However, what elevates these from whimsical to extraordinary is the remarkable array of métiers d'art techniques employed, including wood marquetry, miniature painting, engraving, and cloisonné enamel. All three watches are cased in a 38 mm white gold case, feature a genuine leather bone appliqué on the dial, are set with 71 diamonds on their bezels, and are topped with a crown featuring a rose-cut diamond. Powering the watches is the self-winding, automatic in-house Hermès H1912 movement that delivers a 50-hour power reserve.
The Arceau case itself deserves recognition. Designed by Henri d'Origny in 1978, its round 38 mm form features stirrup-inspired asymmetrical lugs that convey the equestrian heritage of Hermès. The anti-glare sapphire crystal and case back ensure visibility of both the artisanal dial work and the beautifully finished H1912 movement. At the same time, water resistance to 30 meters provides adequate protection for these precious timepieces.
Hermès Arceau Jour de Casting “Orson”
The star of the most exclusive variation is Orson, rendered entirely in wood marquetry against a striking black and white palette. Like assembling an impossibly intricate jigsaw puzzle, artisans meticulously cut, assemble, and glue each detail of this distinguished dog using eight different types of wood. The muzzle, eyes, nose, and tongue are then painted to create subtle light and depth effects that bring remarkable dimensionality to the dial.
A genuine leather bone—a playful nod to Hermès' legendary leather craftsmanship—sits beside Orson, completing this masterwork of marquetry. Limited to just 12 pieces, this interpretation pairs with a noir Swift calfskin strap.
Hermès Arceau Jour de Casting “Amy”
Amy, the bespectacled beauty with her textured frames, comes to life through the patient work of Hermès' engraving atelier and leather application. Born from the artisan's dexterity, the design emerges under subtle brushstrokes showcasing a vibrant color palette against a hand-painted engraved dial.
Successive firing operations enhance the work with nuances and details that capture this mischievous character's personality. The warm tones of the composition find perfect complement in an Ambre Swift calfskin strap. Limited to 24 pieces, Amy represents the middle ground between exclusivity and accessibility within this trilogy.
Hermès Arceau Jour de Casting “Taco”
Taco, with his laughing eyes and irresistible expression, showcases the most technically demanding technique: miniature, leather, and cloisonné enamel. The artisan begins by applying a thin layer of blue enamel to the dial, then hand-painting the dog's white coat against a snailed background. The cloisonné enamel technique accentuates the relief effects of the fur and the depth of the collar, with gold wires of varying thicknesses delineating areas reserved for decoration before melting into the enamel during firing.
This painstaking process requires a wide range of colors to achieve the richly refined finish that gives Taco his lifelike presence. Paired with a Bleu jean Swift calfskin strap and limited to 24 pieces, this interpretation represents Hermès' mastery of one of watchmaking's most unforgiving decorative arts.
Summary & Price
What makes these watches extraordinary isn't just the technical execution—though that is impeccable—but rather how Hermès transforms playfulness into haute horlogerie. These aren't serious chronographs or complex perpetual calendars. They're expressions of joy, whimsy, and the simple pleasure of a well-dressed dog striking a pose. In Hermès' hands, that becomes more than enough justification for deploying some of watchmaking's most demanding decorative techniques.
The Arceau Jour de Casting collection represents Hermès' philosophy perfectly: time is not something to control, but rather to tame, opening up parentheses for spontaneity and recreation. With Orson, Amy, and Taco keeping time on your wrist, it's impossible to take yourself too seriously—and that might be the most luxurious complication of all.
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