Arnold & Son Tourbillon Chronometer No.36 Gunmetal

History

Arnold & Son is one of the oldest watchmakers in history. From crafting the first ‘Chronometer' to co-creating the complicated tourbillon, Arnold & Son has been there from the beginning. The legacy of the founder, John Arnold is perfectly engraved inside the Tourbillon Chrono 36. Launched in 2017, the Arnold & Son Tourbillon Chrono 36 is a homage to the legendary pocket Chronometer No. 1/36 which was the first timepiece to be labelled as a ‘Chronometer'. While in 2017 it was just a remembrance, in 2018 the brand celebrated its 240th anniversary. With the 240th anniversary in full swing, it was time to honour the precise John Arnold with the Tourbillon Chrono 36 fitted with a COSC certified movement, the A&S8600.

Design & Features

With a 46mm case, the collection is home to various case materials such as steel, 18kt red gold, and steel case with anthracite DLC coating. Apart from paying tribute to John Arnold's watchmaking skills, Arnold & Son also commemorates the gun making tradition of John Arnold's family with the Tourbillon Chrono 36 Gunmetal. The tourbillon is an attention-grabbing element of the Tourbillon Chrono 36 which is supported by a skeletonised and mirror-polished top bridge. The tourbillon is placed between the 4 and 5 o'clock marker whereas the small seconds indicator is placed between 7 and 8 o'clock and is the second most prominent element on this dial adding to the symmetric design and exquisite layout.

Movement

The Chronometer No. 1/36 was the world's first chronometer. Though back then the COSC certification was not in place but with its accuracy it was a chronometer of that time. To accurately tribute John Arnold's creation, it was important to equip the timepiece with a COSC certified movement. Here, the A&S8600 took the charge. The A&S8600 is COSC certified and is a manually winding movement with a power reserve of up to 90 hours. The certificate provides a thorough inspection of the movement and makes sure that the particular mechanism is highly accurate.