Today, I’d like to talk about a brand that revives the spirit of one of the founding fathers of modern watchmaking. You might have guessed, I’m referring to Arnold & Son. Before presenting a model commemorating the brand’s 260th anniversary, let me first introduce you to the legacy behind Arnold & Son.
Born in 1736, likely in Bodmin, Cornwall, in southwest England, John Arnold was fascinated by watches from a young age. His uncle was a gunsmith, and his father a watchmaker. A scholar and skilled craftsman, he moved to the Netherlands at 19 after his apprenticeship to further hone his watchmaking skills. Two years later, he returned with excellent German language skills and established himself at age 25 as a respected watchmaker on the Strand in London. Later, joined by his son John Roger, he laid the foundations for modern and precise timekeeping.
A significant historical moment that established John Arnold’s prominence was the gift to King George III of the smallest repeating watch ever made. He quickly gained a vast and wealthy clientele. Considered one of the most ingenious and imaginative watchmakers of the 18th century, he also held several patents for a detent escapement, a bimetallic balance, and a helical hairspring. Arnold No. 36 was John Arnold’s first notable success in precision chronometry. It was praised in Greenwich and appreciated by the British for its accuracy, becoming the first watch to bear the name chronometer, a term used for an unusually precise watch.
The golden age of maritime exploration and discovery propelled accuracy to a new technical ideal: determining longitude at sea. Astronomy and chronometry were integral to John Arnold’s (1736-1799) work. These dimensions—astronomy, chronometry, and universal time—reflecting Arnold’s inventions and concerns, are embodied today in Arnold & Son’s contemporary watches. Since the brand’s relaunch in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1995, it continues the same pioneering spirit, regularly unveiling highly complicated calibers. Its best-sellers include the Arnold & Son Time Pyramid, Arnold & Son Nebula, Arnold & Son Globe Trotter, and numerous grand complications.
Pascal Béchu, currently the General Manager of Arnold & Son and Angelus, has previously worked with brands like Tag Heuer, Ebel, and Harry Winston before joining sister brands Angelus and Arnold & Son as Vice President of Sales. He shares his knowledge of both the technical and aesthetic aspects of haute horlogerie, helping shape the numerous collections he works on. His extensive experience provides a unique perspective that combines tradition and innovation, the two pillars of watchmaking at Arnold & Son and Angelus. His main mission at Arnold & Son is to highlight the technical and aesthetic heritage of this venerable English watchmaker.
To understand the origin of the Arnold & Son Constant Force Tourbillon 11 watch, we must return to watchmaking history, to an era that marked the genesis of the quest for precision. The story of this limited edition of 11 pieces begins in the 1780s when Abraham-Louis Breguet traveled to London and met the greatest chronometer maker of his time, John Arnold. This pivotal moment began a lifelong friendship between the two men, so profound that they later exchanged their sons as apprentices. This relationship and mutual admiration inspired Breguet to offer a chronometer made by John Arnold around 1774. Later, after perfecting and patenting his latest mechanism under the name “tourbillon,” Breguet modified it to include his invention. After John Arnold’s death, Breguet offered the reworked piece to his son John Roger. It is now part of the prestigious British Museum collection, accompanied by an original silver plate engraved and screwed onto its plate: “Breguet’s first tourbillon regulator incorporated into one of Arnold’s first works. Breguet’s homage to Arnold’s revered memory. Given to his son in 1808.” Now, let’s move on to the presentation of the Arnold & Son Constant Force Tourbillon 11.
Table of Contents – Arnold & Son Constant Force Tourbillon 11
What are the features of the Arnold & Son Constant Force Tourbillon 11?
Case
The Arnold & Son Constant Force Tourbillon 11 features a magnificent 18-carat yellow gold case water-resistant up to 3 bars. Meticulously polished to reveal a deep, warm hue, this case stays true to watchmaking traditions. Indeed, the yellow tone of the precious metal was chosen because it was commonly used during John Arnold’s era for prestigious pocket watches.
On the front side, a thin bezel frames a slightly domed sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective treatment. On the back side, an open yellow gold caseback houses the same sapphire crystal, revealing the manually wound in-house caliber A&S5219. Measuring 41.5 mm in diameter and 13.7 mm thick, it has a basin-shaped middle case that refines its profile. With rather short lugs, the watch fits comfortably, displaying balanced proportions and an elegant wrist presence.
Dial
The Arnold & Son Constant Force Tourbillon 11 is adorned with an immaculate white Grand Feu enamel dial, inspired by marine chronometer dials that John Arnold provided to British naval officers. The white enamel is achieved by melting powdered materials in a furnace heated to just over 800°C. After several firings to achieve the necessary thickness, the surface is polished smooth and uniform. If no fractures or imperfections occur during these operations, a translucent enamel is applied in a final firing, providing depth and transparency that highlights the magical quality of this enamel, whose hue remains unaltered, hence the name “Grand Feu.”
Arnold & Son opted for a concave, inclined sub-dial made from white opal for better readability. It features black transferred Roman numerals and tiny blued open-tipped hands. Another visible element on the dial side, held by an 18-carat yellow gold bridge, is the constant force mechanism equipped with a deadbeat second also inspired by marine chronometers, its flame-blued anchor tip confirming the historical link.
Movement
The Arnold & Son Constant Force Tourbillon 11 houses the manually wound A&S5219 caliber, specifically designed for this watch. This constant-force mechanical movement relies on two barrels mounted in series and a Swiss lever escapement ensuring a 100-hour power reserve. These barrels alternately activate the mechanism, the second engaging when the first barrel’s torque falls below its optimal performance.
Arnold & Son’s true masterstroke is integrating the constant force mechanism, visible on the dial side, while the tourbillon regulator is displayed on the back—both nods to marine chronometers that marked watchmaking history. This patented constant-force system ensures consistent torque to the regulating elements, eliminating errors caused by barrel instability, replacing the original fusée-chain system with a system ensuring isochronism.
Echoing John Arnold’s commitment to accessible chronometry and Breguet’s innovations in regulating systems, this movement embodies their shared philosophy in both poetic and demanding form. The flame-blued anchor marking the deadbeat seconds is a subtle, functional, and symbolic tribute to their contributions to horological science. The tourbillon cage itself is inspired by Breguet’s first regulator, based on Arnold’s marine chronometer No. 11.
The sapphire caseback allows appreciation of the movement’s exquisite finishing: graining and polished angles on the 18-carat gold plate replicate Arnold’s favored details. Remarkably refined, the one-minute tourbillon retains Breguet’s cage design and uniquely integrates a T-shaped retaining spring inspired by the historical Breguet “pare-chute” shock absorber system.
Finally, a poignant new engraving marks the final chapter of these legendary Masters’ story: “In revered memory of John Arnold and Abraham-Louis Breguet. Friends in their time, legendary watchmakers forever.” It reminds us that fine watchmaking narrates a timeless story.
Strap
The Arnold & Son Constant Force Tourbillon 11 includes a navy-blue alligator strap secured with a classic 18-carat yellow gold pin buckle signed Arnold & Son.
What is the price of the Arnold & Son Constant Force Tourbillon 11?
This exclusive model, limited to 11 pieces, retails for CHF 129,800 (excluding VAT).
Arnold & Son Constant Force Tourbillon 11: Perfect harmony between beauty and precision
The Arnold & Son Constant Force Tourbillon 11 is, in my opinion, a timepiece that perfectly combines horological heritage with the technical mastery of haute horlogerie. The design of this watch is both classic and contemporary, with clean lines and a yellow gold bridge that beautifully showcases the movement.
With an impressive power reserve, a constant force mechanism, and a tourbillon, this model—produced in only 11 pieces—is destined to become iconic. It will stand the test of time, much like the legacy of the two horological masters who inspired it: John Arnold and Abraham-Louis Breguet.
I’d like to thank Dimitra Fréchelin Darmanger, who gave me the opportunity to discover this watch, which I found to be both pure, harmonious, and refined. That said, why not pair it with a brown beaver-tail strap instead of the blue alligator leather one? The latter feels a bit too formal and somber for a watch limited to just 11 pieces.
Arnold & Son Constant Force Tourbillon 11 – Watch Specifications
- Brand: Arnold & Son
- Model: Constant Force Tourbillon 11
- Case Material: 18-Carat Yellow Gold (3N)
- Reference: 1FCBJ.E01A.C246J
- Dial: White Grand Feu Enamel and White Opal for the Hours Dial
- Functions: Hours, Minutes, True-beat Seconds
- Movement: A&S5219, In-House Mouvement, Manual-Winding, 21’600vph frequency (3Hz), 35 jewels
- Power Reserve: 100 Hours
- Water Resistance: 3 ATM
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Caseback: Sapphire
- Case Dimension: 41.5 mm (Diameter) × 13.7 mm (Thickness)
- Strap: Midnight Blue Alligator Leather with 18-Carat Yellow Gold (3N) Pin Buckle
- Availability : Limited Edition of 11 Pieces
- Retail Price: CHF 129,800 (excluding VAT)
What do you think of this watch celebrating the friendship between two horological legends? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
For more information about Arnold & Son, click here.
