Arnold & Son Double Tourbillon White Gold Amber Edition

Arnold & Son has introduced a new element to its watchmaking arsenal with the incorporation of Baltic amber, often referred to as ‘tiger’ amber. This material, a first in horology, significantly enhances the collection’s remarkable dials. The warm, moiré yellow of this rare gem beautifully frames the double tourbillons in the Double Tourbillon White Gold model, creating a striking visual contrast with the grey gold case, skeletonised bridges, and pristine white opal hour dials. This amber adds depth and texture, along with a range of unique reflections, making this piece a truly exceptional edition.

In Arnold & Son’s watchmaking lexicon, the tourbillon is a revered feature, with a lineage dating back 260 years. The addition of a double tourbillon in this collection elevates it to a realm of exclusivity, fitting for bespoke, one-of-a-kind creations like this amber model. The brand’s use of amber follows its tradition of exploring luxurious stones, previously featuring imperial jade, malachite, and aventurine.

Contrary to popular belief, amber is not exclusively the translucent orange variety. Baltic amber, chosen for this watch, presents a creamy, moiré yellow hue. This amber originates from the resin of ancient coniferous plants that flourished along the Baltic coast around 44 million years ago. Over millennia, the resin fossilised into the beautiful amber we see today, a process shaped by geological forces and time. This fossilised resin is prized for its unique aesthetics and symbolic richness.

Double Tourbillon White Gold draws inspiration from John Arnold’s dual passions for chronometry and world time. Arnold’s creation of marine chronometers aimed to enhance timekeeping accuracy, aiding navigators in determining their longitude by comparing local time with the reference time at a known location. This historical context is reflected in the watch’s design, which features two independent time displays: one for local time at 12 o’clock, using Roman numerals, and another at 6 o’clock for a different time zone, indicated with Arabic numerals. Both dials are precise to the minute, offering a functional and aesthetic balance.

The watch features a convex sapphire crystal to accommodate the depth of the two tourbillons, each anchored to a three-dimensional, skeletonised cantilevered bridge in white gold. These tourbillons are connected to a double gear train, housing the A&S8513 calibre with two barrels, two crowns, and the capability to display one or two different times, or to time long events, setting it apart from typical travel watches. It can also accommodate time zones with offsets of 15, 30, or 45 minutes, enhancing its versatility.

The A&S8513 calibre is a marvel of engineering alongside the movement, adorned with radiating Côtes de Genève stripes, a circular-grained mainplate, double-snailed barrels, sunray-brushed crown wheels, and polished gold chatons. The tourbillon bridges, meticulously beveled, satin-finished, and mirror-polished in solid white gold, provide a striking relief.