BY HARLAN CHAPMAN-GREEN
The moonphase is one of the most beloved complications in watches. It inspires a romantic feeling in us, one that’s hard to put into words but easy to understand. Most moon phases are a disk that spins at the rate the moon orbits the earth with the moon and maybe some stars painted on it. Some manufacturers go a step further and make a small 3D moonphase which adds depth and complexity. Arnold & Son has never made a 3D moonphase before, so, to mark the occasion, they went all out and made the biggest 3D moonphase ever.
To make the most of it, they’ve built a visually striking watch around the moonphase. The aventurine backdrop to the dial is a real highlight. Set on it is an elegant time dial that’s been painted and lacquered to gleam under light with elegant blue hands for easy legibility. It’s all wrapped up in a 44mm x 15.9mm case crafted from red gold and presented on a blue hand-stitched alligator leather strap with red gold buckle.
Inside the case is the calibre A&S1021, a hand-wound movement made in-house by Arnold & Son. It has a 90-hour power reserve and, although there is no power reserve indicator, there is a big moonphase display in the centre, so there’s no questioning which way the 3D moon is turning. Also, that giant moon stretches to the back as well for a full 3D effect which I think is really cool. The moonphase is very accurate and will need to be adjusted by one day every 122 years if it’s kept running for that long.
This is a limited production model with just 28 examples being made. Each one will cost CHF43,900 before tax.
