Arnold & Son, a benchmark in classic fine watchmaking, is exploring uncharted territory on the map of horology. Longitude Titanium is a sports-chic COSC-certified chronometer with a 42.5 mm titanium case. The dial of Longitude Titanium is vertical satin-finished in a continuation of the bracelet’s finish, which is subtly intersected by the polished edges of its links. With a power-reserve display at 12 o’clock and an imposing seconds counter at 6 o’clock, Longitude Titanium pays tribute to John Arnold’s marine chronometers, his revolutionary vision and his decisive role in calculating longitude at sea.
The aesthetics and construction of John Arnold’s marine chronometers were necessarily classic and functional, and were adapted to the harsh conditions of the high seas. Longitude Titanium, a contemporary interpretation of the great English watchmaker’s work, coherently combines this naval heritage with a refined design and highly resistant materials. The movement’s ‘chronometer’ certification is an essential addition to this scene, with its historical ties to Arnold’s creations and his quest for accuracy.

Instrument de Vitesse, a new opus in the La Fabrique collection, revives the golden age of timed races. This single push-piece chronograph seems to have been plucked from the dashboard of a vintage GT car. It is equipped with a single timing hand – the centre seconds hand – and can time a maximum of one minute. With its sleek and refined retro sports look, Instrument de Vitesse is intended for enthusiasts of watchmaking history and culture. Housed in a 39-mm steel case, its 4.20 mm manually wound Manufacture calibre ensures that the finished timepiece is less than 10 mm thick. Instrument de Vitesse is available with an ivory-white or ebony-black dial in two limited series of 25 timepieces each.

Appearances can sometimes be deceptive. At first glance, Instrument de Vitesse does not appear to be a classic chronograph. With its three central hands, it looks like a watch... with three hands, but the tachymeter scale running around the outer edge of the dial reveals its chronometric function. For this is a chronograph presented in its purest expression, dedicated to timing short bursts – a measuring instrument designed to take average speed readings over a maximum of 60 seconds. This, in turn, casts new light on the crown, which also acts as the chronograph’s single push-piece to set the slender centre seconds hand in motion.

Matt and refined with vintage style: Instrument de Vitesse presents the purest expression of a chronograph, with no sub-counters. The collection sets the tone with its Indianapolis blue and Silverstone grey dials. Its finely printed tachymeter scale is dedicated to speed and is as functional as a dashboard instrument.

Things are not always what they seem. At first glance, Instrument de Vitesse could be a highly refined three-hand watch. Only its discreet tachymeter scale, printed on the edge of the dial, and its name point us in the right direction: this is a chronograph designed for short bursts, an instrument for measuring average speed over a maximum period of 60 seconds. The purpose of the button on the crown thus becomes clear: a single push-piece that triggers the slender direct-drive central seconds hand.

The 41.5 mm diameter Constant Force Tourbillon 11 watch in 18-carat yellow gold, released by Arnold & Son as a limited edition of 11, is driven by a hand-wound mechanical movement. Equipped with two barrels to give a 100-hour power reserve, this timepiece was entirely developed and built at the manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds. It is fitted with a constant force mechanism visible on the enamel dial and is regulated by a tourbillon that can be seen on the back. The architecture of this calibre is inspired by that of the timekeeping instrument driven by the first tourbillon created by Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1808, based on a chronometer movement designed by John Arnold. This first tourbillon regulator, now in the British Museum, was given to John Roger Arnold by the Paris-based watchmaker in honour of his scientific collaboration and friendship with his father. The Constant Force Tourbillon 11 timepiece, designed to mark the end of the 260th anniversary celebrations of John Arnold’s legacy, pays tribute to the watchmaker’s ingenuity and his close association with Abraham-Louis Breguet.

The greatest watchmakers of the Age of Enlightenment often knew each other. Some of them exchanged views and appreciated each other despite language barriers and political obstacles. And this was the case with John Arnold and Abraham-Louis Breguet. These two watchmakers, undoubtedly the most productive of the second half of the 18th century, forged a friendship that nothing could shake, not even the throes of war between the two countries or the French Revolution. Aware of their respective talents, during Abraham-Louis Breguet’s frequent trips to London between 1789 and 1791, they shared their views and knowledge of the principles of timekeeping, furthering the science of timekeeping, which in their eyes definitely knew no frontiers.

Waxing, gibbous, blue: the power of the moon imposes itself on the Earth and even more so, on the seas. Perpetual Moon 38 Night Tide celebrates the fluctuating pull of this celestial body on the water. A large moon disc appears over vast waves. Made of mother-of-pearl and ruthenium, they rise one after the other in a cascade of soft curves. This scene, illuminated by diamonds, celebrates the femininity, elegance and evocative power of Arnold & Son’s watchmaking.

Powerful and plentiful, the waves of Perpetual Moon 38 Night Tide herald heavy seas. In the blue of the night, the tide is at its highest, and so are the rollers. The moon, capricious and triumphant, imposes its will. The gradations of the water are topped with a sparkling foam. Beneath the peaceful light of Selene, the ocean rages on.

Arnold & Son interprets this powerfully symbolic scene through mechanisms and minerals. The astronomical moon complication of Perpetual Moon 38 Night Tide is adorned in mother-of-pearl and ruthenium: a delicate, evocative composition that fully expresses the dial-makers’ expertise. The mother-of-pearl marquetry, ruthenium crystal inlays and abundance of diamonds symbolise the painstaking care lavished on the women's collections of Switzerland’s most English brand.