Our Take

Based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Arnold & Son has based its identity on the ability to create fine watchmaking complications that are linked to the maritime heritage of John Arnold. An 18th century visionary focused on creating true chronometers, modern Arnold & Son timepieces include complications like the dead-beat seconds, dual time zones, 8-day power reserves, and as showcased in this timepiece, this brand-new Perpetual Moon 38 Night Tide, the moon-phase complication.

The Night Tide displays the seas in different shades of blue while a large moon disc glides across the dial from 10 to 2 o’clock. Made of mother-of-pearl and ruthenium, the moon rises high above the cascading waves. Together with the diamonds that dance in the light on the bezel, lugs and hour-markers, this makes for an exceptionally beautiful, poetic creation.

Measuring 38 mm in diameter and 10.44 mm thick, the case of the Perpetual Moon 38 Night Tide is fashioned from a solid block of white gold. Its bezel, four lugs and crown host a total of 80 brilliant-cut diamonds. When added to the 22 diamonds adorning its buckle, they amount to a total weight of 2.57 carats. The use of rare and precious materials has become a special signature of Arnold & Son, adding a degree of lavishness to match the the design and craftsmanship of the brand’s timepieces. Five marquise cut diamonds indicating the hours provide the finishing touch on this work of art.

Staying true to its tradition as a precision watchmaker, caliber A&S1612 is a heavy-hitter in horology. The caliber features a moon disc almost as large as the movement itself. With a 90 hour power reserve, this manual-wind timepiece ensures that the moon-phase complication will remain accurate for 122 years. This means, if kept constantly wound, it would take more than a century for the moon on the dial to experience a one-day time lag on its real-life counterpart in the night’s sky. Limited to 18 timepieces, the Perpetual Moon 38 Night Tide is another stunning addition to Arnold & Son’s catalog.

The Details

Functions: hours, minutes, astronomical moon phases

Movement

Calibre: A&S1612, hand-wound mechanical
Jewels: 24
Diameter: 29.4 mm
Thickness: 4.95 mm
Power reserve: 90 hours
Frequency: 3 Hz / 21,600 vph

Finishes

plate: rhodium-plated, radiating Côtes de Genève stripes
bridges: polished and chamfered
wheels: circular satin-finished
screws: blued and chamfered, polished heads

Dial:

hand-painted ruthenium crystals and mother-of-pearl marquetry
hour-markers set with 5 marquise-cut diamonds

Moon phases

sky: mother-of-pearl tinted with a blue gradation
moons: ruthenium crystals
Cassiopeia and Ursa Major constellations: hand-painted

Case

Material: 18-carat white gold, set with 80 brilliant-cut diamonds
Diameter: 38 mm
Thickness: 10.44 mm
Crystal: convex sapphire, double-sided anti-reflective finish
Case back: sapphire crystal, anti-reflective coating
Water-resistance: 3 bar (30 metres/100 feet)

Strap

Material sky-blue satin alligator leather, plum purple alligator leather lining, hand-sewn
Buckle: pin buckle, 18-carat white gold, set with 22 brilliant-cut diamonds

Diamonds

total weight: ~2.62 carats
colour: D-E-F
clarity: IF-VVS

Limited edition 18 timepieces