Our Take

Known for their maritime inspired complications and designs, Arnold & Son returns to Watches & Wonders 2024 with an impressive, new edition to one of the brand’s most beloved series, their ultrathin tourbillons. This year, the brand brings new updates and a fresh designed, skeletonized timepiece in two precious metals – platinum and rose gold. This is the all-new UTTE Ultrathin Tourbillon Skeleton in platinum.

The purpose of a skeleton is to convey a message, be it geometric, generic or minimal. For the Ultrathin Tourbillon Skeleton, the skeletonization of the caliber reveals pronounced curves and numerous inflection points that are highlighted by an original finish. On the Ultrathin Tourbillon Skeleton Platinum, the bridges are treated with rose-gold PVD (4N) after being decorated with radiating Côtes de Genève stripes. The flange around the caliber adopts this same finish, clearly revealing the Arnold & Son signature at 6 o’clock and enabling the off-centered white opal dial to be displayed in its purest form.

The A&S8320 caliber unveils its curves, apertures and details within a 41.5 mm case in platinum (PT 950), released in a limited run of 28 timepieces. Encased in this precious housing, Arnold & Son’s flying tourbillon stands out for its finesse and precision with some notable improvements to the complication. In this timepiece, there are updates to the carriage of the tourbillon, specifically in the redesigned variable-inertia balance with inertia blocks to ensure more precise calibration over time. The slender triangular carriage is also new, supported by a double arrow that actually acts as a counterpoise. The arrowhead on the staff of the escape wheel serves as a seconds pointer, as the carriage completes one rotation per minute. For a manual-wind, ultrathin movement (a mere 3.3mm thick), it’s a marvel that the A&S8320 caliber features a 100-hour power reserve.

A great addition to Arnold & Son’s catalog, the UTTE Ultrathin Tourbillon Skeleton represents high complication watchmaking at its finest.

The Details

Ultrathin Tourbillon Skeleton Red Gold

Technical specifications

Functions: hours, minutes

Movement

Calibre: A&S8320, 1-minute flying tourbillon, manual winding

Jewels: 29

Diameter: 32.00 mm

Thickness: 3.30 mm

Power reserve: 100 hours

Frequency: 3 Hz / 21,600 vph

Finishes mainplate: skeletonised, rose-gold PVD treatment (4N), Côtes de Genève stripes radiating from the centre

Bridges: skeletonised, rose-gold PVD treatment (4N), polished and chamfered by hand, Côtes de Genève stripes radiating from the centre

Wheels: circular satin-finished

Screws: chamfered, mirror-polished heads tourbillon carriage: ‘Arnold & Son’ signature, polished, satin-finished and chamfered by hand

Dial: white opal

Case:

Material: 18-carat (5N) red gold or platinum (PT 950)

Diameter: 41.50 mm

Thickness: 8.40 mm (with crystal)

Crystal domed sapphire with an anti-reflective coating on both sides Case back sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating

Water-resistance: 3 bar (30 metres/100 feet)

Strap

Material red gold: blue alligator leather, black alligator leather lining, handstitched

Platinum: brown alligator leather, black alligator leather lining, handstitched

Clasp: folding clasp in titanium with cover in 18-carat (5N) red gold or platinum (PT 950)

Limited edition

Red gold: 28 timepieces

Platinum: 28 timepieces