Hermès introduced its Arceau wristwatch in 1978.
The Arceau was designed by Henri d’Origny, who worked as a designer for Hermès. Its distinctive case and asymmetrical stirrup-inspired lugs connect the watch to the company’s longstanding equestrian heritage. The model became one of the recognizable watch designs associated with Hermès.
Hermès had already made saddlery and leather goods for more than a century before expanding its watch identity. The Arceau therefore expressed the brand’s established visual language rather than copying a conventional sports-watch design.
The year is sometimes confused with dates associated with other Hermès watch families or later product updates. Arceau refers specifically to the collection introduced in 1978, while individual versions, complications and artistic editions appeared later.