With still a week to go, some brands can’t wait any longer and need to introduce their novelties to the press. On the one hand it is sometimes a bit of a spoiler, while on the other hand we understand that it is just another method to get people’s attention and draw them to their booth at the Baselworld exhibition.
Last week, we received a press release from the watch manufacturer Arnold & Son. If you are not into watches (which is not the main topic on MotoringExposure), we can understand that you aren’t aware of this prestigious watch brand.
In Baselworld, Arnold & Son will proudly present their HM Perpetual Moon. Why perpetual, you ask? Arnold & Son claims that their calibre A&S1512 is one of the most accurate moon phase movements out there on the watch market. In 122 years, it only will need 1 correction (1 day’s deviation in 122 years). A simple push on the moon phase corrector on this watch will set the moon phase ready for another 122 years of flawless shining.
Since we started with the movement talk anyway, let’s continue. This hand-wound calibre A&S1512 movement features a double barrel in the HM Perpetual Moon. A double barrel means more capacity, so more power reserve. This watch has an 80 hours power reserve where most other mechanical watches stop ticking after approx. 40 hours. The finish on this movement should – according to Arnold & Son – be considered haute horlogerie, as they manually chamfered bridges with beautiful polished edges, circular graining, Cote de Geneve and blued screws. Luckily, there is a transparent caseback that will you a perfect view on this beauty. You will also notice the 2nd Moon phase indicator on the movement. It consists of a graduated dial and a pointer hand that allows an exact setting of the Moon phase indicator on the front. Clever.
Back to the watch itself; this 42mm diameter piece of art has one of the largest moon phase apertures on the market. The guilloché dial and 3D Moon is a very welcome sight compared to many other rather dull looking moon phase watches.
The HM Perpetual Moon comes in three flavours, which is a stainless steel version with a black guilloché dial and moon disc called the ‘Modern’, an 18 carat red gold version with a blue guilloché dial and blue moon disc called the ‘Elegant’, and another 18 carat red gold version with a cream-colored dial with a blue moon disc called the ‘Classic’. All three versions have the hand-engraved Moon on the dial. Also, all three models come on this very nice hand-stitched alligator strap.
Price is not available yet. As soon as it is, we will update this article.
Specifications of the Arnold & Son HM Perpetual Moon
Movement: Hand-wound calibre A&S1512, 80 hours power reserve, 21.600bph
Functions: Hours, minutes, perpetual Moon, second Moon phase for setting purposes
Dial: lacquered guiolloché on the 18 carat red gold models, black guilloché on the stainless steel model, hand engraved Moon, large Moon phase aperture
Case: 18 carat red gold or stainless steel, 42mm, water resistant to 30m/3ATM
Strap: Black or brown alligator
Source: Arnold & Son
Which of the three Arnold & Son HM Perpetual Moon versions would you choose? Leave a comment and let us know!
