Let me start by saying that Ive always felt that Hermes is a watchmaker that doesnt get the respect it deserves. Over the last decade, more and more of their manufacturing has been dragged under one roof, and the pieces theyve released have swung between the joyfully legible like the Hermes Slim dHermes and the mechanically momentous like the Hermes Le Temps Suspendu, for example. With the 2019 release of the Hermes Arceau LHeure De La Lune watch, this historic company adds a truly exceptional timepiece to their range.SpecificationsBrand: HermesModel: Arceau LHeure De La LuneDimensions: 43mmWater Resistance: 30mCase Material: White goldCrystal/Lens: Sapphire crystal with AR treatmentMovement: Hermes Manufacture H1837 movementFrequency: 28,800vph (4Hz)Power Reserve: UndisclosedStrap/Bracelet: The aventurine dial comes with a matte abyss blue alligator strap, while the meteorite dial comes on a matte graphite grey alligatorPrice Availability: Both models limited to 100 pieces; $25,500 for each type AnalysisIve always loved a good moonphase complication. Practically useless for most people, a well-made moonphase is an almost microcosmic metaphor for the motivations of the industry en masse: the tireless pursuit of perfecting that which need not be perfected. To make a decent moonphase that is not only accurate, but also attractive and able to display the information in a novel and engaging way is difficult. Its a task no watchmaker need undertake, but one so many do just for the sake of doing a difficult task well.In the case of the Hermes Arceau LHeure De La Lune watch success is found on both an aesthetic and a horological level. Firstly, the dial options are both exquisite. Hermes is offering either an aventurine or a meteorite background. As far as visual interest goes, both materials are right up there for me. In this case, both are perfectly congruous with the design concept. The aventurine looks like a starry night, while the meteorite is literally from outer space.The dial displays the waxing and waning of the moon in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. The Hermes Arceau LHeure De La Lune achieves this by rotating two dials (the time and the date) around a central axis. Each dial obscures a certain portion of each moon. Its a bold, well-realised, ever-shifting display that is optically appealing. ConclusionBoth models are limited to 100 pieces each. That may seem a little high for a watch at this price level and with the niche nature of its appeal, but I think the concept is so neatly done it would have been a shame to produce fewer pieces. If I had to plump for one, I think the meteorite is the most interesting. Dark, moody dials are not something one associates with Hermes-I think it makes for a nice change. Price for each model is $25,500. Learn more at hermes.comFollow our pre-, post-, and live SIHH 2019 coverage here and on social media. [...]