First released at Baselworld 2018 in stainless steel, Arnold & Clark extend their Globetrotter series with a new limited edition model in opulent 18 carat gold. Inspired by the high-precision marine chronometers made by John Arnold at the end of the 18th century, the design reimagines the world-time function with a remarkable three-dimensional approach. Limited to just 28 pieces, let’s take a look at the new Arnold & Son Globetrotter Gold watch.
We obviously talk about luxury watches a lot here at Horologii, and we’re not afraid to admit that even some of the most reasonably priced pieces have us scraping our savings together to afford. However, it’s not often we discuss timepieces quite as exclusive as this. The stainless steel Arnold & Son Globetrotter watch was already teetering on lavish with a price tag of £13,800 so when we heard the design was being launched in 18 carat rose gold, we quickly put away our wallets. With that being said, it is still a remarkable watch, and we couldn’t resist taking a look at it, even for the sakes of those lucky enough to covet one of the 28 limited edition pieces.
Despite its substantial price tag, the Arnold & Son Globetrotter Gold Limited Edition offers an aesthetic worthy of any wrist. Its craftsmanship is breathtaking and an instantaneous conversation starter. While the 45 millimetre 18 carat rose gold case is nice, it is the dial that takes the cake. Like an atlas for the wrist, the dial depicts the Northern hemisphere as secured by an openworked bridge carved in rose gold. The globe is finished in levels of detail only possible at this price point with the oceans hand painted in blue pigmented lacquer and augmented with an iridescent pearl powder to impart additional depth and shine. Even detailing on the coastlines are made lighter to mark shallower waters while the different continents and mountain ranges are given separate finishes to imply differing altitudes. North America, Eurasia and part of Africa are single rhodium-plated and polished while mountain ranges like the Rocky, Himalayan and Alps are matte finished.
The hand-painted globe is captured in place by an 18 carat gold arch, something of a visual signature of the Arnold & Son Globetrotter which is then adorned with a single functional ruby at the centre for holding the axis of universal time. Matching the arch is a line-up of rose gold applique indexes painted in Superluminova for marking the hours while the bottom part of the dial offers a subtle sunlit-finish and the universal time in transparent sapphire. Reading the Arnold & Son Globetrotter Gold watch is much easier than you’d think. To interpret the local time, you would read the red “hands”, which are more like arrows, pointing out to the gold indexes. For the world time, you visualise the imaginary longitude from the ruby to the central bridge to the 24 hour sapphire ring.
The rest of the Arnold & Son Globetrotter Gold Limited Edition watch closely follows suit to its stainless steel counterpart with a 30 metre water resistance, hand-stitched alligator leather strap in blue and curved lugs – just this time engineered from 18 carat rose gold. The calibre powering the design is also familiar, assembled around the Maison’s in-house A&SS6022 automatic winding calibre. Like all of the brand’s movements, it has been entirely developed, produced, decorated, adjusted and fitted in their factory in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. The movement offers 29 jewels, a frequency of 28,800vph and a power reserve of 45 hours.
Just as the complications it delivers are beautiful, the craftsmanship of the A&S6022 is a sight to behold through the Arnold & Son Globetrotter Gold’s exhibition case back. It comes decorated in all the traditional watchmaking patterns you’d expected from an in-house Swiss made movement including a stippled main plate, Cotes de Geneve bridges, satin-finished wheels and bevelled polished screws. Each of the finishes are also NAC-treated, a process which uses precious metals close to platinum to generate an unusual anthracite-coloured finish. The colouring contrasts beautifully to the rest of the rose gold aesthetic and the matching rose gold oscillating rotor, which is crafted from 22 carat gold, skeletonised and features a Clou de Paris guilloche pattern.
If you’re as taken by the Arnold & Son Globetrotter Gold Limited Edition watch as us, you can explore more detail about it on the Jura Watches website here. Alternatively, get in touch with our team of luxury watch experts by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at help@jurawatches.co.uk.
Specifications: Arnold & Son Globetrotter Gold Limited Edition (1WTAR.U01C)
- Case Size: 45mm
- Case Material: 18 carat rose gold
- Bezel: Fixed
- Glass: Sapphire crystal
- Crown: Non-screw locked
- Case Back: Exhibition
- Water Resistance: 30 metres
- Movement: In-house A&SS6022 automatic winding
- Functions: Hours, minutes, world-time
- Power Reserve: 45 hours
- Jewels: 29
- Frequency: 28,800bph
- Dial: Blue lacquered, rose gold indexes, three-dimensional globe with rose gold rubied arch
- Strap: Blue alligator leather
- RRP: TBC
- Limited Edition: 28 pieces
