Hermès has introduced a duo of timepieces, the Arceau On Air, as a specific tribute to the opening of its first boutique in Nashville, Tennessee. These watches use the brand’s established Arceau platform, a design that dates back to 1978, as a canvas to celebrate the city’s undeniable identity as a global music capital. The watches are a direct nod to the sonic heritage of "Music City," translating its creative energy into a tangible, wearable object through the house's mastery of artistic crafts, specifically miniature painting.
The Arceau itself has always been a watch of quiet distinction. Its design was born from the mind of Henri d'Origny, a prolific and foundational designer who has been with Hermès for over half a century. In 1978, d'Origny, who is also responsible for many of the brand's most famous scarf designs, was tasked with creating a watch. He channeled the company’s very soul, which began in 1837 as a Parisian workshop crafting exceptional harnesses and bridles for the equestrian world. Instead of a simple round case, d'Origny created the Arceau, a name for the curved, hooped pommel of a saddle. Its defining feature is its asymmetrical lug system; the top lug is an elongated, curved stirrup shape that seems to break free from the case, while the bottom lug is a more discreet anchor. This clever design creates a visual flow that has made the Arceau an enduring part of the Hermès watch collection.
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This new pair of Arceau On Air watches seizes upon that classic shape but completely transforms the dial. The connection to Nashville is not subtle, but it is artfully rendered. The dial’s artwork is lifted directly from the "On Air!" silk scarf, a design created by the artist Carine Brancowitz. Brancowitz, known for her intricate and detailed style that often resembles fine ballpoint pen drawing, depicted a scene of electric guitars standing at attention, as if in a recording studio. For the watch, this musical scene is painstakingly recreated by an artisan using the demanding technique of miniature painting.
The dial itself is a multi-layered composition. The base is a piece of sapphire, which has been pad-printed on its reverse side with a pattern of fine, concentric grooves, perfectly evoking the look of a colored vinyl record. This "record" forms the backdrop, presented in either a deep, rich Rouge H or a moody Bleu Abysse. Floating above this grooved surface are the guitars. The artisan’s brushwork brings the instruments to life, capturing the gloss of the paint, the metallic sheen of the pickups and bridges, and the delicate tautness of the strings. The four guitars, rendered in shades of red and blue on one model and red, blue, and yellow on the other, are captured in a moment of stillness, as if waiting for a musician to pick them up and strike a chord.
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Visually, the composition is striking. On the Rouge H model, the vibrant red and blue guitars stand out against the concentric circles of the deep red vinyl-effect dial. The central target-like circle is a cream color, providing a neutral stage for the instruments. The blue alligator strap corresponds with the accent guitar, creating a cohesive look. The second variant features a Bleu Abysse dial, a deep, inky blue that likewise recalls a classic record. On this version, the guitars are shaded in yellow, red, light blue, and a darker blue, offering a brighter, more varied palette. The white gold hands are thin and leaf-shaped, and in this context, they are described by Hermès as resembling guitar picks, further strengthening the musical theme.
The typical, sloping Arabic numerals that are a hallmark of the Arceau dial are gone. This removal is a deliberate choice, stripping the dial of its traditional time-telling markers to place the focus entirely on the artwork. It becomes a pure canvas. The only text is the "Hermès Paris" signature, applied discreetly. This decision emphasizes a concept that Hermès often explores in its watchmaking: that time is not just something to be measured, but something to be experienced. The watch is less about the precise minute and more about the feeling it evokes—the rhythm and vibration of the "Music City" it honors.
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Nashville's reputation as "Music City" is not a modern marketing slogan; it is a name earned over more than a century. The title is often traced back to the 1870s, when the Fisk Jubilee Singers, an African-American a cappella ensemble from Nashville's Fisk University, embarked on a world tour. When they performed for Queen Victoria, the monarch was reportedly so impressed that she declared they must come from a "City of Music." The name stuck, and it was solidified in the 20th century by the establishment of the WSM radio station and its "Grand Ole Opry" show, which broadcast country, folk, and bluegrass across the nation. This, in turn, attracted songwriters, publishers, and recording studios, like the famed RCA Studio B, turning Nashville into the undisputed center of the music world.
The Arceau On Air watches are powered by the Manufacture Hermès H1912 movement. This is a significant detail, as it underscores the brand's commitment to in-house watchmaking. For many years, Hermès, like many fashion houses, relied on movements from specialist suppliers. However, through strategic acquisitions, including a 25% stake in the high-end movement maker Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier, Hermès has developed its own line of exclusive calibers. The H1912 is a self-winding mechanical movement that serves as the brand's reliable and well-finished workhorse, used across many of its core collections.
The H1912 is a modern caliber, operating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, or 4Hz. This higher beat rate contributes to better timekeeping stability. When fully wound, it provides a power reserve of approximately 50 hours, a solid figure that exceeds the old industry standard of around 40 hours, meaning it can be set down for a weekend and still be running on Monday. The movement's slim profile, at just 3.7 mm thick, allows the Arceau case to maintain its refined and wearable proportions, even with the complex, multi-layered dial.
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Flipping the watch over reveals the movement through a sapphire crystal case-back. Hermès ensures the view is just as considered as the dial. The mainplate features circular-graining, a pattern of small, overlapping circles, while the bridges are satin-brushed. The most distinctive feature is the oscillating weight, or rotor, which is responsible for automatically winding the mainspring through the wearer's motion. This component is decorated with a "sprinkling of Hs," a repeating micro-motif of the brand's initial, which creates a textured and unmistakably Hermès finish. It is a constant, subtle reminder of the maker, visible only to the owner.
The case for these special editions is crafted from 750 white gold, a precious metal that provides a bright, cool luster that complements both the red and blue dial variants. The case maintains the classic Arceau dimensions, measuring 38 mm in diameter. This is a very moderate, versatile size that suits a wide range of wrists and sits comfortably at the intersection of a classic dress watch and a piece of wearable art. The polished finish of the white gold case and its unique stirrup lugs reflect light beautifully. The watch is rated for a water resistance of 3 bar, or about 30 meters, which is standard for a watch of this style, protecting it from splashes and rain but not intended for swimming.
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Each of the two Arceau On Air models is paired with an alligator strap, crafted in the Hermès Horloger workshops. The quality of its leather goods is, of course, the historical foundation of the entire brand, and its straps are considered among the best in the industry. The red-dialed version comes with a matte Rouge H alligator strap, a signature deep burgundy color. The blue-dialed model is fitted with a matte Bleu Abysse alligator strap. Both straps are secured with a pin buckle made from 750 white gold, matching the case material.
These watches are not regular production models; they are designated as numbered limited editions. The release is exceptionally scarce, with only two pieces of each variation being produced, for a total of just four watches. This extreme rarity places them in the category of true collector's items, made specifically to commemorate the Nashville boutique opening. This exclusivity, combined with the high-end materials of a white gold case and the intricate, time-consuming craft of miniature painting, dictates their price. The Hermès Arceau On Air is priced at $69,800.
Case: 750 white gold (˜ 43.932 g), round, 38 mm diameter. Asymmetrical lugs designed by Henry d’Origny in 1978. Interhorn width 20 mm. Anti-glare sapphire crystal and case-back. Water resistance to 3 bar.
Movement: Manufacture Hermès H1912 mechanical self-winding movement. Swiss made. 23.9 mm diameter, 3.7 mm thick. Approx. 50-hour power reserve. 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz). Functions: hours, minutes. Circular-grained mainplate, satin-brushed bridges and oscillating weight with ‘sprinkling of Hs’ motif.
Dial: Miniature painting on sapphire (depicting guitars from the On Air! scarf by Carine Brancowitz). Pad-printed background evoking a colored vinyl record. Steel hands.
Strap: Matte Bleu Abysse alligator or matte Rouge H alligator. 750 white gold pin buckle (approx. 5.11 g).
Price: $69,800
Notes: Numbered limited editions of 2 (two of each version). Created to celebrate the opening of the Hermès boutique in Nashville, Tennessee.