Hermès Le Temps Suspendu: When Time Stands Still

The story of Hermès Le Temps Suspendu is one of those rare moments in watchmaking where technical ingenuity meets genuine whimsy. It all began with a message from Hermès, inviting us to Basel for a meeting with their watch division president.

At first, I asked if I could send someone from the team. The fair was in full swing, and my schedule was packed. But they said no, it has to be you. You will be meeting with Jean-Marc Wiederrecht.

Jean-Marc Wiederrecht is a kind of rock star in independent watchmaking, and his designs and inventions regularly win awards at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. His work is inventive, often playful, and always deeply technical. If Hermès had brought him on board, I knew that something special was in the works. So, I made the time.

What emerged from that collaboration was the Arceau Le Temps Suspendu, “time suspended.” The concept is as poetic as it is technically challenging. With the press of a button, the watch’s hands freeze, suspending the display of time. Yet, beneath the dial, the movement continues to run, keeping perfect track of the hours and minutes. When you’re ready, another press of the button returns the hands to the correct time, as if nothing had happened.

This is not a simple trick. Achieving this effect required a retrograde mechanism and a host of custom components. The challenge was not just to stop the hands, but to do so without losing track of time or draining the power reserve. Wiederrecht himself admitted that, at first, he didn’t see how it could be done. But then he did it.

The latest 2025 novelties take the concept a step further. The dials on the latest Arceau Le Temps Suspendu pieces are more open, giving a clear view of the mechanism at work when time is “suspended.” It’s a delight for anyone who appreciates the mechanical artistry behind the magic. There’s a real sense of play here, but it’s backed by serious watchmaking.

One small but telling detail: when the hands freeze, they bracket the 12 o’clock position, rather than the more traditional 10 and 2. This is intentional. The 10 and 2 position, which you see in almost all the watch ads, might make it look like the watch wasn’t running, or it was a test or photo watch. Hermès, true to form, does things its own way, ensuring both clarity and a touch of its signature style.

This article originally appeared in Robb Report Philippines’ Watches and Jewelry Issue, August 2025.