Arnold & Son is exploring uncharted territory with the launch of the new Longitude Titanium collection. This sports-chic COSC-certified chronometer is equipped with a 42.5 mm titanium case and is available with three different dials. The dial of the new Arnold & Son Longitude Titanium is vertical satin-finished in a continuation of the bracelet’s finish, which is subtly intersected by the polished edges of its links fully integrated into the case construction.
The Longitude Titanium collection presents a titanium case whose curves and profile are directly inspired by the design of contemporary sailing boats. The case's middle is taut like a ship’s waterline, while the case back is basin-shaped like a keel. Meanwhile, the base of the bezel inspired by the ship’s rail is graduated with 60 notches, echoing the fluted ring of John Arnold’s marine chronometers. The finishes include polished on the flanks and satin-finished on the flat surfaces. The crown, protected by a shoulder, is screwed down to guarantee water resistance to 100 meters.
The vertical satin-brushed finished dial features a power reserve gauge indicator at 12 o’clock and an imposing seconds counter at 6 o’clock. With its flowing curves, the Longitude Titanium is both comfortable to wear and a joy to behold. Each of the series is fitted with an integrated titanium bracelet. Everything is rounded with no straight lines, even in the finer details as the links themselves are domed. The succession of gentle curves and combination of polished and satin-finished surfaces are a continuation of the case’s identity. The Arnold & Son Longitude Titanium is complemented by an interchangeable system and comes with an additional rubber strap texturized like fabric. The Longitude Titanium is available in a limited edition of 88 pieces in Kingsand —sandy golden color— and in regular production without limitation in Ocean Blue and in Fern Green.
The satin-finished, polished, and luminescent hour markers recall the shape of the bracelet links. It is also graphic in the display of its indications, which are aligned with the vertical axis of the dial: a mirror-polished power-reserve indicator shown by cut-outs in the dial at 12 o’clock, the hour and minute hands in the center, and the imposing small seconds at 6 o’clock. However, this layout was also chosen for its ties to John Arnold’s marine chronometers, as it was he who introduced this arrangement and established it as standard.
Cornwall, John Arnold’s birthplace, inspired the colors of the Longitude dials. The first edition, limited to 88 timepieces, is adorned with a sandy golden shade called ‘Kingsand’ as an ode to the eponymous beach, which is one of the county’s hidden jewels. The second version sports an ocean blue, while the third and final series is a fern green.
The Movement
Powering the new Arnold & Son Longitude Titanium beats the new A&S6302 calibre, certified by the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC). This automatic movement is wound by an oscillating weight with a design influenced by sailing. Its shape is reminiscent of the prow of an 18th-century English frigate cleaving through the water, and it is carved from a single block of 22K gold. Its felloe is engraved with graduations similar to those on a sextant —another maritime element.
The calibre is lavished with the same high standard of finishes commonly seen at Arnold & Son, such as chamfered bridges with the house’s specialty ‘Rayons de la Gloire’ motif. Like all its movements, the A&S6302 was entirely developed, produced, decorated, assembled, adjusted, and cased up at the Manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds. This calibre features a large barrel and an oscillation frequency of 4 Hz, providing a 60-hour power reserve.
Sticker Price CHF 22,600 Swiss Francs —approximately USD 25,000— for Kingsand Limited Edition and CHF 21,500 Swiss Francs —approximately USD 23,800— for Ocean Blue or Fern Green regular production watches. For more info on Arnold & Son click here.
