Two new iterations of the Arnold & Son Perpetual Moon in a 41.5 mm case —previous case size was 42 mm— with a white mother-of-pearl moon under a midnight-blue sky. Presented in 18K red gold —unlimited production— and in platinum —limited edition of 28 pieces, their dial features a unique motif with Stellar rays. For this new iterations, the Perpetual Moon 41.5 mm cases have been redesigned. The lugs have been simplified so that instead of their original cross shape, they now present a tauter form of plunging bars with beveled ends. The case, previously measuring 42 mm was reduced to 41.5 mm without affecting the size of the dial. The objective of the redesign was to draw more attention to the dial by reducing the width of the bezel.
The dials on these new creations present a unique finish known as Stellar Rays, its aesthetic obtained through skillfully irregular engraving. Several depths and widths of rays coexist and follow on from one another, creating their own rhythm, each generating a fluctuating interplay of light and a depth obtained by applying several layers of transparent lacquer.
For the Perpetual Moon 41.5 Red Gold the watch dial features a dense, deep blue adorned with gold edging on the moon aperture, together with golden hands and hour markers. Meanwhile, for the Perpetual Moon 41.5 Platinum the dial is coupled with a salmon pink whose soft metallic radiance complements the rhodium-plated details on the dial. Realistically depicted with hand-painted shadows, the large mother-of-pearl moon is enhanced with a luminescent material that is particularly intense in darkness yet invisible in daylight, giving way to the white mother-of-pearl disc. It is set against a blue PVD-treated grained sky and is surrounded by the constellations of the Big Dipper and Cassiopeia, also hand-painted and coated with SuperLumiNova.
The constellations have been chosen as a direct reference to John Arnold’s history as a maker of naval chronometers. The Big Dipper and Cassiopeia have been used by navigators in the northern hemisphere since time immemorial to find their bearings and locate the North Star —Polaris. The position of the latter defines the North and its angular altitude, or position in the North-South plane, and allows the distance to the equator, i.e., latitude, to be estimated.
On the case back, a secondary indicator allows the moon phase to be adjusted quickly and precisely. The manual wound calibre that powers it, reference A&S1512, can track the development of its segments with exceptional precision. The duration of a complete lunar cycle is 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 2.8 seconds. Arnold & Son has succeeded in representing it in such a way that it would take 122 years for this movement, if regularly wound, to accumulate a day’s difference between its display and celestial reality.
Like all Arnold & Son movements, the A&S1512 calibre has been entirely developed, manufactured, decorated, assembled, adjusted and cased at the Manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The calibre features two barrels and an oscillation frequency of 3 Hz, providing a power reserve of 90 hours.
Sticker Price CHF 34,500 Swiss Francs —approximately $35,000 USD— for red gold and CHF 46,500 Swiss Francs — approximately $47,200 USD— for platinum. For more info on Arnold & Son click here.
