Arnold & Son unveils the DSTB (Dial Side True Beat) 42 watch in platinum and red gold
Thursday - 31 August 2023
Arnold & Son revisits an important period in its history, with a design based upon the marine chronometers it supplied to the Royal Navy. A red gold version of the DSTB 42 watch is limited to 88 pieces, whilst the platinum version is exclusive to just 38 pieces worldwide. Either way, they both perfectly capture the brand’s historic attachment to superbly crafted marine chronometers.
The new DSTB 42 watch from Arnold & Son is quite the spectacle. The model, like many Arnold & Son watches, perpetuates the history of the brand and its close relationship with expertly developed marine chronometers. At the same time, it explores contemporary ways to interpret this traditional form of craftsmanship with its newly revised and improved case and movement that are testament to the constantly evolving brand that sits before us – a manufacturer who stops at nothing to distil the art and essence of a craft that has been bringing joy to enthusiasts for centuries.
Of course, skeletonised watches come as second nature to Arnold & Son. Just take look at its Nebula watch series. But what continues to keep luxury watch collectors enthralled is the way in which the company continues to reinterpret these instruments, offering a little something new each time. The Arnold & Son DSTB 42 watch, for example, is characteristic of the marine chronometers supplied to the Royal Navy by the company. The escapement of those original marine chronometers used to beat at one oscillation per second. This element of the dial was indicated by a sweep seconds hand. Today, the main feature of the watches that follow in its footsteps bear the mechanism in full through their dial side as a key feature – the DSTB standing for “Dial Side True Beat”.
What makes the new Arnold & Son DSTB 42 watch particularly interesting is the way in which it manages to display the mechanism through the dial. Its three openworked and finely chamfered gold bridges are also three dimensional and have been carefully crafted from red or white gold depending on the model chosen. In turn, this arrangement creates a unique appearance and an additional level to the Calibre. The True Beat seconds mechanism fills out the entire dial space, stretching out to the inside of the bezel, which is crafted from a choice of either 950 platinum or 18ct red gold.
Both of the two new Arnold & Son DSTB 42 watches measure a 42mm in diameter. This differs to the original 44mm model offered by Arnold & Son, which measures 44mm. It also sits at a slighter depth of 5.54mm as opposed to 7.40mm, creating a sleeker and more discreet fit for the wrist. In addition to the newly designed case, Arnold & Son also equips this watch with the exclusively manufactured Calibre A&S6203, which provides an improved power reserve of 55 hours compared to the 45 hours delivered by the DSTB’s former movement. The movement has also been completely assembled and adjusted at Arnold & Son’s Manufacture and boasts a stunning 22 carat gold rotor, as well as performing at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour.
The new Arnold & Son DSTB 42, whether chosen in red gold or platinum, displays the hours of the day in an off-centre scale between the hours of 3 and 6 o’clock in a white opaline colour. An anchor-shaped counterpoise is also reminiscent of marine chronometers. In the design of the Arnold & Son DSTB 42 Red Gold watch, a high copper content gives its appearance a sense of indulgence and richness. These golden tones are paired with a blue PVD treated dial. Alternatively, the platinum version features a rose gold PVD treated dial that the company refers to as “Salmon”. Both dials are sunray brushed before being tinted. Other features of the dial include a palladium finished mainplate, circular satin-finished wheels, blued and chamfered screws, and Cotes de Geneve striped finishes.
A domed sapphire crystal glass front and a sapphire caseback seals both sides of the watch, protecting the dial and the components of the movement from damage, whilst also upholding the watch’s 30-meter water resistance. To complete the luxurious look of the new Arnold & Son DSTB 42 watches, a blue hand-stitched alligator leather strap wraps around the wrist with a 950 platinum or 18ct red gold pin buckle.
If you would like to learn more about the new platinum and red gold Arnold & Son DSTB 42 watches, you can call and speak to a member of our Jura Watches sales team today on 01335 453453.
