Arnold & Son Catalogue 2014 / 2015
Content INTRODUCTION .............................................................. 3 HISTORY ........................................................................... 4 John Arnold ................................................................. 6 At the court of King George III ........................................ 8 To the “applause of his fellow-citizens” ............................. 10 Arnold and Breguet ............................................................ 12 The East India Company .................................................. 14 History timeline .......................................................... 16 MANUFACTURE .............................................................. 20 MÉTIERS D’ART .............................................................. 26 ARNOLD & SON COLLECTIONS ................................ 32 ROYAL COLLECTION ................................................. TB88 ............................................................................ TES .............................................................................. TE8 .............................................................................. TE8 Métiers d'Art I & II ................................................. TEC1 ............................................................................ HM Perpetual Moon .....................................................
36 42 52 58 66 74 8 4
HMS1 ........................................................................... 94 HMS1 Royal Blue .......................................................... 104 HM Horses Set .............................................................. 106 HM Pandas ................................................................... 108 HMS Victory Set............................................................ 110 HMS Lady..................................................................... 112 Hornet World Timer Skeleton ........................................ 116 INSTRUMENT COLLECTION ..................................... 1 20 DTE .............................................................................. 1 26 DBS .............................................................................. 1 32 DBG ............................................................................. 1 38 UTTE ........................................................................... 1 44 Time Pyramid ............................................................... 1 52 CTB .............................................................................. 160 DSTB ............................................................................ 168 TBR .............................................................................. 176 TB Victory .................................................................... 182 East India Company Set .............................................. 186 HMS Beagle Set ........................................................... 192 CALIBRES OVERVIEW .............................................. 198
CONTENT 1
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Dear Reader Arnold & Son celebrates its 250th anniversary in 2014 and has launched five new manufacture movements and different special editions to commemorate this important event and pay tribute to the achievements of John Arnold and his son. In retrospect, it is clear that John Arnold was one of the greatest watchmakers who ever lived and that he, together with Abraham-Louis Breguet, largely invented the modern mechanical watch. From the outset, the brand combined traditional watchmaking skills with innovative flair. Today, our watchmakers uphold that heritage, creating complicated, original movements with state-of-the-art technologies and materials to produce exquisitely crafted timepieces. Based on the history of Arnold & Son our range is divided into two distinct segments: the Royal Collection and the Instrument Collection. The Royal Collection is a reflection of elegance and sophistication in the inimitable English style, and has been extended to include several new models. It was inspired by and pays tribute to the timepieces made by John Arnold for King George III and members of the royal court.
The Instrument Collection, on the other hand, was inspired by the timepieces developed when John Arnold and his son Roger focused on chronometry and helped solve the problem of determining longitude at sea. So successful were they that Arnold & Son became principal suppliers of marine chronometers to the British Royal Navy. All these achievements are reflected in our unending quest to create exceptional timepieces that are true to the brand’s heritage and meet the needs and expectations of discerning watch lovers the world over. For this reason we are delighted to welcome you to the world of Arnold & Son and proudly invite you to browse this latest edition of our annual catalogue.
Philippe Boven Arnold & Son SA
INTRODUCTION 3
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H I S T O R Y 5
John Arnold
John Arnold A finger on the pulse of his time
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John Arnold was born in Cornwall in 1736. His father was a watchmaker and his uncle a gunsmith, which probably explains his early interest in precision engineering and metalwork. A talented craftsman and scholar, he left England for the Netherlands at the age of 19 after completing his apprenticeship to hone his watchmaking skills. He returned two years later speaking excellent German, which stood him in good stead later at the court of King George III, and had established himself as a watchmaker of repute in London’s Strand by his mid-twenties. After Arnold presented the smallest repeating watch ever made to King George III and to the court, he rapidly acquired a wealthy clientele. He was one of the most
© T he Trustees of the British Museum
© National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, UK
John Arnold, half-quarter repeater, gold John Arnold, pocket chronometer, and enamel cased cylinder pocket watch, No. 1/36, London, 1778 No. 253, London, 1775
inventive watchmakers of his day and held patents for a detent escapement, bimetallic balance, helical balance spring and overcoil balance spring. Arnold’s No. 36 was the first timepiece to be called a chronometer, a term reserved for unusually precise watches to this day. Arnold also played a central role in the events of his day. Along with other watchmakers, he addressed the problem of determining longitude, and won several grants and awards offered by the British Parliament. He enjoyed such respect in his profession that he became a close friend of AbrahamLouis Breguet. They exchanged ideas and even entrusted their sons to each other for their apprenticeships.
© Christies Bridgeman Giraudon
John Roger Arnold, spring detent pocket chronometer, No. 1818, London, 1801
This is a story worth telling. Starting with this catalogue, we shall look at some of the achievements that assured John Arnold and his son of their place in watchmaking history. Following with the stories, we shall read how his timepieces accompanied famous explorers on their voyages of discovery, helped the East India Company establish its empire and how Napoleon Bonaparte himself presented an Arnold clock to the Observatory of Milan in 1802. For more about Arnold and his son, a complete col lection of these stories can be found on our website at www.arnoldandson.com.
HISTORY 7
At the court of King George III
King George III
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Anne, Queen of Great Britain, who died in 1714, left no Protestant heir apparent to the throne, as stipulated in the English Act of Settlement of 1701. As a result, advisers resorted to the Queen’s family tree and George, princeelector of Hanover, succeeded her as monarch. George I and his wife spoke only German. Their son, George Augustus, who became George II of Great Britain in 1727, was raised and married in Germany. In other words, when he died in 1760 and his grandson, George III, ascended the throne, German was the chief language spoken at the English court. George III, no doubt aware that a monarch should respect the customs of his country, began to learn English. Nevertheless, in 1761 he married Duchess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who had been born and spent her life in Germany. Fortunately, John Arnold spoke German, a skill acquired when he moved to the Netherlands for two years at the age of 19. It certainly helped him in 1764, when he was summoned to meet the King and present him with an
exceptional timepiece. The meeting was a great success, as documented by this account: “Arnold is also celebrated for the manufacture of the smallest repeating-watch ever known; it was made for his majesty George III, to whom it was presented on his birthday, the 4th of June 1764. Although less than six-tenths of an inch in diameter, it was perfect in all its parts, repeated the hours, quarters and half-quarters, and contained the first ruby cylinder ever made. [...] The king was so much pleased with this rare specimen of mechanical skill, that he presented Mr. Arnold with 500 guineas; and the emperor of Russia afterwards offered Mr. Arnold 1000 guineas for a duplicate of it, which he declined.” (1) The ruby cylinder found in this repeating watch was so remarkable that the King, himself a connoisseur of horology, asked Arnold to make him another so that he could admire it. After this favourable reception, John Arnold’s career took off. He was renowned for his complicated watches, including minute repeaters and calendar watches, and a clientele
of rich European aristocrats thronged to his workshop on St. James’s Street in London. He employed the city’s best craftspeople: James and Mary Reasey of Soho supplied sumptuously decorated watch cases of enamel and gold guilloché, and James Drury of Islington made him gongs in the best alloys for his repeating watches. Despite this success, John Arnold was not content to manufacture beautiful watches alone. Encouraged by George III himself, he set about solving the problem of calculating longitude using a chronometer and, from 1770 onwards, dedicated himself to this task entirely.
(1) R eligious Tract Society (Great Britain), The Visitor or Monthly Instructor (London, 1847)
HISTORY 9
To the “applause of his fellow-citizens”
© The Trustees of the British Museum
John Arnold, marine chronometer No. 12, London, 1778–1779
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John Arnold rapidly established a reputation for outstanding mechanical expertise and was the first watchmaker to produce a jewelled ruby cylinder escapement. He showcased this in an exceptionally small half-quarter repeating watch mounted in a ring, which he offered to King George III. His growing fame attracted an affluent clientele. He could easily have lived comfortably, making exquisite repeating watches and calendar watches. But John Arnold was relentlessly driven by the greatest watchmaking challenge of his age: to build a timepiece that would enable ships to navigate safely, transform science and roll back the boundaries in astronomy. That challenge was precision, and Arnold made it his passion. Between 1770 and 1790, he painstakingly refined the art of watchmaking, introducing decisive improvements that heralded the arrival of chronometry. It is to him we owe a series of trailblazing inventions that included a detent escapement, a helical balance spring, terminal curves that make the helical balance spring isochronous, the first-ever use of gold for balance springs, and a range of bimetallic balances that offset errors caused by temperature fluctuations.
Arnold’s chronometers were used by some of the greatest explorers and navigators of his time on their epic voyages. His regulators and their continual refinement bear witness to the colossal progress of science and astronomy across Europe. Arnold was also heir to a series of exceptional English watchmakers, each of whom advanced the art of watchmaking in his own way: George Graham, Thomas Tompion, Thomas Mudge and John Harrison. Arnold, however, was the first to usher watchmaking into the modern era by designing highprecision, reliable watches that were also relatively easy to manufacture. In its report on Arnold’s pocket chronometer No. 2 in 1780, the Board of Longitude had this to say: “So far as this watch has been tried, it must be acknowledged by all, that it is superior to every one that had been made before it. Nothing therefore seems to remain but for … Mr. Arnold … to make other watches … to entitle him to the second reward offered by Parliament for improvements in this branch of mechanics, and also to the universal approbation and applause of his fellow-citizens.” (2) (2) The Monthly Review or Literary Journal, vol. 58 (London, 1780)
HISTORY 11
Arnold and Breguet A tale of two watchmakers
© The Trustees of the British Museum
John Arnold and A.-L. Breguet, silver cased chrono meter with tourbillon and spring-detent escapement, London, England, 1774 and Paris, France, 1808
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Abraham-Louis Breguet left his native Switzerland for Paris at the age of 15 to pursue his dream of becoming a watchmaker. Unlike Arnold, whose only real teacher had been his father, Breguet was trained by two watchmakers who were exceptional in their own right: Ferdinand Berthoud and Jean-Antoine Lépine. When Breguet arrived in Paris in 1775 he, like Arnold in London, quickly attracted a wealthy clientele from all over Europe. His success was due mainly to his self-winding “perpetual” watches. One of his first customers was the King’s cousin, the Duke of Orléans, a great connoisseur of horology and friend of John Arnold. It was he who arranged for the two great inventors to meet: “The Duke of Orléans had given Arnold a watch designed by Breguet. Arnold was so stunned by its perfection that he made the spontaneous decision to travel to Paris to see the craftsman who had created it. Arnold arrived in Paris, where he received a fitting welcome from our famous watchmaker. The art of watchmaking became all the richer for this relationship between two men whose meeting could be described as destiny.” (3)
So deep was their mutual respect that they entrusted the training of their sons to each other, John Roger spending two years as an apprentice in Paris and Breguet’s son, Antoine-Louis, doing his training in London under Arnold. The friendship between the two never waned. In 1789, Breguet went to London to visit Arnold. He wrote to his partner, Xavier Gide, telling him how much he enjoyed his discussions with the inventor of the helical balance spring. They even exchanged trade secrets, as this letter from Arnold’s son, John Roger, to Breguet in 1796 reveals: “If you want to make the metal for expansion you must take two parts of silver and one of zinc. Melt the silver thoroughly, and when it is melted add the zinc and don’t forget to stir it with a stick. As to the hair-springs, it has been found that platinum is not satisfactory; there are impurities in it and it often breaks. Nowadays, only hair-springs made of gold are used.” (4) John Arnold’s death in 1799 affected Breguet profoundly. As a sign of his esteem, Breguet modified one of Arnold’s pocket chronometers by adding the first tourbillon escapement ever designed. Today, this exceptional watch, given
as a present to John Arnold’s son in 1808, is a highlight of the British Museum’s collection in London, and bears the following inscription on a tiny plate in the movement: «1ER REGULATEUR A TOURBILLON DE BREGUET RÉUNI A UN DES PREMIERS OUVRAGES D’ARNOLD. HOMMAGE DE BREGUET, A LA MÉMOIRE RÉVÉRÉE D’ARNOLD, OFFERT A SON FILS AN 1808» –
“The first tourbillon regulator by Breguet incorporated in one of the first works of Arnold. Breguet’s homage to the revered memory of Arnold. Presented to his son in 1808.” (5)
© The Trustees of the British Museum
(3) B reguet, Emmanuel, Breguet: Watchmakers since 1775 [English trans. of Breguet: Horloger depuis 1775], ed. Alain de Gourcuff (Paris, 1997) (4) Le Globe, Journal littéraire, vol. 3/1 (Paris, 24 December 1825) (5) Mercer, Vaudrey, John Arnold & Son, supplement (London, 1975)
HISTORY 13
The East India Company
© National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, UK
East Indiamen in the China seas. Oil on canvas, painting by William John Huggins, 1820-1830
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Numerous commercial companies were founded in the 17th and 18th centuries in order to profit from trade expansion between Europe, the Americas, the Indian continent and China. However, none was as famous and as powerful as Great Britain’s Honourable East India Company. Established very early on, in 1600, it traded predominantly in spices, silk, cotton, tea and opium. Its power became so great that it eventually exercised military power and conquered vast territories, particularly in India, subsequently assuming administrative functions and organizing civil society. The strength of the East India Company lay, above all, in its fabulous ships, known as “Indiamen”. Officially, these exceptional boats were mighty trading ships, capable of transporting many passengers and large amounts of goods. However, they were also formidable, heavily armed war machines, able to resist attacks by pirates, so much so that the Royal Navy called on their services regularly. If the Indiamen had always enjoyed an edge over their competitors, it was also due to their having experienced sailors
and intrepid captains, who were keenly aware of the opportunities offered by the marine chronometer. Here are two examples of such individuals: “Possessed of a good chronometer made by Arnold (No. 64), having great dependence on my instrument, and losing no opportunity of ascertaining our precise situation each noon by meridional double altitudes and lunar observations, day and night, I am in hopes that navigators, failing in my track, will find in it but few errors.” Captain Thomas Butler of the Walpole, on the subject of his voyage from the Cape of Good Hope to China in 1794. “It is the most dangerous shoal I ever beheld, and the water is so very smooth, owing no doubt to its eastern extent, that a ship might be on the reef presently, and almost with the best look-out. I have ascertained the longitude of its northwest extreme by a very good Arnold’s time-keeper, whose rate agrees with our lunar observations as nearly as possible.” Captain Hogan on the Marquis Cornwallis, during his voyage to the New Hebrides in 1796.
The East India Company was dissolved in 1874. However, the Indiamen continued to plough the seas with their precious chronometers on board until the beginning of the 20th century. Bibliography: Huddart, Joseph, Captain, The Oriental Navigator (London, 1801)
HISTORY 15
Arnold & Son A timeline
1736 John Arnold is born in Cornwall. At the age of 19, after completing an apprenticeship as a watchmaker with his father, he leaves for the Netherlands, where he learns German.
1762 John Arnold opens his first workshop, in London’s Strand, and gains immediate recognition when he repairs a repeating watch owned by William McGuire, a renowned watch connoisseur.
1764 John Arnold makes a ring containing a half-quarter repeater, which he presents to King George III, and instantly creates a wealthy clientele. This watch contains the first ruby cylinder ever made and is, like the watch itself, unbelievably small.
1770 John Arnold presents his first marine chronometer to the Board of Longitude. Impressed by the watch’s quality, the Board promptly awards him a grant of £ 200, the first of many he is to receive. © Science Museum, Science & Society Picture Library
1771 Admiral Harland uses the first Arnold chronometer John Arnold and his son. Oil on canvas, painting by Robert Davy, 1775
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on his voyage to Madagascar.
1772 Arnold’s No. 3 chronometer is aboard when Captain Cook sets out on his second voyage to the Pacific.
1780 An Arnold astronomical pendulum clock is installed at the Observatory of Mannheim, Germany.
1773 Following the invention of a detent escapement and
1780 T he Board of Longitude presents Arnold’s chro-
other significant design improvements, John Arnold builds his first pocket chronometer (No. 8).
nometer No. 2, declaring it superior to any watch produced previously.
1773 Captain Phipps chooses an Arnold chronometer for
1782 John Arnold is granted patents for helical spring ter-
his voyage towards the North.
1775 John Arnold is awarded patents for the helical spring and an improvement to the bimetallic balance.
1778 John Arnold creates a minor storm in precision timekeeping with the Arnold No. 36. The timepiece reviewed at Greenwich is applauded for its precision. Following this success, Arnold advertises his achievement with a document in which he calls the timekeeper a “chronometer”, a term that subsequently became general currency and is still used to this day to denote a supremely accurate timepiece.
minal curves, a spring detent and epicycloidal teeth.
1788 An Arnold chronometer is used by George Robertson to chart the China Sea.
1792 John Roger Arnold studies in Paris for two years under his father’s friend, Abraham-Louis Breguet.
1792 Arnold’s No. 4 chronometer is the instrument of choice for Captain George Vancouver’s voyage to America’s west coast.
HISTORY 17
1794 Arnold’s No. 64 chronometer accompanies Captain Thomas Butler on his voyage to China.
1796 John Roger Arnold joins his father’s firm. Arnold & Son quickly becomes the leading supplier of timepieces to the Royal Navy.
1799 John Arnold dies. 1802 Napoléon Bonaparte offers an Arnold astronomical clock to the Milan Observatory.
pany Captain John Ross on his voyage to Baffin Bay.
1820 John Roger Arnold is awarded a patent for his keyless winding system.
1820 Arnold’s No. 2109 chronometer goes with Captain Edward Perry on his voyage toward the North Pole.
1821 John Roger Arnold receives a patent for the “U”-type balance.
1806 Baron Von Krusenstern takes two Arnold chro-
1830 John Roger Arnold and Edward John Dent
nometers (Nos. 128 and 1856) with him for his circumnavigation of the world.
(another London clockmaker) finalize a 10-year partnership contract.
1808 In reverent memory of John Arnold, Breguet pre-
1843 J ohn Roger Arnold dies and “Arnold & Son” is
sents his son, John Roger, with his first tourbillon escapement, mounted in one of Arnold’s first pocket chronometers. Today, this exceptional watch is a highlight of the British Museum’s collection in London, and bears a personal inscription.
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1818 Two Arnold chronometers (Nos. 25 and 369) accom-
repurchased by Charles Frodsham.
1845 Sir John Franklin sets out with a crew of 130 to chart the infamous Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic. On board is an Arnold chronometer (No. 294). The expedition is a disaster and no one survives. Rediscovered over 150 years later, the chronometer has been disguised as a carriage clock to make it unrecognizable. How it found its way back to the UK remains one of the greatest mysteries of watchmaking.
1857 Arnold & Dent’s No. 4575 chronometer accompanies Dr David Livingstone on his expedition to South Africa.
1995 Relaunch of the brand in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.
2010 Arnold & Son becomes a fully integrated manufacture, developing and producing in-house all of its movements.
2014 A rnold & Son celebrates its 250 th anniversary by presenting five new manufacture movements.
© Christies Bridgeman Giraudon
John Roger Arnold, mean and sidereal pocket chronometer with bimetallic “Z” balance, No. 2, London, 1796–1799
HISTORY 19
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M A N U F A C T U R E 21
Manufacture Preserving a proud heritage
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Arnold & Son belongs to a select group of watchmaking companies in Switzerland entitled to call themselves a manufacture, a French term reserved exclusively for watch manufacturers who develop and produce their own movements in-house. The brand’s prowess in the development and production of in-house movements is reflected by an impressive collection of Arnold & Son calibres with a complete range of sophisticated complications. Some measure of its achievement can be found in the fact that at least two new movements have been launched each year: an exceptional achievement that puts Arnold & Son on the same level as some of the most dynamic manufactures in the watch industry.
Every Arnold & Son movement has its own story to tell and reflects the brand’s heritage. They range from the minuscule repeating watch presented to King George III that cemented the founder’s reputation, to the precise marine chronometers that made travel at sea so much less hazardous and put the British Empire on course to expansion. Unlike other watch manufacturers, who often use the same calibre for different models, Arnold & Son develops a new movement for every single model. Today, the brand maintains a product philosophy established well over 200 years ago, combining traditional, hand-finished craftsmanship with state-of-the-art technology.
CNC machinery delivers the microscopic precision needed to guarantee the accuracy and quality that were always one of John Arnold’s prime concerns.
MANUFACTURE 23
Arnold & Son’s development and production facilities are located in La Chaux-de-Fonds, at the heart of the Swiss watchmaking industry, for the simple reason that this is the ideal place to ensure that Arnold’s heritage lives on. It is home to the industry’s most talented and experienced watchmakers and engineers, individuals whose pride and raison d’être lie in the production of high-quality precision watches that are among the very best available.
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MANUFACTURE 25
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M É T I E R S
D ’A R T 27
Decorative Arts Consummate craftsmanship at its creative best
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John Arnold and, later, his son John Roger Arnold established towering reputations for the innovation and stateof-the-art technology that went into their timepieces. But from the start, the intricacy and exquisite workmanship of their movements was mirrored in the purely decorative elements of their timepieces. The foundations of John Arnold’s reputation were laid when he presented his elaborately ornamented half-quarter repeater ring to King George III. Among his work were pocket watches with handengraved movements and champlevÊ enamel cases. Even his marine chronometers had hand-engraved balance cocks with the floral motifs typical of the English style.
True to its founder, Arnold & Son today carefully preserves and cultivates the skilled creative craftsmanship in the form of hand-finished engravings and miniature paintings that have been characteristic of the brand throughout its history. Today, the company has its own qualified hand-engravers, who specialize in a traditional art form involving the use of hardened steel tools called burins in combination with other special tools. These create cuts, lines and texturing that build up entire images, often with a breathtaking richness of detail, and are featured in several watches in the Royal and Instrument collections, either on the dial or as exquisite details on the movement
itself. Examples include the HMS Victory set featuring three scenes of the renowned HMS Victory battleship, the TE8, which has a spectacular entirely hand-engraved movement with unique motif, the TEC1, which has also an entirely hand-engraved 22-carat red gold oscillating weight with English-style motifs and the UTTE in the Instrument collection with its hand-engraved tourbillon bridge.
MÉTIERS D’ART 29
Further evidence of the brand’s commitment to traditional craftsmanship is furnished by the delicate hand-finished miniature paintings featured on the East India Company set, where the miniatures stand out almost transparently against the mother-of-pearl background.
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MÉTIERS D’ART 31
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A R N O L D
&
S O N
C O L L E C T I O N S 33
The Royal and Instrument Collections From classical horology for kings to absolute precision
John Arnold’s professional life was divided into two distinct sections. But clearly defined as they were, several elements were common to both: a passion for sophistication and perfection in every timepiece he produced. These qualities are epitomized by a half-quarter repeater watch he presented as a gift to King George III in 1764. A mere 16 mm in diameter, with 120 separate parts and weighing no more than 7.6 grams in total, it was set in a ring and was the smallest of its kind ever made. The timepieces Arnold designed and manufactured during this phase of his life helped lay the foundations for the Golden Age of English watchmaking. Arnold established a style and tradition that have remained unique in the history of horology. That heritage is reflected in the presentday Arnold & Son Royal Collection. The Royal Collection is a reference to the masterpieces with which Arnold initially made his name. These have evolved into a series of timepieces characterized by their unique English style: regal and sumptuous, boasting a discreet opulence offset by the elegance of a double-step bezel and lugs, gently flowing contours and soft curves.
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The movements, often visible, have a multilevel design that adds an intriguing three-dimensional sensation of depth. Components are exquisitely decorated and hand-finished. John Arnold’s reputation was such that he could have lived comfortably selling these unique, exceptional timepieces to a well-heeled clientele for the rest of his days. Contemporary events, however, took him down a different path. As the world opened up to exploration, the need for mariners to calculate longitude accurately had become a pressing problem. The British government offered the Longitude Prize to anyone who could provide a means of determining longitude reliably. It was clear that the answer lay in extremely precise and dependable chronometers. The stage was set for Arnold to put his expertise to the test and develop mechanisms that would satisfy this need. After deciding to forgo the lucrative business to be had at court, Arnold devoted his life to chronometry and embarked upon a period that showcased his originality and ingenuity. He finally revolutionized precision timekeeping with breakthrough inventions in the form of several bimetallic, temperature-compensated balances,
the spring detent escapement, the helical spring and the terminal overcoil curve. His products and the technical refinements that came with each new model would have been as eagerly awaited by his customers in the 18th century as are those of the more iconic brands of our own day. The results of his labours were chronometers of breathtaking precision that were found on the ships of the Royal Navy and many explorers, and are reflected today in the Instrument Collection from Arnold & Son. With their complex movements, refined dials and slim, elegant bezels, they reference the chronometers that helped roll back the boundaries in navigation, science and astronomy. The time display is off-centre and the greater part of the dial given over to a complication, such as a true beat seconds or retrograde date. Future models in this line will spotlight a variety of different complications and appeal to a discerning group of connoisseurs.
COLLECTIONS 35
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R O Y A L
C O L L E C T I O N 37
Royal Collection Classical timepieces in the great English tradition
Given the dominance of Swiss watchmaking in modern times, it is difficult to imagine an age when another horological culture and tradition held sway in Europe. The late 18th century, however, was an age when English watchmaking reigned supreme. The country’s watchmakers developed an aesthetic entirely of their own, dictated partly by contemporary taste but also by their desire to roll back the boundaries of a field that combined art, tradition and technology like no other. John Arnold and his son played an influential role in the directions taken by English watchmaking. They combined a finely developed aesthetic sense with an ability to find solutions to technological problems, crafting magnificent movements and designs with cutting-edge mechanical features that garnered several major patents, which changed the course of horology.
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marine
Historical Inspiration: Arnold & Dent, No. 4229, London, 1833, bridges cut straight, in classic English design
Royal Collection: TB88, detail of the manufacture calibre A&S5003, signed Arnold & Son
Royal Collection: TB88, detail of the manufacture calibre A&S5003, bridges design inspired by historical English design
Historical Inspiration: John chronom足eter, signed Arnold
Arnold,
ROYAL COLLECTION 39
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Historical Inspiration: Arnold, Charles Frodsham, No. 8623, London, 1855. Classic three-quarter barrel bridge with large wave-shaped cut-out
Historical Inspiration: Arnold & Son, pocketchronometer, detail of the classic pocket watch case design
Royal Collection: TE8 Tourbillon, detail of the manufacture calibre A&S8000 designed with the classic three-quarter barrel bridge with large wave-shaped cut-out
Royal Collection: TB88, detail of the baroque voluptuous case design which characterizes the Royal Collection, inspired from the Arnold & Son pocket watch case design
Today, Arnold & Son is proud to draw on and maintain that unique heritage. The models in the Royal Collection reflect many of the features that made the original company’s name. The TB88, for example, demonstrates Arnold & Son’s ongoing quest for state-of-the-art technology and clearly reflects the influence of English horological heritage. With its true beat (TB) complication and the symmetrical arrangement of twin barrels, balance wheel and seconds display, it is beautifully balanced and unites many of the technical and aesthetic qualities associated with the brand’s heritage. New members of the Royal Collection further celebrate the brand’s heritage in complicated watches, like the TES Tourbillon – a watch with incredible depth and threedimensional effect owing to the combination of sapphire and openworked bridges – or the TEC1, which combines a wealth of complications including a tourbillon, a chronograph and an automatic winding system.
It surprises and delights with its uniquely precise and three-dimensional representation of the moon. Common to them all, however, is traditional craftsmanship, as evidenced by the hand-finished and embellished movements, combined with outstanding technical features and the opulent design of the Royal Collection. The other members of the Royal Collection are just as impressive. The deceptively simple line of the HMS1, for example, houses an ultra-slim hand-wound movement with twin barrels that generate a power reserve of more than 90 hours. Another member of the HMS Family, the HM Horses Set, a fabulous special edition of 28 pairs of watches with miniature paintings inspired by the horses depicted in traditional Chinese ink wash paintings, showcases the brand’s ability to pursue John and John Roger Arnold’s prowess in the decorative arts.
With one of the biggest moonphase apertures on the market, the sophisticated HM Perpetual Moon is also a superb example of Arnold & Son’s technical and artistic excellence.
ROYAL COLLECTION 41
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T B 8 8 ROYAL COLLECTION 43
TB88 An English-style ship’s chronometer designed for the wrist
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John Arnold was an exceptional watchmaker who had several major patents to his name and created a minor storm in precision timekeeping with the Arnold No. 36. This was the first-ever watch referred to as a “chronometer”, a term used to this day to denote a supremely accurate timepiece. The TB88 is compelling proof that the brand has lost none of its appetite for innovative technology or precision timekeeping, all encompassed in distinctive English design for the Royal Collection. The hand-wound, 32-jewel A&S5003 calibre unites all the technical and aesthetic characteristics of a classical Arnold chronometer. The letters “TB” stand for true beat, a complication that stands for superlative accuracy and permits the precision timekeeping required for navigation at sea. Unlike a conventional mechanical watch, a movement equipped with a true beat (or dead beat) seconds complication measures out time in complete one-second steps rather than the fractions determined by the balance frequency. This enables a navigator to determine the exact time and, consequently, his longitude.
The TB88 is also a tribute to John Arnold’s earliest known pocket watch, of which the original case bears the number “88”. The number is replicated by the design of the movement in this latest model, with its perfectly symmetrical layout featuring the twin barrels at the top, the balance wheel between 4 and 5 o’clock and the true beat seconds indicator between 7 and 8 o'clock. The watch movement is partly “inverted”, which means that most of the intricate, technically interesting features are visible on the dial side of the movement instead of being hidden away on the reverse. This showcases the two barrels, which generate a power reserve of over 100 hours when fully wound, and the Breguet overcoil balance spring. Bending and fitting the spring by hand is a delicate and highly skilled operation mastered by a precious few watchmakers. As for the complex true beat seconds mechanism, it is visible on the reverse of the movement, ensuring that both sides of the movement offer a unique technical view. But the feature that unquestionably sets Arnold & Son’s TB88 apart is its unique “English” design, as expressed through features like the straight-cut bridges. Each of the
pivoting elements in the movement is mounted on its own bridge, 16 in total. Further shining examples of watchmaking at its finest are the hand-bevelled and polished edges of all bridges and all steel components. The TB88 from Arnold & Son is housed in either a stainless steel or rose gold case measuring 46 millimetres in diameter, with a hand-stitched alligator strap. Water-resistant to 30 metres, it features a cambered sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coatings and a see through sapphire case back. Manufactured entirely in-house, the TB88 is a scintillating combination of classical styling and leadingedge technology.
ROYAL COLLECTION 45
A&S5003 Exclusive Arnold & Son mechanical movement ¦ Hand-wound ¦ 32 jewels ¦ Diameter: 37.8 mm ¦ Thickness: 5.9 mm ¦ Power reserve: 100 h, double barrel ¦ 18,000 vibrations/h ¦ Breguet spring ¦ Functions: hours, minutes, true beat seconds at 8 o’clock ¦ Movement decoration: nickel-silver movement, black ruthenium treated with Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges and brushed surfaces, screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads
46
REF. 1TBAR.B01A.C113A
TB88 Case material: 18-carat red gold ¦ Dial: black open dial ¦ Case diameter: 46 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched black alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m
ROYAL COLLECTION 47
A&S5003 Exclusive Arnold & Son mechanical movement ¦ Hand-wound ¦ 32 jewels ¦ Diameter: 37.8 mm ¦ Thickness: 5.9 mm ¦ Power reserve: 100 h, double barrel ¦ 18,000 vibrations/h ¦ Breguet spring ¦ Functions: hours, minutes, true beat seconds at 8 o’clock ¦ Movement decoration: nickelsilver movement, palladium treated bridges and NAC grey treated main plate with Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges and brushed surfaces, screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads
48
REF. 1TBAR.S01A.C113A
TB88 Case material: 18-carat red gold ¦ Dial: grey open dial ¦ Case diameter: 46 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched black alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m
ROYAL COLLECTION 49
A&S5003 Exclusive Arnold & Son mechanical movement ¦ Hand-wound ¦ 32 jewels ¦ Diameter: 37.8 mm ¦ Thickness: 5.9 mm ¦ Power reserve: 100 h, double barrel ¦ 18,000 vibrations/h ¦ Breguet spring ¦ Functions: hours, minutes, true beat seconds at 8 o’clock ¦ Movement decoration: nickelsilver movement, NAC grey treated bridges and black ruthenium treated main plate with Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges and brushed surfaces, screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads
50
REF. 1TBAS.B01A.C113S
TB88 Case material: stainless steel ¦ Dial: black open dial ¦ Case diameter: 46 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched black alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m
ROYAL COLLECTION 51
52
T E S ROYAL COLLECTION 53
TES Tourbillon Timeless elegance and innovative technology
The tourbillon, one of the most elegant complications in the world of horology, has played a crucial role in Arnold & Son’s history. An exceptional watchmaker, John Arnold was an active participant in one of the most extraordinary partnerships in the world of innovative horology. Indeed, both he and A.-L. Breguet worked closely, sharing both their knowledge and passion. Evidence of their partnership and Arnold’s involvement in the mechanism is proven in the fact that A.-L. Breguet’s first ever tourbillon is mounted in John Arnold’s pocket chronometer No. 11, a watch that can be found today in London’s British Museum. Aesthetically what sets Arnold & Son’s TES Tourbillon apart is its modern take on the distinguished “English” movement design: the barrel bridge for instance has the traditional English wave-form but is made out of sapphire to allow a maximum view on the openworked barrel and wheels. The tourbillon and motion-work bridges are classically triangular but are skeletonised. The combination of sapphire and openworked bridges gives an incredible depth and three-dimensional effect to the watch and thus a modern look. The unique Arnold & Son design is also reflected by the three-spoke wheels. This same three-spoke design can
54
also be found in the tourbillon cage and the openings in the main plate. The decoration of the main plate is a reminiscence of an old guilloché pattern found on the cases of antique Arnold & Son pocket watches. The main plate is also skeletonised around the barrel and the tourbillon cage allowing to look through the movement and therefore through the watch itself.
and, even more demanding, hand-chamfered wheels with polished edges - has been done by hand by Arnold & Son’s master watchmakers, hence bringing more brilliance and depth to each decorative element. This unique timepiece will be produced in a limited edition of 28 pieces, each being individually numbered.
When compared to more conventional tourbillons found today, the TES model is said to be “inverted”, that is to say most technical elements and visually interesting features are shown on the dial side, when those would normally be hidden on the reverse of the dial. Other typically English technical idiosyncrasies like the solid gold chatons will seduce even the most demanding watch connoisseurs. When examining the gear train, one notes the use of wheels with asymmetrical teeth known as “wolf’s teeth”. This exquisite tooth profile, first developed for old high-end pocket watches, improves the smoothness of the overall movement. It goes without saying that every finishing touch on this striking piece - with such superlative movement decoration as hand-chamfered bridges, mirror-polished steel parts
ROYAL COLLECTION 55
A&S8100 Exclusive Arnold & Son tourbillon movement ¦ Hand-wound ¦ 19 jewels ¦ Diameter: 32.6 mm ¦ Thickness: 6.30 mm ¦ Power reserve: 80 h ¦ 21,600 vibrations/h ¦ Functions: hours, minutes, tourbillon ¦ Movement decoration: nickel-silver and sapphire movement, rose gold treated bridges and NAC grey treated main plate with superlative Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, A&S specific pattern engraved on the main plate, circular satin-finished wheels with hand-chamfered and polished edges, screwed gold chatons, mirror-polished tourbillon cage and bridge, screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads
56
REF. 1SJAR.V01A.C112A
TES Case material: 18-carat red gold ¦ Dial: anthracite open dial ¦ Case diameter: 44 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched brown alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m ¦ Limited edition: 28 pieces
ROYAL COLLECTION 57
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T E 8 ROYAL COLLECTION 59
TE8 Tourbillon An inspired masterpiece fit for a king
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The invention of the tourbillon in 1801 is attributed to John Arnold’s close friend and fellow watchmaker, AbrahamLouis Breguet, but there is evidence to suggest that Arnold played more than a small role in its development. Some indication of the close professional relationship that existed between them and of Arnold’s involvement in the mechanism can be found in the fact that Breguet’s first-ever tourbillon was mounted in John Arnold’s No. 11 movement, a watch which can be seen to this day in London’s British Museum and bears a dedication to Arnold from Breguet. The tourbillon is one of the most elegant and inspired complications in the history of watchmaking. As simple in principle as it is difficult to make, the mechanism was designed to eliminate the errors of rate caused by gravity on a pocket watch carried in a vertical position. Weighing mere fractions of a gram, it consists of a mobile cage that contains all the parts of the escapement, with the balance at the centre. The cage completes one revolution around its own axis every minute, thus ensuring that the balance wheel oscillates at different positions in the course of its 360° journey and that the rate remains as constant as possible.
The TE8 Tourbillon heralds the Royal Collection that combines classical styling with innovative, state-of-the-art technology. The letters “TE” stand for tourbillon escapement. Some of its more distinctive features are obvious at first glance. Compared with other more conventional tourbillons found today, the TE8’s movement is said to be “inverted”: in other words, most of the technical elements and visually interesting features can be seen on the dial side, when they would normally be hidden away on the reverse. The timepiece also boasts a number of typically English technical idiosyncrasies that will interest even the most discerning watch connoisseur. Take the symmetrical layout of the movement, for instance: the barrel spring and the tourbillon cage are centred along the watch’s longitudinal axis. The main jewels are hold by screwed gold chatons. They are a reminiscence of the finest Haute Horlogerie mechanical watches of the good old days and contribute to the beauty of the movement. In addition to their esthetical appeal, gold chatons also allow to replace damaged jewels without modifying the boreholes in the plates and bridges. A closer examination of the
winding system and the gear train reveals a traditional construction used in older watches that involves the use of “wolf-teeth”, an asymmetrical tooth system featuring both long and narrow spokes used primarily to improve the smoothness of the overall movement and to enhance its elegant design. From an aesthetic point of view, however, the feature that sets Arnold & Son’s Tourbillon TE8 apart is its singularly English design. Some of the more obvious elements include the meticulously positioned three-quarter barrel bridge with its large wave-shaped cut-out and a lavish decoration unique to Arnold & Son, the triangular tourbillon and motion-work bridges, and the threespoke design of the wheels, which are shaped with such distinctive flair. Needless to say, every detail of this striking piece, such as the black and brushed polishing, bevelling and movement decoration, is painstakingly hand-finished by Arnold & Son’s master watchmakers. This unique wristwatch will be available exclusively in limited editions.
ROYAL COLLECTION 61
A&S8000 Exclusive Arnold & Son tourbillon movement ¦ Hand-wound ¦ 19 jewels ¦ Diameter: 32.6 mm ¦ Thickness: 6.25 mm ¦ Power reserve: 80 h ¦ 21,600 vibrations/h ¦ Functions: hours, minutes, tourbillon ¦ Movement decoration: nickel silver movement, rhodium treated bridges and NAC grey treated main plate with superlative Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining and A&S specific waves decoration, circular satin-finished wheels with hand-chamfered and polished edges, screwed gold chatons, mirror-polished tourbillon cage and bridge, screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads
62
REF. 1SJAR.G01A.C112A
TE8 Case material: 18-carat red gold ¦ Dial: anthracite open dial ¦ Case diameter: 44 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched brown alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m ¦ Limited edition: 25 pieces
ROYAL COLLECTION 63
A&S8000 Exclusive Arnold & Son tourbillon movement ¦ Hand-wound ¦ 19 jewels ¦ Diameter: 32.6 mm ¦ Thickness: 6.25 mm ¦ Power reserve: 80 h ¦ 21,600 vibrations/h ¦ Functions: hours, minutes, tourbillon ¦ Movement decoration: nickel silver movement, NAC grey treated bridges and black ruthenium treated main plate with superlative Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining and A&S specific waves decoration, circular satin-finished wheels with hand-chamfered and polished edges, screwed gold chatons, mirror-polished tourbillon cage and bridge, screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads
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REF. 1SJAW.B02A.C113A
TE8 Case material: 18-carat white gold ¦ Dial: black open dial ¦ Case diameter: 44 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched black alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m ¦ Limited edition: 25 pieces
ROYAL COLLECTION 65
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T E 8
M É T I E R S
D ’A R T
I & I I
ROYAL COLLECTION 67
TE8 Tourbillon Métiers d'Art I & II
True to English watchmaking and handcraft heritage, Arnold & Son unveils the TE8 Tourbillon special edition Métiers d’Art I & II, limited to only 8 exclusive timepieces. Each single TE8 Tourbillon Métiers d’Art I & II is handengraved by Arnold & Son’s own master engraver, who went as far as to create a new engraving pattern solely for these special editions. These new patterns are composed of complex geometrical elements arising from the center of the movement. Hand-engraving is a traditional art form that involves the use of hardened steel tools called burins in combination with other special tools. It goes without saying that every finishing touch on these striking pieces has been done by hand by Arnold & Son’s master watchmakers, thus fulfilling the highest standards of Haute Horlogerie finish and bringing more brilliance and depth to each element of the movement.
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ROYAL COLLECTION 69
A&S8000 Exclusive Arnold & Son tourbillon movement ¦ Hand-wound ¦ 19 jewels ¦ Diameter: 32.6 mm ¦ Thickness: 6.25 mm ¦ Power reserve: 80 h ¦ 21,600 vibrations/h ¦ Functions: hours, minutes, tourbillon ¦ Movement decoration: hand-engraved nickel silver movement, rhodium treated bridges and NAC grey treated main plate with superlative Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining, circular satin-finished wheels with hand-chamfered and polished edges, screwed gold chatons, mirror-polished tourbillon cage and bridge, screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads
70
REF. 1SJAP.B04A.C113A
TE8 Métiers d'Art I Case material: 18-carat rose gold ¦ Dial: black open dial ¦ Case diameter: 44 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: hand-numbered, see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched black alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m ¦ Limited edition: 8 pieces
ROYAL COLLECTION 71
A&S8000 Exclusive Arnold & Son tourbillon movement ¦ Hand-wound ¦ 19 jewels ¦ Diameter: 32.6 mm ¦ Thickness: 6.25 mm ¦ Power reserve: 80 h ¦ 21,600 vibrations/h ¦ Functions: hours, minutes, tourbillon ¦ Movement decoration: hand-engraved movement, rhodium treated bridges and NAC grey treated main plate with superlative Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining, circular satin-finished wheels with hand-chamfered and polished edges, screwed gold chatons, mirror-polished tourbillon cage and bridge, screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads
72
REF. 1SJAR.B04A.C113A
TE8 Métiers d’Art II Case material: 18-carat red gold ¦ Dial: black open dial ¦ Case diameter: 44 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched black alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m ¦ Limited edition: 8 pieces
ROYAL COLLECTION 73
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T E C 1 ROYAL COLLECTION 75
TEC1 A technically and aesthetically refined tourbillon chronograph
Both alluring and intriguing, the TEC1 masterfully integrates three complexities never before combined by the brand in such an elegant rendition. A tourbillon, a column wheel chronograph and an automatic winding system deftly blend in a superb avant-garde yet classic new timepiece. This sophisticated TEC1 is a worthy example of Arnold & Son’s innovative spirit, technical prowess and artistic achievement. The A&S8305 calibre is a manufacture mechanical self-winding movement that offers hours, minutes, tourbillon and chronograph. The challenge for Arnold & Son’s Research and Development team in creating this timepiece was the integration of a high-frequency tourbillon, a chronograph and an automatic winding system in a way that is elegant and technically advanced. As such, the traditional layout of a movement with these functions has been totally discarded and all-new engineering was required for this new calibre. The tourbillon escapement majestically occupies the entire top portion of the dial from 10 o’clock to 2 o’clock with an oversized aperture that offers an incredible three-dimensional effect around the tourbillon cage.
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With a sapphire crystal and case back, the aperture allows for a view that is totally unencumbered and breathtaking. The TEC1 is the brand’s first high-frequency tourbillon, with 28,800 vibrations per hour and with a generous power reserve of 55 hours. The lower portion of the dial features the chronograph function, with the 60 minutes counter strategically located at 6 o’clock for a harmonious balance. The seconds counter is offered via a central seconds hand. Making the watch even more technologically savvy is the fact that it is built with a column wheel chronograph – whose large column wheel is visible via the transparent sapphire case back. Implementing an integrated automatic winding system that winds in both directions further highlights the haute horological finesse of the brand.
oscillating weight that is breathtakingly beautiful thanks to hand-engraved craftsmanship, its brushed surfaces and chamfered polished edges.
In typical Arnold & Son tradition, the 255-part, 30-jewel A&S8305 calibre is meticulously finished. Each palladium treated movement boasts hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining and Côtes de Genève rayonnantes. The chronograph levers are satin-finished with hand-chamfered, polished edges and all screws are blued with bevelled and mirror-polished heads. The highlight of each watch is a 22-carat red gold skeletonised
ROYAL COLLECTION 77
A&S8305 E xclusive A rnold & Son movement ¦ Self-winding ¦ Column-wheel ¦ Cer amic ball bearing ¦ 30 jewel s ¦ Diameter: 35 mm ¦ Thickness: 8.15 mm ¦ Power reserve: 55 h ¦ 28,800 vibrations/h ¦ Functions: hours, minutes, tourbillon, chronograph ¦ Movement decoration: palladium treated with Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining and Côtes de Genève
rayonnantes, all chronograph levers are satin-finished with hand-chamfered and polished edges, circular satin-finished wheels, blued screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads. Tourbillon: 18-carat red gold tourbillon-barrette, satin-finished with hand-chamfered and polished edges. Hand-chamfered tourbillon cage with mirror-polished top bridge. Oscillating weight: hand-engraved 22-carat red gold, skeletonised with brushed surfaces and chamfered polished edges
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REF. 1CTAR.U01A.C112R
TEC1 Case material: 18-carat red gold ¦ Dial: blue lacquered guilloché ¦ Case diameter: 45 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched brown alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m ¦ Limited edition: 250th Anniversary, 28 pieces
ROYAL COLLECTION 79
A&S8305 E xclusive A rnold & Son movement ¦ Self-winding ¦ Column-wheel ¦ Cer amic ball bearing ¦ 30 jewel s ¦ Diameter: 35 mm ¦ Thickness: 8.15 mm ¦ Power reserve: 55 h ¦ 28,800 vibrations/h ¦ Functions: hours, minutes, tourbillon, chronograph ¦ Movement decoration: palladium treated with Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining and Côtes de Genève
rayonnantes, all chronograph levers are satin-finished with hand-chamfered and polished edges, circular satin-finished wheels, blued screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads. Tourbillon: 18-carat red gold tourbillon-barrette, satin-finished with hand-chamfered and polished edges. Hand-chamfered tourbillon cage with mirror-polished top bridge. Oscillating weight: hand-engraved 22-carat red gold, skeletonised with brushed surfaces and chamfered polished edges
80
REF. 1CTAR.G01A.C112R
TEC1 Case material: 18-carat red gold ¦ Dial: anthracite ¦ Case diameter: 45 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched brown alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m
ROYAL COLLECTION 81
A&S8305 Exclusive Arnold & Son movement ¦ Self-winding ¦ Column-wheel ¦ Ceramic ball bearing ¦ 30 jewels ¦ Diameter: 35 mm ¦ Thickness: 8.15 mm ¦ Power reserve: 55 h ¦ 28,800 vibrations/h ¦ Functions: hours, minutes, tourbillon, chronograph ¦ Movement decoration: palladium treated with
Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining and Côtes de Genève rayonnantes, all chronograph levers are satin-finished with hand-chamfered and polished edges, circular satin-finished wheels, blued screws with bevelled and mirrorpolished heads. Tourbillon: stainless steel tourbillon-barrette, satin-finished with hand-chamfered and polished edges. Handchamfered tourbillon cage with mirror-polished top bridge. Oscillating weight: hand-engraved 22-carat red gold, skeletonised with brushed surfaces and chamfered polished edges
82
REF. 1CTAG.S01A.C113G
TEC1 Case material: palladium 950 ¦ Dial: silvery-white ¦ Case diameter: 45 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched black alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m
ROYAL COLLECTION 83
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H M
P E R P E T U A L
M O O N
ROYAL COLLECTION 85
HM Perpetual Moon An exceptional perpetual moonphase with 122 years of accuracy
The HM Perpetual Moon, with one of the biggest moonphase apertures on the market, rightfully joins the Arnold & Son Royal Collection and demonstrates the brand’s prowess in traditional watchmaking and classical decorative arts. The sophisticated HM Perpetual Moon is, indeed, a superb example of Arnold & Son’s technical and artistic excellence. From the inside out, this new timepiece – with rich guilloché dials and three-dimensional big moon – surprises and delights. The 42 mm case is created in either 18-carat red gold or in stainless steel and houses the exclusive Arnold & Son mechanical hand-wound movement A&S1512. The 27 jewel calibre offers one of the most accurate moon phases on the market, with only one day’s deviation every 122 years – at which point a single push on the corrector will keep it in sync for another 122 years. The calibre is also equipped with a double barrel to yield 90 hours of power reserve. The exceptional perpetual moonphase indication of this watch is a marvel in many ways. From the aesthetic side, the 29 mm moonphase disc, which runs from 10 to 2 o’clock on the dial, reveals one of the largest moons on the market – with a diameter of 11.2 mm for the moon alone.
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Additionally, this large moon is one of the most visually stunning recreations of the moon because it is a threedimensional sculptured moon that was first hand-engraved and then duplicated for the series. The sculptured moon is then inserted into the disc. From the technical side, in addition to the HM Perpetual Moon being so precise, it is also an intriguing complication in that it is not simply a module added to the movement, but, in fact, is fully integrated into the calibre. The watch also has a unique easy-to-set feature thanks to the ingenious addition of a second moon indication installed at the back of the movement. This second moon display, visible via a sapphire case back, features a graduated dial and a pointer hand that allows for a more exact setting. The multiple technological advancements in the calibre make this timepiece truly outstanding. To further underscore that, the entire rhodium treated nickel-silver movement features hand finishing indicative of the finest Haute Horlogerie timepieces, including manually chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining with polished edges and C么tes de Gen猫ve rayonnantes, and blued screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads. ROYAL COLLECTION 87
A&S1512 Exclusive Arnold & Son mechanical movement ¦ Hand-wound ¦ 27 jewels ¦ Diameter: 34 mm ¦ Thickness: 5.35 mm ¦ Power reserve: 90 h, double barrel ¦ 21,600 vibrations/h ¦ Functions: hours, minutes, big perpetual moon, diameter disc: 29 mm, diameter moon: 11.2 mm ¦ Second moonphase indication on the back for setting purposes ¦ Movement decoration: nickel-silver movement, rhodium treated with Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining and Côtes de Genève rayonnantes, blued screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads
88
REF. 1GL AR.U01A.C123A
HM Perpetual Moon Case material: 18-carat red gold ¦ Dial: translucent blue lacquered guilloché, translucent blue lacquered guilloché moon disc with golden moon and stars ¦ Case diameter: 42 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched brown alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m
ROYAL COLLECTION 89
A&S1512 Exclusive Arnold & Son mechanical movement ¦ Hand-wound ¦ 27 jewels ¦ Diameter: 34 mm ¦ Thickness: 5.35 mm ¦ Power reserve: 90 h, double barrel ¦ 21,600 vibrations/h ¦ Functions: hours, minutes, big perpetual moon, diameter disc: 29 mm, diameter moon: 11.2 mm ¦ Second moonphase indication on the back for setting purposes ¦ Movement decoration: nickel-silver movement, rhodium treated with Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining and Côtes de Genève rayonnantes, blued screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads
90
REF. 1GL AR.I01A.C122A
HM Perpetual Moon Case material: 18-carat red gold ¦ Dial: cream, translucent blue lacquered guilloché moon disc with golden moon and stars ¦ Case diameter: 42 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: handstitched black alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m
ROYAL COLLECTION 91
A&S1512 Exclusive Arnold & Son mechanical movement ¦ Hand-wound ¦ 27 jewels ¦ Diameter: 34 mm ¦ Thickness: 5.35 mm ¦ Power reserve: 90 h, double barrel ¦ 21,600 vibrations/h ¦ Functions: hours, minutes, big perpetual moon, diameter disc: 29 mm, diameter moon: 11.2 mm ¦ Second moonphase indication on the back for setting purposes ¦ Movement decoration: nickel-silver movement, rhodium treated with Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining and Côtes de Genève rayonnantes, blued screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads
92
REF. 1GL AS.B01A.C122S
HM Perpetual Moon Case material: stainless steel ¦ Dial: black guilloché, moon disc with silvered moon, ¦ Case diameter: 42 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched black alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m
ROYAL COLLECTION 93
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H M S 1 ROYAL COLLECTION 95
HMS1 A vibrant union of tradition and classicism
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With its understated simplicity, the HMS1 line is a modern take on Arnold & Son’s traditionally elegant design combined with superior craftsmanship. The watch has a classically styled 40 mm case with see-through back and is water-resistant to 30 metres. The hand-wound A&S1001 calibre is manufactured in-house and decorated with either straight or radiating Côtes de Genève. The ultrathin movement is just 2.7 mm in height. The double barrel generates a power reserve of over 90 hours and a more constant force, hence greater accuracy the whole time the movement is running. Blued screws in the rhodium-treated movement, mirror-polished ones in the NAC grey version, and specific decorations for each version testify to the attention to detail. The HMS1 collection comes in a range of dial colours and with various finishes depending on the model, as well as a choice of cases in white gold, rose gold or stainless steel. It is also available with an exquisite diamond-set bezel.
ROYAL COLLECTION 97
A&S1001 Exclusive Arnold & Son mechanical movement ¦ Hand-wound ¦ 21 jewels ¦ Diameter: 30 mm ¦ Thickness: 2.7 mm ¦ Power reserve: 90 h, double barrel ¦ 21,600 vibrations/h ¦ Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds at 6 o’clock ¦ Movement decoration: nickel-silver movement, rhodium treated with Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining and Côtes de Genève, blued screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads
98
REF. 1LCAP.S10A.C110A
REF. 1LCAW.S09A.C111W
HMS1
HMS1
Case material: 18-carat rose gold ¦ Dial: silvery-white guilloché ¦
Case material: 18-carat white gold ¦ Dial: silvery-white guilloché ¦
Case diameter: 40 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective
Case diameter: 40 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective
coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-
coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-
stitched brown alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m
stitched black alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m
ROYAL COLLECTION 99
100
REF. 1LCAP.W01A.C110A
REF. 1LCAP.B01A.C111A
HMS1
HMS1
Case material: 18-carat rose gold ¦ Dial: cream ¦ Case diameter: 40 mm ¦
Case material: 18-carat rose gold ¦ Dial: black ¦ Case diameter: 40 mm ¦
Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦
Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦
Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched brown alli-
Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched black alligator
gator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m ¦ Limited edition: 250 pieces
leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m ¦ Limited edition: 250 pieces
REF. 1LCAP.S04A.C110A
REF. 1LCAW.S03A.C111W
HMS1
HMS1
Case material: 18-carat rose gold ¦ Dial: anthracite ¦ Case diameter:
Case material: 18-carat white gold ¦ Dial: silver ¦ Case diameter: 40 mm ¦
40 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on
Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦
both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched
Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched black alligator
brown alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m ¦ Limited edition:
leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m ¦ Limited edition: 100 pieces
250 pieces
ROYAL COLLECTION 101
A&S1001 Exclusive Arnold & Son mechanical movement ¦ Hand-wound ¦ 21 jewels ¦ Diameter: 30 mm ¦ Thickness: 2.7 mm ¦ Power reserve: 90 h, double barrel ¦ 21,600 vibrations/h ¦ Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds at 6 o’clock ¦ Movement decoration: nickel-silver movement, NAC grey treated with Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining and Côtes de Genève, screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads
102
REF. 1LCAS.S01A.C111S
REF. 1LCAS.S02A.C111S
HMS1
HMS1
Case material: stainless steel ¦ Dial: silvery-white ¦ Case diameter:
Case material: stainless steel ¦ Dial: anthracite ¦ Case diameter:
40 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating
40 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating
on both sides ¦ Case back: seethrough sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-
on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-
stitched black alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m ¦ Limited
stitched black alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m ¦ Limited
edition: 250 pieces
edition: 250 pieces
ROYAL COLLECTION 103
HMS1 Royal Blue
Inspired by an exceptional gold and enamel-cased halfquarter repeating watch made by John Arnold in 1775, the HMS1 Royal Blue is an eloquent expression of elegance and sophistication in the inimitable English style and demonstrates the brand’s traditional prowess in the classical decorative arts. The workmanship and ornamentation of this historical timepiece by John Arnold is echoed on the dial of the HMS1 Royal Blue. Finished with intricate guilloché pattern overlaid by sumptuous, translucent deep blue lacquer, it creates a spectacular illusion of depth that contrasts with and is underscored by the ultra-slim case in elegant rose gold.
© The Trustees of the British Museum
John Arnold, half-quarter repeater, gold and enamel cased cylinder pocket watch, No. 253, London, 1775
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The A&S1001 calibre, with its gorgeous Côtes de Genève rayonnantes decoration is made of rhodium-treated nickel silver with Haute Horlogerie finishing.
REF. 1LCAP.U02A.C110A
REF. 1LCMP.U02A.C110A
HMS1 ROYAL BLUE
HMS1 ROYAL BLUE
Case material: 18-carat rose gold ¦ Dial: translucent blue
Case material: 18-carat rose gold ¦ Diamonds: 80, 0.720 ct, V Vs ¦
lacquered guilloché, ¦ Case diameter: 40 mm ¦ Glass: cambered
Dial: translucent blue lacquered guilloché, ¦ Case diameter:
sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back:
40 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on
seethrough sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched brown alligator leather ¦
both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched
Water-resistant: 30 m
brown alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m
ROYAL COLLECTION 105
HM Horses Set Celebrating the year of the horse
In honour of the Year of the Horse in the Chinese lunar calender, Arnold & Son has created 28 pairs of watches, each featuring a depiction of the horses often found in traditional Chinese ink wash painting. The Horse is one of the most powerful symbols in the Chinese zodiac and stands for a wealth of desirable characteristics. Individuals born under this sign, which is symbolic of speed and strength, are reputed to be energetic and independent with a free, unbounded spirit. Adorning each of the two lacquer dials is a hand-finished miniature painting of two horses, one pair black and grey on white, the other white and grey against a black background. Nuances of tone and shading, from jet black to silvery grey, are achieved by the tiny brushstrokes and texturing gradually to build-up the entire image with an astonishing richness of details. The art of painting miniatures by hand calls for infinite patience and consummate skill. A skill that takes years of concentrated practice to fully master.
106
REF. 1LCAP.B04A.C111A
REF. 1LCAP.W03A.C111A
HM HORSES SET Case material: 18-carat rose gold ¦ Dial: black or white lacquered, hand-finished miniature ¦ Case diameter: 40 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched black alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m ¦ Limited edition: 28 sets of 2 pieces
ROYAL COLLECTION 107
HM Pandas A wonderful celebration of the pandas
The panda holds revered status in Chinese cultural history. It has served as a symbol of goodwill and helped cement relationships with other countries. When China entrusts pandas to international zoos, it does so as an expression of trust and confidence. With this meticulously finished special edition, Arnold & Son pays tribute to a very special bear. The highlight of the HM Pandas edition is a sumptuous, 18-carat white gold hand-engraved appliquĂŠ of two pandas, which has been duplicated for the series. Created by a craftsman selected for his skill in the traditional art of hand engraving, it features two perfectly sculpted figures with a breathtaking richness of detail and an illusion of depth that contrasts starkly with the ultra-slim case. The detail on the dial is completed with a hand-painted miniature landscape of bamboo leaves and grass which likewise calls for infinite patience and consummate skill. This special edition of the HM Pandas will be limited to just 28 timepieces.
108
REF. 1LCAP.B03A.C111A
HM PANDAS Case material: 18-carat rose gold ¦ Dial: 22-carat solid white gold engraved appliqué, black lacquered with hand-painted miniature ¦ Case diameter: 40 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched black alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m ¦ Limited edition: 28 pieces
ROYAL COLLECTION 109
HMS Victory Set A magnificent tribute to the role of the HMS Victory in maritime history
The name HMS Victory is one of the best known in English maritime history and played an important role in Arnold & Son’s history by using its chronometers. Her glorious career spanned forty years and she enjoyed her finest hour as Lord Nelson’s flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The HMS Victory Set from Arnold & Son celebrates this common history by presenting three different views of the vessel: the first, resplendent in shafts of sunlight breaking through the clouds; the second, with guns ablaze as she rakes the French fleet; and the third, an interior of the ship, on one of the cannons deck. Arnold & Son’s own master engraver created the exquisite HMS Victory Set dials, which are then duplicated in silver for the series. The threedimensional nature of these dials is further accentuated by the engraver who then individually hand-tarnishes each final dial. The illusion of depth contrasts starkly with the ultra-slim case. The HMS Victory Set is available in an exclusive limited edition of just 28 sets of 3 timepieces.
110
REF. 1LCAP.S06A.C111A Cannons ablaze, Lord Nelson’s flagship takes on the French fleet
REF. 1LCAP.S05A.C111A HMS Victor y at sea, lit by rays of sunshine piercing the clouds
REF. 1LCAP.S07A.C111A Where the battle was won: one of the cannons deck on HMS Victor y
HMS VICTORY SET Case material: 18-carat rose gold ¦ Dial: engraved, silver dials, individually hand-tarnished ¦ Case diameter: 40 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched brown alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m ¦ Limited edition: 28 sets of 3 pieces
ROYAL COLLECTION 111
112
H M S
L A D Y
ROYAL COLLECTION 113
HMS Lady Elegance, sophistication and a perfect sense of balance
A&S1101
114
Simple as it may appear, the HMS Lady is an example of the perfection towards which Arnold & Son strives. At first glance, it is clearly a scaled-down version of the HMS1 designed for a slender female wrist. On further inspection, however, it turns out that the proportions are also identical because the small seconds display is in precisely the correct position relative to all the other features on the dial. The feminine character of this timepiece is further enhanced by its workmanship and ornamentation. Demonstrating the brand’s traditional prowess in the classical decorative ar ts, the movement is entirely hand-engraved with English-style floral motifs. With its double-stepped bezel and lugs, the 34 mm 18-carat rose gold case (with or without diamonds) houses an ultra-slim A&S1101 mechanical hand-engraved movement finished to perfection.
REF. 1PMAP.W01A.C114A
REF. 1PMMP.W01A.C119A
HMS LADY
HMS LADY
C a s e m a t e r i a l : 18 - c a r a t r o s e g o l d ¦ D i a l : c r e a m ¦ C a s e
Case material: 18-carat rose gold ¦ Diamonds: 76, 0.685 ct, V Vs ¦
diameter: 34 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective
D i a l : c r e a m ¦ C a s e d i a m e t e r: 3 4 m m ¦ G l a s s: c a m b e r e d
coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap:
sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back:
hand-stitched honey alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m ¦
see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched red alligator leather ¦
Limited edition: 100 pieces
Water-resistant: 30 m ¦ Limited edition: 100 pieces
ROYAL COLLECTION 115
116
H O R N E T
W O R L D T I M E R S K E L E T O N ROYAL COLLECTION 117
Hornet World Timer Skeleton Tracking global time couldn’t be easier
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The Hornet World Timer Skeleton has no fewer than six central hands. They are driven by wheels with special split teeth, manufactured using LIGA technology, to ensure playfree movement. The watch can display three time zones: the two pointed hands indicate two different time zones on the outer ring, while the golden sun-tipped hand can be set to show any other time zone in the world (even half time zones). It can also be adjusted to display mean solar time at any location according to its longitude. The shortest hand shows the equation of time: the difference between apparent solar and mean solar time. A double-disc big date at 5 o’clock and circular month display at the centre complete the dial. The open dial revels the highly complicated skeletonised movement.
REF. 1H6AS.B05A.C79F
HORNET WORLD TIMER SKELETON Case material: stainless steel ¦ Dial: white, black and grey open dial, skeletonised ¦ Case diameter: 47 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: metallic sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched black alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 50 m ¦ Limited edition: 50 pieces
ROYAL COLLECTION 119
120
I N S T R U M E N T
C O L L E C T I O N 121
Instrument Collection Combining marine precision with aesthetic perfection
The Instrument Collection was inspired by the timepieces produced during the second part of John Arnold’s life and later, following his death, by his son, John Roger. This was a period when the Arnolds dedicated themselves exclusively to the quest for absolute precision and to find a solution to the problem of determining longitude accurately and reliably on the high seas. So successful were they, and of such high quality their products, that within the space of a few years they had established themselves as suppliers of choice to the Royal Navy and to some of the most distinguished mariners and explorers of their day. During this era, timepieces played a crucial role as aids to navigation and were, effectively, technical and scientific “instruments”. John Arnold and his son decided to make them as rugged and reliable as possible, and in sufficient quantities to equip the Navy’s extensive fleet. Ultimately, they were to prove pivotal to the nation’s marine dominance and helped ensure that Britannia really did rule the waves.
Arnold, Charles Frodsham, pocket chronometer escapement, split-seconds and winding indicator, No. 8623, London, 1855
122
Historical Inspiration: off-centred subdial for the hours and minutes leaving center stage to the split chronograph
Historical Inspiration: dial layout with two subdials, one for sidereal time and one for mean solar time
Instrument Collection: TBR, off-centred subdial for hours and minutes leaving centre stage to the True Beat Seconds indication
Instrument Collection: DBS, same dial layout as historical pieces with two subdials, one for sidereal time and one for mean solar time
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 123
124
Historical Inspiration: classic triangular balancecock and 他 barrel bridge
Historical Inspiration: marine chronometer with extra-large glass and dial
Instrument Collection: The DBS has a triangular balance-cock and 他 bridge like the historical pieces
Instrument Collection: The TBR has an extra-large glass and dial like the historical marine chronometers
The Instrument Collection clearly shows the influence of pocket watches, marine chronometers and precision regulators. It is inspired in particular by several original timepieces made by John Roger Arnold. The first two of these, manufactured at around the time of his father’s death, were known as No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, and featured a “Z” balance, mean and sidereal time displays, and an additional small seconds hand at 6 o’clock. Another important timepiece, produced in 1855, was a very unusual chronometer with hours and minutes displaying mean time in a subsidiary dial on the right, a symmetrical subdial on the left with a power reserve indication, and a central seconds with an additional chronograph split-seconds. Typical of the Instrument Collection’s design is the offcentre position of the hours and minutes indication. This dial layout creates space for the display of other complications without one overlapping the others, making the dial much more legible. It also allows on certain models the seconds hand to take centre stage and dominate the dial, thus perfectly showcasing the down-to-the-second precision needed by marine navigators to determine longitude.
The other stylistic features that define the new timepieces are pure, timeless lines and a discreet, almost austere case. Viewed from the side, the housing is stepped and tapers from top to bottom, the widest section accommodating the extra-large glass and dial with the lower part narrowing to fit snugly on the wrist. Like the Royal Collection, the Instrument Collection from Arnold & Son is a family of elegant, exquisitely handcrafted and finished timepieces: the sublime expression of a long and proud tradition.
© Christies Bridgeman Giraudon
John Roger Arnold, mean and sidereal pocket chronometer with bimetallic “Z” balance, No. 2, London, 1796-1799
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 125
126
D T E INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 127
DTE A double tourbillon watch for globetrotters
Renowned for its innovative technology and amazing technical prowess Arnold & Son continually brings horological excellence to new heights. Such is the case with the DTE (for Double Tourbillon Escapement), a timepiece that reflects Arnold & Son’s famed past with a visionary look forward. The watch’s signature is its in-house double tourbillon movement inspired by the timepieces produced during the second part of John Arnold’s life when he and his son, John Roger, dedicated themselves to the quest for absolute precision. Owing to its double tourbillon, this unique and impressive piece also represents the ultimate dual time watch. It is incredibly efficient in that it not only offers local time in hours and minutes, but also offers hours and minutes of a second time zone to be set separately – thereby enabling the wearer to have precise time in zones that differ from Greenwich Mean Time by quarter - or half-hour increments. The two crowns – one each for setting the local and the home time – are located at 2 o’clock and 8 o’clock, and the two mainsprings are wound using the crown at 2 o’clock.
128
The DTE is a masterpiece of symmetry, balance and three dimensional beauty combined with technical foresight and ultimate performance precision. The watch, powered by the all-new mechanical hand-wound calibre A&S8513, brings the centuries-old tradition of double movements back to life – in 21st century style. It features two separate time zone displays – each of which can be set independently from the other thanks to dedicated setting mechanisms. Each has its own gear train and its own tourbillon escapement. The double barrels of the watch offer a superb 90 hours of power reserve. In typical Arnold & Son style, the watch is incredibly detailed and features superlative Haute Horlogerie finishing. The dial side of the timepiece offers symmetry and depth. It features two white lacquered domed dials – one each at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock – for the dual time displays. The two tourbillons are harmoniously balanced at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock and seem to float over the dial thanks to their alluring raised 18-carat red gold bridges. The backdrop for these double lacquered dials and double tourbillon escapements is a magnificently decorated vertical Côtes de Genève striped plate.
Pocket watch with cylinder-movement and open balance, circa 1850, Arnold & Son private collection
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 129
A&S8513 Exclusive Arnold & Son double tourbillon movement ¦ Hand-wound ¦ 42 jewels ¦ Diameter: 37.3 mm ¦ Thickness: 8.35 mm ¦ Power reserve: 90 h, double barrel ¦ 21,600 vibrations/h ¦ Functions: local hours and minutes, GMT hours and minutes, double tourbillon ¦ Movement decoration: nickel-silver movement, rhodium treated with superlative Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining and Côtes de Genève rayonnantes , plate dial side with Côtes de Genève, circular satin-finished wheels with hand-chamfered and polished edges, blued screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads. Tourbillons: 18-carat red gold bridges, satinfinished and mirror-polished surfaces with hand-chamfered and polished edges. Hand-chamfered and mirror-polished tourbillon cages
130
REF. 1DTAR.L01A.C120R
DTE Case material: 18-carat red gold ¦ Dial: domed and white lacquered ¦ Case diameter: 43.5 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with antireflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched brown alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m ¦ Limited edition: 250th Anniversary, 28 pieces
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 131
132
D B S INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 133
DBS Equation Sidereal A watch for stargazers and others
The Instrument DBS Equation Sidereal is a tribute to two watches (Nos. 1 and 2) made by John Roger Arnold that showed mean solar and sidereal time on two separate subdials. The movements of these two watches, made between 1796 and 1799, featured some of the most famous inventions of father and son, including their fabulous thermocompensated Z balance, expansion escapement and gold helical spring. It is no exaggeration to say that they represented the state-of-the-art in the micromechanics of their time. Watches with a sidereal time display were extremely rare at this time. After the Arnolds had paved the way, Breguet followed in their footsteps and produced a few watches with a sidereal time display and a similar dial layout (such as No. 3863, sold in 1824).
The Royal Observatory Greenwich
134
Creating a precise sidereal time display is a tall order. Simply adding a second gear train to a standard movement showing mean solar time is not a viable solution because a mean sidereal day is about 23 hours, 56 minutes, 4.091 seconds, which is not a round fraction of the 24 hours in a mean solar day. This means it is virtually impossible to obtain the correct
rotation speed using gears. To guarantee the kind of precision demanded by Arnold & Son, the only choice was to create a movement with the correct rotation speed from the start: in other words a movement specifically for sidereal time. The answer was a totally new movement with a double barrel/ gear train and double balance/escapement running at different speeds that enables the watch to display mean solar time and mean sidereal time simultaneously. This technical solution has the additional advantage that neither of the two indications saps energy from the other. Watches with a double balance and escapement are extremely rare and have almost disappeared, so it is with some pride that Arnold & Son has revived the tradition. Identical in layout to the DBG Equation GMT, the DBS Equation Sidereal has the same perfectly symmetrical arrangement of the bridges, barrels and gear trains. The symmetry is continued on the dial side, where the two adjacent balance-cocks create a harmonious circle. Sidereal time is displayed on the left subdial and mean solar time on the right. In addition, a subdial at 12 o’clock indicates the equation of both times on a 24-hour basis, which allows the user to measure the difference between mean solar time and sidereal time and
to ascertain whether the time in both zones is a.m. or p.m. The watch has a long central permanent seconds hand (for mean solar time). The two barrels are wound using the crown on the right, but sidereal time and mean solar time are set separately using the crowns on the left and right, respectively. This ensures that neither of the displays is changed or manipulated by accident.
Sidereal time Sidereal time is the timekeeping system used by astronomers to track the direction needed to point a telescope at a particular star in the night sky. A mean sidereal day is measured by the rotation of the earth relative to the stars rather than the sun and lasts 23 hours, 56 minutes, 4.091 seconds. It is approximately four minutes shorter than a mean solar day because, owing to the movement of the earth round the sun, the time that elapses before a distant star appears at the same point is slightly less than the time it takes for the sun to be directly over the same point.
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 135
A&S1311 Exclusive Arnold & Son mechanical movement ¦ Hand-wound ¦ 42 jewels ¦ Diameter: 35 mm ¦ Thickness 3.9 mm ¦ Power reserve: 40 h, double barrel ¦ 21,600 (mean solar time) and 21,659 (sidereal time) vibrations/h ¦ Functions: local hours, minutes and seconds, sidereal hours and minutes, local time 24 h indicator, sidereal time 24 h indicator ¦ Movement decoration: nickel-silver movement, rhodium treated with Haute
Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining and Côtes de Genève, blued screws
136
REF. 1DSAP.W01A.C120P
DBS Case material: 18-carat rose gold ¦ Dial: silvery-white and silvery opaline ¦ Case diameter: 44 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with antireflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched brown alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 137
138
D B G INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 139
DBG Equation GMT A watch with two heartbeats
140
A masterpiece of perfect symmetry, the Instrument DBG Equation GMT features two separate time displays, each driven by its own barrel and gear train with its own escapement and balance. This highly unusual technical specification permits the two displays to be set independently of each other. Although it is a standard feature of watches displaying two or more time zones for the hour hands to be set to different times, being able to set the minute hand as well opens up other possibilities. It means, for instance, that the display can be set to show the precise time in zones that differ from Greenwich Mean Time by a fraction of an hour, such as a quarter or a half. In addition, a subdial at 12 o’clock shows the equation of the two time zones on a 24-hour basis. This enables the wearer to see the time difference between the two zones and also to ascertain whether it is day or night in the second zone. Both time zones share a common permanent seconds in the shape of the long slender hand emanating from the centre of the dial, which is a hallmark feature of the Arnold & Son’s Instrument Collection.
Watches with a double barrel and escapement have a tradition going back many years in horology but are rarely found today. The principle is ideally suited to the Arnold & Son’s Instrument line because a separate barrel/gear train and balance/escapement enable the watch to be used for a second time zone, as in the DBG Equation GMT, or to accommodate an unusual astronomical complication. The Instrument DBS, for example, not only shows mean solar time but also boasts a separate display for sidereal, or star, time. This is the timekeeping system used by astronomers to track the position of stars in the night sky and differs from mean solar time by just less than four minutes in any given period of 24 hours. Other possible complications include a true beat seconds mechanism or a chronograph. Another practical advantage of having a double barrel/gear train and a double balance/escapement is the fact that neither of the complications or displays influences the accuracy of the other by draining its energy. In addition, it means it is also possible to house two completely different technical solutions and characteristics in one and the same movement.
No less impressive than the watch’s technical features is its aesthetic appeal, and in particular its symmetry, which is largely determined by the positioning of the elements in the dual movement. The view from the back reveals a pleasingly balanced arrangement of bridges, barrels and gear trains. From the front, and highlighted against a backdrop of Côtes de Genève stripes on the lower half of the dial, are two triple-armed balances secured in position by the two balance-cocks, which face one another and fuse together to create a circle. Completing the overall sense of balance are the two crowns, one in the conventional position at 3 o’clock, the other at 9. The two mainsprings are both wound using the crown on the right. However, the time in each of the two selected time zones is set using its own crown, which ensures that neither of the zones is moved or changed advertently. The time zone on the left is set using the crown at 9 o’clock and the time zone on the right by the crown at 3 o’clock.
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 141
A&S1209 Exclusive Arnold & Son mechanical movement ¦ Hand-wound ¦ 42 jewels ¦ Diameter: 35 mm ¦ Thickness 3.9 mm ¦ Power reserve: 40 h, double barrel ¦ 21,600 vibrations/h ¦ Functions: local hours, minutes and seconds, GMT hours and minutes, local time 24 h indicator, GMT 24 h indicator ¦ Movement decoration: nickel-silver movement, rhodium treated with Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining and Côtes de Genève, blued screws
142
REF. 1DGAP.W01A.C120P
REF. 1DGAS.S01A.C121S
DBG
DBG
Case material: 18-car at rose gold ¦ Dial: silver y-white and
C ase mater ial: stainless steel ¦ Dial: light- grey and silver y
silver y opaline ¦ Case diameter: 4 4 mm ¦ Gl ass: cambered
opaline ¦ Case diameter: 4 4 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire
sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back:
with anti-reflec tive coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-
see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched brown alligator leather ¦
through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched black alligator leather ¦
Water-resistant: 30 m
Water-resistant: 30 m
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 143
144
U T T E INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 145
UTTE An exceptional ultra-thin tourbillon timepiece
The UTTE is a masterful demonstration of elegant design and superb technical prowess. It pays tribute to A.-L. Breguet’s first-ever tourbillon escapement mounted in John Arnold’s pocket chronometer No. 11 – a watch that can be found today in London’s British Museum. The ultra-thin A&S8200 movement – and the ultimate UTTE watch – is the result of several years of research and development, and boasts important features and functions. In fact, when the brand embarked on the creation of an additional tourbillon, Arnold & Son’s team of watchmakers and engineers determined that the end result should possess unique features that would set it apart in the watch world: It had to be at the same time thin, boast a big and three-dimensional tourbillon cage and have a long power reserve. Utilizing the most cutting-edge technology, Arnold & Son pushed the creative envelope to achieve this goal - thus developing an exceptional timepiece. The UTTE has a movement that is just 2.97 mm thick and a case thickness of only 8.34 mm, making the UTTE one of the thinnest tourbillon watches on the market.
146
Additionally, while the movement diameter is 32 mm, the tourbillon cage is a massive 14 mm in diameter – thus occupying almost half of the movement space for impressive visual appeal. To add further dramatic beauty to this already impressive watch, Arnold & Son created a totally spherical tourbillon cage – one devoid of any flat surfaces – for a magnificent three-dimensional aesthetic effect. In fact, the flying tourbillon cage is not inset into the calibre, but instead rises out of the movement, through the dial, and achieves the same height as the hour and minute hands. With an eye toward every detail, and the desire for harmonious appeal, the watchmakers removed all visible screws so the spherical tourbillon cage appears beautifully balanced. The only visible screws are on the regulator.
a different Côtes de Genève pattern. The 18-carat red gold case watch houses the movement treated in rhodium and decorated with Côtes de Genève rayonnantes. The tourbillon bridge of the 18-carat red gold UTTE is entirely hand-engraved by Arnold & Son’s master engraver. The palladium UTTE version houses a NAC grey treated movement decorated with a straight Côtes de Genève pattern for a bold, contemporary appeal.
Finally, to ensure a long power reserve of at least 90 hours, the brand implemented two barrels to offer more constant force and unprecedented power reserve for an ultra-thin tourbillon. UTTE is created in either 18-carat red gold or palladium (a rare alloy in the watch world). Each movement is finished in a color to complement the case color, and each features
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 147
A&S8200 Exclusive Arnold & Son ultra-thin tourbillon movement ¦ One-minute flying tourbillon ¦ Hand-wound ¦ 29 jewels ¦ Diameter: 32 mm ¦ Thickness: 2.97 mm ¦ Tourbillon cage diameter: 14 mm ¦ Power reserve: 90 h, double barrel ¦ 21,600 vibrations/h ¦ Functions: hours, minutes, tourbillon ¦ Movement decoration: nickel-silver movement, rhodium treated with Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-engraved tourbillon bridge, hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining and Côtes de Genève rayonnantes, circular satin-finished wheels with hand-chamfered and polished edges, blued screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads. Tourbillon cage: satin-finish with chamfered and polished edges
148
REF. 1UTAR.S02A.C120A
UTTE Case material: 18-carat red gold ¦ Dial: silvery-white and silvery opaline ¦ Case diameter: 42 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched brown alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 149
A&S8200 Exclusive Arnold & Son ultra-thin tourbillon movement ¦ One-minute flying tourbillon ¦ Hand-wound ¦ 29 jewels ¦ Diameter: 32 mm ¦ Thickness: 2.97 mm ¦ Tourbillon cage diameter: 14 mm ¦ Power reserve: 90 h, double barrel ¦ 21,600 vibrations/h ¦ Functions: hours, minutes, tourbillon ¦ Movement decoration: nickel-silver movement, NAC grey treated with Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining and Côtes de Genève, circular satin-finished wheels with hand-chamfered and polished edges, screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads. Tourbillon cage: satin-finish with chamfered and polished edges.
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REF. 1UTAG.S04A.C121G
UTTE Case material: palladium 950 ¦ Dial: light-grey and silvery opaline ¦ Case diameter: 42 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched black alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 151
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T I M E
P Y R A M I D INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 153
Time Pyramid
Deftly demonstrating its British heritage, the Time Pyramid is inspired by the regulators created by John and John Roger Arnold over two hundred years ago, and by antique British skeleton clocks. The Time Pyramid hosts a totally new manufacture movement with unique architecture. The skeletonised calibre A&S1615 is built in a pyramidal shape, with balance wheel at 12 o’clock, situated directly beneath the palette and the anchor wheel (which is shaped in typical Arnold & Son’s majestic “X” form). At the opposite end of the movement, at 6 o’clock, lay two mainspring barrels that supply the handwound calibre with an amazing 90 hours of power reserve, and provide a more constant force to the wheel train. The gear train runs vertically in a linear format connecting the two barrels at 6 o’clock to the balance wheel at 12 o’clock, and endowing the movement with its pyramid structure. The bridges are designed so that all of the wheels, the two mainspring barrels, the escapement and balance wheel are all magnificently visible from the dial side.
British skeleton clock, chain driven fusee, England, 1830-1845, Arnold & Son private collection
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Additionally, the movement is fitted with two power reserve indicators – one each on either side of the linear gear train – to display the energy level for each barrel separately. The power reserve hands indicate the reserve level via graduated dots (that are printed under the top sapphire crystal) in an arc format, and demonstrate how one barrel transfers energy to the second one when needed. Essentially, as the first barrel winds the second one, the power reserve indicator of the first barrel goes down, while the second one goes up – making for an accurate and intriguing readout. This Time Pyramid follows the original regulators from the brand with its component positioning and detailed three-dimensional visual appeal. Movement parts and watch indications are built on three levels, with the subsidiary seconds dial on the bottom, the hours and minutes indication on a sapphire crystal dial in the middle level, and the power reserve indication via graduated dots printed under the top sapphire crystal. While the movement is extremely thin – at just 4.4 mm – the multiple levels bring amazing depth and detail to the watch. To further enhance the balance and symmetry of
the Time Pyramid, the crown is artfully positioned at 6 o’clock. As with every esteemed Arnold & Son watch, each component in the Time Pyramid is magnificently hand decorated with hand-chamfered brides and polished edges, all yielding a striking masterpiece of decorative craftsmanship and brilliant execution. Viewed from the side, the case is stepped and tapers from top to bottom, the widest section accommodating the extralarge glass with the lower part narrowing to fit snugly on the wrist.
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 155
A&S1615 Exclusive Arnold & Son skeletonised mechanical movement ¦ Hand-wound ¦ 27 jewels ¦ Diameter: 37.6 mm ¦ Thickness: 4.40 mm ¦ Power reserve: 90 h, double barrel ¦ 21,600 vibrations/h ¦ Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, double power reserve indication ¦ Movement decoration: skeletonised nickel-silver movement, rhodium treated with Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, satin-finished main plate, Côtes de Genève, circular satin-finished wheels, blued screws
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REF. 1TPAR.S01A.C125A
TIME PYRAMID Case material: 18-carat red gold ¦ Dial : sapphire, circular satin-finished dial frame with chamfered and polished edges ¦ Case diameter: 44.6 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched brown alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 157
A&S1615 Exclusive Arnold & Son skeletonised mechanical movement ¦ Hand-wound ¦ 27 jewels ¦ Diameter: 37.6 mm ¦ Thickness: 4.40 mm ¦ Power reserve: 90 h, double barrel ¦ 21,600 vibrations/h ¦ Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, double power reserve indication ¦ Movement decoration: skeletonised nickel-silver movement, NAC grey treated with Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges,
Côtes de Genève, circular satin-finished wheels, blued screws
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REF. 1TPAS.S01A.C124S
TIME PYRAMID Case material: stainless steel ¦ Dial: sapphire, circular satin-finished dial frame with chamfered and polished edge ¦ Case diameter: 44.6 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched black alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 159
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C T B INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 161
CTB The world's first true beat seconds and chronograph wristwatch
Underscoring its continued commitment to forward-thinking precision, Arnold & Son’s watchmaking experts masterfully rose to the challenge of creating a world’s first in a wristwatch: a chronograph with a central true beat seconds hand. The magnificent CTB represents the brand’s second chronograph and features the iconic Instrument Collection complication of a true beat seconds, while at the same time remaining true to the line’s optic code of superb legibility. This aesthetic direction has been achieved by incorporating a central true beat seconds hand and a central chronograph seconds hand – both on the same axis but with different jumping intervals. A huge technical challenge to have both functions operating from the centre, Arnold & Son’s unique invention is protected by two patents. Sometimes referred to as a dead beat seconds, the true beat seconds is a precision function wherein the seconds beat incrementally as opposed to sweeping along the dial – allowing for more accurate reading. To accomplish this function in and of itself is no easy feat. However, Arnold & Son has taken the idea to new heights by incorporating the true beat seconds on the same axis as the chronograph seconds hand. The result, when the
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continually running chronograph hand is started, is visually amazing. It gives the impression that it can catch up to the true beat seconds hand, but this never happens since the true beat seconds hand jumps away each second in a delightful and entrancing game of cat and mouse.
complex multilevel structure with three different finishes that offer breathtaking depth and dimension.
The A&S7103 calibre is a proprietary mechanical self-winding movement with column-wheel operated chronograph. The movement is configured to give optimum balance and beauty to the dial, with off-centered hour and minutes at 12 o’clock, big central true beat seconds and central chronograph seconds, and 60-minutes chronograph indicator at 6 o’clock. The 31-jewel movement beats at 28,800 vibrations per hour and offers more than 50 hours of power reserve. This world’s-first timepiece also offers the efficiency of bi-directional winding thanks to ceramic ball bearing. Each movement is meticulously completed in Haute Horlogerie finishing with hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining and Côtes de Genève rayonnantes, brushed and skeletonised rotor, and screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads. The dial has a
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 163
A&S7103 Exclusive Arnold & Son mechanical movement ¦ Self-winding ¦ Column-wheel ¦ Ceramic ball bearing ¦ 31 jewels ¦ Diameter: 30.4 mm ¦ Thickness: 8.20 mm ¦ Power reserve: 50 h (without chronograph) ¦ 28,800 vibrations/h ¦ Stop second device ¦ Functions: hours, minutes, true beat seconds, chronograph ¦ Movement decoration: palladium treated with Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining and Côtes de Genève rayonnantes, circular satin-finished wheels, blued screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads. Oscillating weight: skeletonised with brushed surfaces
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REF. 1CHAR.S01A.C120A
CTB Case material: 18-carat red gold ¦ Dial: silvery-white and silvery opaline ¦ Case diameter: 44 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched brown alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 165
A&S7103 Exclusive Arnold & Son mechanical movement ¦ Self-winding ¦ Column-wheel ¦ Ceramic ball bearing ¦ 31 jewels ¦ Diameter: 30.4 mm ¦ Thickness: 8.20 mm ¦ Power reserve: 50 h (without chronograph) ¦ 28,800 vibrations/h ¦ Stop second device ¦ Functions: hours, minutes, true beat seconds, chronograph ¦ Movement decoration: NAC grey treated with Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining and Côtes de Genève rayonnantes, circular satin-finished wheels, screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads. Oscillating weight: skeletonised with brushed surfaces
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REF. 1CHAS.S02A.C121S
CTB Case material: stainless steel ¦ Dial: light-grey and silvery opaline ¦ Case diameter: 44 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched black alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 167
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D S T B INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 169
DSTB A three-dimensional celebration of the true beat seconds complication
The true beat seconds is a traditional complication of Arnold & Son. Sometimes referred to as a dead beat seconds, the true beat seconds is a precision function wherein the seconds beat incrementally as opposed to sweeping along the dial – allowing for more accurate reading. The DSTB represents a new and modern take on this venerable complication and turns it into a threedimensional horological feast by showcasing the true beat seconds' mechanism entirely on the dial side. Not just the hands, but also the lever, wheels and three true beat seconds bridges are located in all their beauty on the dial side. This restructuring of the intricate mechanism yields a concept not achieved in the watch industry heretofore. The true beat seconds are superbly indicated via a large sapphire dial that occupies the top left portion of the dial at 11 o’clock. At the 4 o’clock position, a sophisiticated subdial indicates the hours and the minutes via blued hands. These generously proportioned, overlapping indications translate into a stunning three-dimensional dial.
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Making the watch even more alluring is the fact that the true beat seconds lever is shaped like an anchor – paying homage to Arnold’s maritime achievements. Arnold & Son’s master watchmakers thrive on creating complicated movements for exquisite timepieces. Such is the case with the new self-winding calibre A&S6003, a truly innovative technical and architectural achievement. This calibre is the second automatic movement with an integrated true beat system to be developed, designed and manufactured entirely at the workshops in La Chauxde-Fonds. In true Arnold & Son style, the movement features Haute Horlogerie finishing with hand-chamfered and satin-finished lever and bridges, polished edges, screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads, fine circular graining and Côtes de Genève rayonnantes. The visible dial plate is either NAC grey or black ADLC treated with large circular finishing, and the three true beat seconds bridges are either rose-gold or palladium treated with hand-chamfered and polished edges.
sapphire crystal and caseback for viewing the superbly finished movement, complete with skeletonised oscillating weight. The 250 th anniversary edition of the DSTB will be limited to just 50 timepieces – underscoring the brand’s commitment to exclusivity and excellence.
The magnificent timepiece is housed inside a 43.5 mm 18-carat red gold or stainless steel case with anti-reflective
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 171
A&S6003 Exclusive Arnold & Son mechanical movement ¦ Self-winding ¦ 32 jewels ¦ Diameter: 38 mm ¦ Thickness: 7.39 mm ¦ Power reserve: 50 h ¦ 28,800 vibrations/h ¦ Functions: hours, minutes, true beat seconds ¦ Movement decoration: palladium treated with Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining and Côtes de Genève rayonnantes, dial plate NAC grey treated with large circular finishing, circular satin-finished wheels, blued screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads. True beat seconds bridges: rose gold treated, satin-finished with hand-chamfered and polished edges. Oscillating weight: rhodium treated, skeletonised with brushed surfaces
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REF. 1ATAR.L01A.C120A
DSTB Case material: 18-carat red gold ¦ Dial: domed and white lacquered, sapphire ¦ Case diameter: 43.5 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched brown alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m ¦ Limited edition: 250 th Anniversary, 50 pieces
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 173
A&S6003 Exclusive Arnold & Son mechanical movement ¦ Self-winding ¦ 32 jewels ¦ Diameter: 38 mm ¦ Thickness: 7.39 mm ¦ Power reserve: 50 h ¦ 28,800 vibrations/h ¦ Functions: hours, minutes, true beat seconds ¦ Movement decoration: NAC grey treated with Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining and Côtes de Genève rayonnantes, dial plate black ADLC treated with large circular finishing, circular satin-finished wheels, screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads. True beat seconds bridges: palladium treated, satin-finished with hand-chamfered and polished edges. Oscillating weight: NAC grey treated, skeletonised with brushed surfaces
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REF. 1ATAS.S02A.C121S
DSTB Case material: stainless steel ¦ Dial: silvery opaline, sapphire ¦ Case diameter: 43.5 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched black alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 175
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T B R INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 177
TBR Double first from a timepiece on course for success
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The TBR features the first automatic movement with an integrated true beat system to be developed, designed and manufactured entirely at the workshops in La Chauxde-Fonds. Its pure, timeless design takes its inspiration from the later instrument-style chronometers produced by John Roger Arnold. These answered the call for timepieces rugged and reliable enough to withstand the hardships of life on the high seas combined with the down-to-thesecond precision needed by marine navigators to determine longitude.  With the unmistakable design cues that define the Instrument Collection, the TBR is a masterpiece of reduced simplicit y. The initials stand for the watch’s t wo complications, true beat and retrograde. While the time is displayed in an off-centre subdial (a hallmark of the entire Instrument Collection) the two complications occupy the middle of the dial and command center stage.  Dominating the face of the watch is the central true beat, or dead beat, seconds. The true beat seconds, a hark-back to the precision required by navigators on the high seas, is a rarely found complication these days, and its combination
with an automatic winding system calls for enormous technical expertise. In the TBR it was made possible by a worldwide patented system comprising a sophisticated double wheel, an oscillating pinion and a pallet mechanism. This complex solution calls for virtually microscopic precision (to tolerances of a micron, or one thousandth of a millimetre) and the key parts are made using state-ofthe-art LIGA fabrication technology. LIGA is a German acronym that stands for Lithographie, Galvanoformung, Abformung (lithography, electroplating and moulding) and describes the sequence of processes used to produce metal parts made of nickel and nickel phosphorus. Longitude is measured in degrees, minutes and seconds. By comparing the time difference between local apparent noon, determined by a sextant, and noon at Greenwich (GMT/UTC) shown on the chronometer, a navigator is able to calculate the ship’s position east or west of the Greenwich Meridian (0°).
the dates 1 to 31 in Arabic numerals with intermediate dots for the even dates. A slim, undulating hand advances a day at a time until it reaches 31. At midnight on the 31st, the hand springs back (hence retrograde) smartly to 1, in other words to the first of the next month, and the process commences all over again. The TBR’s retrograde mechanism is extremely sophisticated and features patented dents sans jeu (literally, teeth without play – or gaps), which ensure that the date hand advances cleanly and precisely. These components can only be produced using the complex LIGA fabrication technology described above. Also worth noting is the fact that the retrograde date can be set using the crown, which is considerably more demanding in terms of movement design than having an additional pushpiece.
The “R” of TBR – retrograde – is a description of the watch’s second complication, the date display. The second most conspicuous element on the dial, the date display shows
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 179
A&S6008 Exclusive Arnold & Son mechanical movement ¦ Self-winding ¦ Ceramic ball bearing ¦ 34 jewels ¦ Diameter: 30.4 mm ¦ Thickness: 7.79 mm ¦ Power reserve: 50 h ¦ 28,800 vibrations/h ¦ Stop second device ¦ Functions: hours, minutes, true beat seconds, retrograde date ¦ Movement decoration rose gold model: rhodium treated with Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining and Côtes
de Genève rayonnantes, brushed and skeletonised oscillating weight, blued screws with bevelled and mirror-polished head ¦ Movement decoration stainless steel model: NAC grey treated with Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining and
Côtes de Genève rayonnantes, brushed and skeletonised oscillating weight, screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads
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REF. 1ARAP.W01A.C120P
REF. 1ARAS.S01A.C121S
TBR
TBR
Case material: 18-carat rose gold ¦ Dial: silvery-white and
Case material: stainless steel ¦ Dial: light-grey and silvery
silvery opaline ¦ Case diameter: 44 mm ¦ Glass: cambered
opaline ¦ Case diameter: 44 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire
sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-
with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through
through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched brown alligator leather ¦
sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched black alligator leather ¦
Water-resistant: 30 m
Water-resistant: 30 m
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 181
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T B
V I C T O R Y INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 183
TB Victory A magnificent tribute to the role of the HMS Victory in maritime history
The name HMS Victory is one of the best known in English maritime history and played an important role in Arnold & Son’s history by using its chronometers. After a glorious career spanning forty years, she had her finest hour as Lord Nelson’s flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Now, Arnold & Son celebrates this common history by presenting the exquisite TB Victory. Gracing the righthand side of the dial is a 22-carat solid gold appliqué of the famous warship, first hand-chased with breathtaking richness of detail by Arnold & Son’s master engraver and then duplicated in gold for the series. The TB Victory timepiece has a distinctive off-centre subdial for the time of day, one of the unmistakable design cues of the Instrument Collection. Central to the creamcoloured dial is the timepiece’s complication: a central true beat (TB) seconds. The TB Victory will be available in an exclusive limited edition of just 28 timepieces.
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REF. 1ARAP.I01A.C120P
TB VICTORY Case material: 18-carat rose gold ¦ Dial: cream, 22-carat solid gold engraved appliqué ¦ Case diameter: 44 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched brown alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m ¦ Limited edition: 28 pieces
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 185
Š National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, UK
East Indiamen in the China seas. Oil on canvas, painting by William John Huggins, 1820-1830
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E A S T
I N D I A
C O M PA N Y
S E T
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 187
East India Company Set A magnificent tribute to the famous East Indiamen
The East India Company Set comprises three timepieces that combine maritime precision with aesthetic perfection. The models celebrate the East Indiamen, the vessels that helped to establish the trading supremacy of the East India Company. The East India Company was the most powerful and famous of the commercial empires that profited from trade expansion between Europe, the Americas, India and China. Underpinning its supremacy were the heavily armed trading ships that were also regularly used by the Royal Navy. Now, with the East India Company Set, Arnold & Son unveils a trio of true beat timepieces. Gracing the dial of each model is an exquisitely hand-finished miniature replicating one of three paintings from the National Maritime Museum in London. The art of painting miniatures by hand calls for infinite patience and consummate skill. The tiny brushstrokes and texturing gradually build up entire images with an astonishing richness of detail that is given even greater emphasis by the reflection of light in the depth of the mother-of-pearl dials, and underscore Arnold & Son’s mastery of the decorative arts.
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The timepieces in the East India Company Set have a distinctive off-centre subdial for the time of day, one of the unmistakable design cues of the Instrument Collection. Our watchmakers and designers took their inspiration from the distinctive instrument-like chronometers produced by John Arnold and his son, John Roger Arnold. These delivered the robustness, reliability and down-to-the-second precision needed to determine longitude by marine navigators. The central feature on the dial is the timepiece’s complication: a true beat (TB) seconds. A rarely found complication these days, the true beat seconds (or dead beat seconds) stands for superlative accuracy and was an invaluable instrument for marine navigators.
The East India Company Set is available in an exclusive limited edition of just 28 sets of 3 timepieces.
The timepieces in the East India Company Set are powered by the rhodium treated A&S6103 calibre, the first automatic movement with an integrated true beat system to be developed, designed and manufactured entirely at Arnold & Son’s workshops in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The exquisite Haute Horlogerie finishing includes hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining and Côtes de Genève rayonnantes, a brushed and skeletonized rotor, and blued screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads.
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 189
A&S6103 Exclusive Arnold & Son mechanical movement ¦ Self-winding ¦ Ceramic ball bearing ¦ 30 jewels ¦ Diameter: 30.4 mm ¦ Thickness: 7.79 mm ¦ Power reserve: 50 h ¦ 28,800 vibrations/h ¦ Stop second device ¦ Functions: hours, minutes, true beat seconds ¦ Movement decoration: rhodium treated with Haute Horlogerie finishing: hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining and Côtes de Genève rayonnantes, brushed and skeletonised oscillating weight, blued screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads
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REF. 1ARAP.M01A.C120P A fleet of East Indiamen
REF. 1ARAP.M03A.C120P East Indiamen in the China Seas
EAST INDIA COMPANY SET
REF. 1ARAP.M02A.C120P The Honourable East India Company’s Ship
Case material: 18-carat rose gold ¦ Dial: hand-finished miniature, mother-of-pearl ¦ Case diameter: 44 mm ¦ Glass: cambered saphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: see-through sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched brown alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m ¦ Limited edition: 28 sets of 3 pieces
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 191
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H M S
B E A G L E
S E T
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 193
HMS Beagle Set Marking Charles Darwin’s voyage of discovery
HMS Beagle undertook three survey voyages in all, but it was the second one, with naturalist Charles Darwin on board, that guaranteed its place in history. With this set of three watches, each featuring an exquisite handpainted miniature of HMS Beagle, Arnold & Son pays tribute to one of the most celebrated ships in the history of exploration. The Beagle’s second voyage is best known for a five-week stopover in the Galapagos Island, which gave Charles Darwin the foundations for his theory of evolution. The voyage’s express purpose, among other things, was to establish a chain of linked reference points with known longitudes that could be used by future navigators to set their chronometers precisely. For this purpose the ship carried an unprecedented 22 marine chronometers, five of which were by Arnold and associates. The large number of timepieces was necessary because of inevitable malfunctions and imprecisions, when a collection of chronometers guaranteed better average values. John Arnold and his son made an enormous contribution towards the development of the marine chronometer,
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so honouring HMS Beagle with this set seemed a fitting tribute. The set comprises three timepieces each with a different Arnold & Son in-house movement: the HM, with the ultra-thin A&S1001 movement with over 90 hours of power reserve; the TB, with the selfwinding A&S6103 movement with integrated true beat seconds system; and the UTTE, featuring the ultra-thin tourbillon calibre A&S8200 with a one-minute flying tourbillon and over 90 hours of power reserve. The movements are housed in 18-carat white gold, 18-carat rose gold and 18-carat red gold cases, respectively, with black alligator straps.
The magnificent HMS Beagle timepieces are available in a limited edition of just eight sets of three watches each.
A feature common to each of the watches is a finely detailed, hand-painted miniature showing HMS Beagle at some stage of its second voyage. Set against silverywhite and silvery opaline dials, the paintings are based on illustrations of the ship taken from documentation of the voyage. The art of painting miniatures by hand calls for infinite patience and consummate skill. The tiny brushstrokes and texturing gradually build up entire images with an astonishing richness of detail and underscore Arnold & Son’s mastery of the decorative arts.
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 195
HMS Beagle laid ashore, River Santa Cruz. Journal of researches into the geology and natural history of the various countries visited by H.M.S. Beagle, by Charles Darwin, London, 1839
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REF. 1LCAW.S08A.C111W
REF. 1ARAP.W08A.C120A
REF. 1UTAR.S07A.C120A
HMS BEAGLE SET Case material: 18-carat white gold, 18-carat rose gold, 18-carat red gold ¦ Dial: hand-painted miniature, silvery-white and silvery opaline ¦ Case diameter: 40 mm, 44 mm, 42 mm ¦ Glass: cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides ¦ Case back: seethrough sapphire ¦ Strap: hand-stitched black alligator leather ¦ Water-resistant: 30 m ¦ Limited edition: 8 sets of 3 pieces
INSTRUMENT COLLECTION 197
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C A L I B R E S
O V E R V I E W 199
Arnold & Son Calibres Overview
A&S5003
A&S8100
200
A&S8000
A&S8305
A&S1512
CALIBRES OVERVIEW 201
Arnold & Son Calibres Overview
A&S1001
A&S8513
202
A&S1311
A&S1209
A&S8200
CALIBRES OVERVIEW 203
Arnold & Son Calibres Overview
A&S1615
A&S7103
204
A&S6003
A&S6008
A&S6103
CALIBRES OVERVIEW 205
CONCEPT AND REALISATION Arnold & Son SA, La Chaux-de-Fonds PHOTOGR APHY Time Photo, La Chaux-de-Fonds Le Labo, Delémont Eveline Perroud, La Chaux-de-Fonds Anita Schlaefli, Neuchâtel Claudio Stefanutti, Zurich BIBLIOGR APHY The Monthly Review or Literary Journal, vol. 58 (London, 1780) Religious Tract Society (Great Britain) The Visitor or Monthly Instructor (London, 1847) Breguet, Emmanuel, Breguet: Watchmakers since 1775 [English trans. of Breguet: Horloger depuis 1775], ed. Alain de Gourcuff (Paris, 1997) Le Globe, Journal littéraire, vol. 3/1 (Paris, 24 December 1825) Mercer, Vaudrey, John Arnold & Son, supplement (London, 1975) Huddart, Joseph, Captain, The Oriental Navigator (London, 1801)
SOURCES Antiquorum Genève SA, Geneva Bridgeman Art Library, Paris Getty Images, Munich iStockphoto, Canada National Maritime Museum, Greenwich Science & Society Picture Library, London The British Museum, London TEXT AND DOCUMENTARY RESEARCH Arnold & Son SA, La Chaux-de-Fonds Dr Joël Pynson Hill Johnson Associates GmbH, Zollikon Roberta Naas, Naas Enterprises
Arnold & Son SA Bd. des Eplatures 38 2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds Switzerland www.arnoldandson.com
Agent for Portugal, Spain and Morocco
Arnold & Son SA reserves the rights to change models and prices at any time. Š
Copyright 2014 Arnold & Son SA, Printed in Switzerland
+351 919 158909 aquacronos@aquacronos.eu www.aquacronos.eu