Meet Arnold & Son’s Two New UTTE Watches for 2022
Tuesday - 03 January 2023
Two new UTTE watches have been released by Arnold & Son in 2022. A deep green Ultra-Thin Tourbillon Escapement watch and an entrancing blue speckled dial option – both designed in the traditional marine chronometer way with an off-centre hour and minute dial and a tourbillon exhibition feature on the dial side. Meet the new Arnold & Son UTTE watches in rose gold and platinum – each one limited to just 30 pieces worldwide.
The UTTE watch from Arnold & Son stands for “Ultra Thin Tourbillon Escapement”. Since the first model was released back in 2013, it has always been a thing of beauty. Models have been released in different variations over the years - including the skeletonised version – each one evincing its own character. The Arnold & Son UTTE has plenty of character. The design is distinguishable for its off-centre hour and minute display located at the top of the dial and a cut-out circular open heart feature revealing a glimpse of the hand-wound Calibre A&S 8200 at work. The first 2013 Arnold & Son UTTE watch was powered by a movement that measured a 2.97mm thickness. Its case, therefore, measured a mere thickness of only 8.34mm. It made the UTTE one of the thinnest tourbillion watches on the market and a rather interesting investment piece for this very reason. This year, Arnold & Son has released two more versions to the collection. Both models have a dial that Arnold & Son calls “Cosmic Grene” – one in green, the other in blue.
The “Cosmic Grene” dial effect of the new Arnold & Son watches for 2022 resemble a shimmering star-studded effect thanks to a beautiful sparkling sandblasted surface with pockets of light that add depth and another layer of dimension to the entire design. The two new UTTE watches from Arnold & Son measure a diameter of 41.5mm and are offered in two different materials; a 5N rose gold version and a platinum version. Befitting their “Ultra-Thin” name is a slim case depth to enjoy of just 8.3mm thick, making the watch a pure delight to wear under the cuff of an elegant shirt by night or a professional business suit during the day. The case of each UTTE watch is 30-meter water-resistant and sealed with a sapphire crystal glass front and caseback. The surface of the sapphire crystal glass is also incredibly tough and scratch resistant and has been treated with anti-reflective technology to ensure you get a clear view of the dial whenever you need to read the time.
The offset display of the two new blue and green Arnold & Son watches in rose gold and platinum echo the arrangement on the face of the original marine chronometers developed by John Arnold. The regulating organ has been reworked and rearranged to deliver a noteworthy performance that is enriched by a visual spectacle from the front of the watch. The Calibre A&S8300 is the chosen engine for both models, measuring a diameter of 32mm and a height of 2.97mm. Some of its 29 jewels can be viewed from the back of the case and the movement produces a very useful power reserve of 100 hours along with a performance of 21,600 vibrations per hour. Both movements are slightly different in their finishes to ensure they complement the case and the style of their respective designs.
The movement is an updated version of the Calibre A&S 8200. The former 2016 rose gold UTTE model featured rhodium-treated elements with côtes de Genève rayonnantes and an engraved tourbillon bridge, whilst the platinum version featured the darker tones of NAC treatment. The côtes de Genève decoration was also presented in parallel stripes, gracing the bridges, including the tourbillon bridge with sans engraving. Now, the Calibre A&S8300 delivers a more balanced calibration thanks to a variable inertia balance. A redesigned tourbillon carriage also resembles a sextant and anchor. These subtle yet beautiful features, combined with a mesmerising dial, are what make the new Arnold & Son UTTE watches for 2022 feel so magical. All of the screws of the movement are blued and chamfered, whilst mirror-polished parts can be admired through the front and back of the case. Lastly, a new rear tourbillon bridge has been made from 3N yellow gold.
The unique sandblasted finish on the dial of each of these two new Arnold & Son UTTE watches is achieved by mixing gold powder with aluminium sparkles. An enticing mother-of-pearl backdrop is given to the off-centre main timekeeping dial, with a set of blued steel hour and minute hands that feature hollowed-out ends in an arrow shape. The Roman numeral hour marker within this sub-counter are crisp and black, lending to a very legible dial despite its size being much smaller than a conventional centralised timekeeping dial.
Both new Arnold & Son UTTE watches for 2022 are completed on traditional alligator leather straps that match their respective dial colours. The rich blue and deep green leather bands are executed with a contrasting hand-stitched finish along the edges and each model has been produced by Arnold & Son in a limited edition number of just 30 pieces each worldwide. If you’d like to own one, you can check both models out here, or call and speak to a member of our Jura watches sales team today on 01335 453453.
