Our Take

Rooted in the brand’s history of marine timekeepers, Arnold & Son always finds a way to modernize the maritime complications of yesteryear. For Geneva Watch Days 2023, the La Chaux-de-Fonds manufacture presents yet another stunning example tied to its heritage – the Dial-Side True Beat (DSTB) 42 in platinum and rose gold cases.

Front and center, the first thing that sticks out on this timepiece is its openworked true beat (also known as deadbeat) mechanism. The finely beveled gold bridges and characteristic anchor powering the complication create a strong connection to the marine chronometers and the legacy of John Arnold in horology. No escapement in a compact watch, especially one worn on the wrist, functions at a native frequency of one oscillation per second to create the deadbeat effect. Here, the sweep-seconds hand on the DSTB 42 jumps from second to second, powered by a mechanism similar to an escapement, developed in-house by Arnold & Son’s watchmakers.

One of the founding pieces in the Arnold & Son catalog, the first versions of the DSTB measured at 44 mm in diameter. It featured a caliber that was 7.40 mm thick, allowing a 45-hour power reserve. The DSTB 42 improves on each of these points. The exclusive manufacture caliber A&S6203 is significantly thinner at 5.54 mm thick and offers an upgraded 55 hours of autonomy. The case drops to 42 mm in diameter and settles for a total thickness of 12.95 mm. This is a timepiece that fits on a smaller wrist and slides easily under a cuff.

The DSTB 42 Red Gold and the DSTB 42 Platinum are powered by the caliber A&S6203, which has been entirely developed, machined, assembled and adjusted in the Arnold & Son Manufacture. Designed to work in harmony with the true-beat seconds mechanism, this caliber is self-winding thanks to an oscillating weight in 22-carat gold. With a Côtes de Genève that radiates from the center, circular satin-finished wheels, polished and beveled bridges and abundant blued screws, this is a supremely finished movement to match the beauty of both blue and salmon sunray dials on the respective rose gold and platinum editions. With the DSTB 42, Arnold & Son continues to pave the way for modern watchmaking with strong influences from historical marine chronometry.

The Details

Brand: Arnold and Son

Model: Dial-Side True Beat (DSTB) 42

Functions: hours, minutes, true-beat seconds

Movement: A&S6203, self-winding mechanical

Power reserve: 55 hours

Decoration: Mainplate: palladium finish, côtes de Genève stripes radiating from the centre. Bridges: polished and chamfered. Wheels: circular satin-finished. bridges: polished and chamfered. screws: blued and chamfered, polished heads. oscillating weight: 22-carat gold. true-beat seconds mechanism: 18-carat gold bridges, polished and chamfered.

Dial: Sunray-brushed, with blue or salmon PVD treatment

Case: 18-carat (5N) red gold or platinum (Pt 950)

Crystal: Domed sapphire with an anti-reflective coating on both sides

Water resistance: 30 m /100 ft

Strap: blue alligator leather, hand-stitched

Limited Edition: red gold: 88 timepieces, platinum: 38 timepieces

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