Arnold & Son’s ultra-thin tourbillon (UTT) now features a new dial with tinted gold and aluminum sparkles to match its precious case, which has also been redesigned. The cases are just 8.3mm thick beneath their domed sapphire crystals in rose gold or platinum. The offset display and the tourbillon aperture echo how information was arranged on John Arnold’s marine chronometers. After reworking the structure and appearance of the rotating regulating organ, the power reserve now lasts at least 100 hours – an outstanding and noteworthy performance for an ultra-thin tourbillon timepiece.
To give the UTT a unique and refined design, Arnold & Son focuses on materials and techniques that highlight the precious appearance of this finely honed tourbillon. The 41.5mm cases have been redesigned, making them even slimmer and more refined. The bezels have been reduced to a fine metal band, the sapphire crystals are domed, and the transparent casebacks have been screwed down.
Arnold & Son uses a new manufacturing technique known as “cosmic grené” on the dials. This name makes direct reference to stargazing, as stars are essential guides for navigating at sea along with marine chronometers (of which John Arnold was one of the largest and most reputable suppliers).
Gold powder mixed with aluminum sparkles has been placed on the dial plate to create a lightly sandblasted surface. This is then colored: blue for the UTT in rose gold and green for the platinum version. Due to the complex manufacturing methods, these dials are subtle and finely textured, with a discreet luster.
