If you’re interested in independent watchmaking, Arnold & Son should be on the top of your list. This creative brand is based upon the technical legacy and spirit of the Engligh watchmaker John Arnold, known and respected for his work on escapement. Arnold & Son capitalizes on the ingenuity of the man to build modern timepieces, at the amazing pace of two to three novelties per year.
Today, Arnold & Son unveils a new reference of its iconic Time Pyramid featuring the hand-finished A&S1615 calibre treated in NAC grey, housed in a stainless steel case. The A&S1615 movement with skeletonised pyramid-shaped architecture, was conceived, designed and developed in-house. The movement A&S1615 seemingly floats between two sapphire crystals : that’s horlogic architecture !
A&S1615 Calibre
Inspired by the regulators created by John and Roger Arnold over two hundred years ago, and by antique British skeleton clocks, the new Arnold & Son Time Pyramid offers a highly cohesive and seductive blend of watchmaking feats that includes regulator, skeleton, vertical linear movement, pyramid-placement of components and multi-dimensional depth.
The skeletonised calibre A&S1615 follows the original regulators from the brand with its component positioning and detailed 3D visual appeal. Movement parts and watch indications are built on three levels, with the subsidiary seconds dial on the bottom, the hour indications on a sapphire crystal dial in the middle level, and a silver top ring for the minutes indication.
Arnold & Son Time Pyramid
While the movement is extremely thin – at just 4.4 mm – the multiple levels bring depth and detail to the watch.
The gear train runs vertically in a linear format connecting the two barrels at six o’clock to the balance wheel at twelve 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 visible from the dial side. IN a way, it reminds something of the Ti-Bridget – and its baguette movement – by Vincent Calabrese for Corum.
Arnold & Son Time Pyramid
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. The two mainspring barrels supply the hand-wound calibre with an amazing 90 hours of power reserve, and provide a more constant force to the wheel train.
As with every esteemed Arnold & Son watch, the movement of the Time Pyramid is hand decorated with manually chamfered brides and high-polished edges, Côtes de Genève, circular satin-finished wheels and blued screws. Price is $29,850
