Jura Watches Welcomes Arnold & Son Watches

Arnold & Son – a manufacturer that perpetuates contemporary craftsmanship whilst paying homage to its English roots – joins Jura Watches. Sharing our passion for 18th-century watchmaking, it joins our exemplary range of prestigious watch brands, distilling the essence of La Chaux de Fonds craftsmanship within each timepiece.

Swiss watchmaking with an English backbone…

Arnold & Son is a company that pays homage to the horological innovations of an 18th-century watchmaker, John Arnold. The English brand has created some of the industry’s most complex-looking mechanical timepieces, including tourbillons, minute repeaters and chronographs with skeletonised dials. That said, there are a plethora of dress watch styles to be admired amongst this catalogue of exquisite timepieces – many of which catch the eye for their meticulous detail and layered dials.

Arnold & Son watches date back to 1755 when a watchmaker, John Arnold decided to pursue his passion for precise timekeeping by venturing to Germany from the UK to study the art of watchmaking in more detail. When he returned, he had built a reputation for himself as a reliable and prestigious watchmaker. In 1764 John Arnold presented King George III with the smallest repeating watch in the world. In 1771 he created his first marine chronometer which travelled to Madagascar with Admiral Sir Robert Hartland of the Royal Navy. Following this, John Arnold created another chronometer for James Cook, which he took with him on his voyage of discovery where he explored the Pacific in 1772.

John Arnold’s thorough research and work focusing on the accuracy of the chronometer has earned it a currency that is now used today to describe watches that are tested and certified to meet specific precision standards. Having retired in 1796, John Arnold’s son took over the company, having previously worked alongside the likes of Abraham Louis Breguet. One again, the company fell into the hands of his own son, Charles Frodsham after his that, but then lay dormant until 1995.

What makes Arnold & Son watches so special?

Today Arnold and Son is owned by the Manufacture La Joux-Perret – an independent mechanical movement manufacturer. The luxury wristwatches made by Arnold & Son not only underscore the brand’s British heritage but also unite these values with Swiss traditions in Haute Horlogerie. The manufacturer now resides in La Chaux de Fonds and shares its name with one of the world’s very few watchmakers to have gained legendary status within the luxury watch industry.

One factor that keeps Arnold & Son at the forefront of innovation is its ability to evolve and move forward with cutting edge technology, keeping designs fresh on the wrists and within the collections of avid enthusiasts. Not only do these watches pay homage to John Arnold the founder, but they serve as accurate tools for diving. Its marine chronometer from the 18th century won many awards and since then the brand has developed several patents including a compensation balance featuring a bimetallic balance spiral and a helical balance spring with terminal curves.

Arnold & Son can lay claim to fine watchmaking complications like the true seconds function. Also known as the “dead beats seconds”, this function recalls the escapement used in pendulum clocks which mark out the seconds and dual time zones of original maritime watches. In addition to this, the company’s exquisitely decorated moon phase displays boast unusually large moons sculpted from gold. The power reserve indicators seen on the dials of Arnold & Son watches echo marine chronometers promising unbeatable autonomy. All these features make an Arnold & Son watch so unique in appearance and performance. Over 20 patents by Arnold & Son now belong to the company’s catalogue – each one having been conceived, machined, designed and developed by its sister partner, La Joux-Perret.

Who will Arnold & Son watches appeal to?

Arnold & Son watches will resonate with collectors who can appreciate three-dimensional architecture. Each timepiece communicates a strong sense of depth, with layered dial components delivered in late 18th-century style. George V-style bridges, cantilever balance cocks and masterfully crafted guilloche dials are evident throughout the brand’s collections. Suffice to say, these timepieces are both capable of delivering unwavering accuracy but are also works of art, with open-worked components put on full show against the dials of some of the company’s grande complication calibres. Of course, every Arnold & Son watch delivers on that all-important exclusivity factor. Each collection launched by the manufacturer is developed in a limited series, adding to the desirability of each design.

Popular Arnold & Son watches

Arnold & Son has an exemplary portfolio of independently designed calibres that range from the simple A&S1001 Small Seconds calibre to the more complex A&S1615 Double Power Reserve, A&S1309 Dual Time and A&S1512 Precision Moon phases engines. These movements are fine-tuned into the hearts of wristwatches from the many Arnold & Son watch collections. Some popular models offered at Jura Watches include the brand’s famous Eight Day watches, the Grand Complications and the Metiers D’Art timepieces. The brand’s complete catalogue is full and varied. To help simplify these and to demonstrate the breadth of style offered by the manufacturer, we’ve listed some of the most popular collections.

The Globetrotter

Those that travel frequently will find the Arnold & Son Globetrotter watch to be a reliable, comfortable and stylish companion. The timepiece features a world time display surrounded by a 24-hour scale crafted from sapphire, fixed to the same bridge that holds the northern hemisphere. The Arnold & Son Globetrotter, despite its unusual appearance, is easy to adjust with a three-position crown system, which winds the movement, corrects the local time and sets the hours, minutes and world time feature.

The Nebula 

The Arnold & Son Nebula watch collection is home to watches that boast classically styled bridges mounted radially around the movement. This engine is put on show through the dial side, complete with fine decorative finishes positioned behind a minutes chapter ring. The Nebula is characterised by slender hands and well-positioned hour markers.

The Metiers D’Art 

The company’s Metiers D’Art watches are finished by the hands of master engravers and artisans who bring each timepiece to life by a special, artistically-crafted dial. In these designs, the main timekeeping dials are often mounted off-centre, whilst the special enamelling, painting and sculpting of an image are set against a dark dial background.

The Grand Complications 

The Arnold & Son Grand Complications watch collection is, as one would expect, full of beautifully complex timepieces that expose tourbillons thorough the dial side and offer sub-counters for features like the main hours and minutes, along with an additional time zone separately. The choice to complete these models on authentic leather straps gives each timepiece from this collection a truly classic feel for pairing with sophisticate, elegant or business attire.

The Time Pyramid 

Arnold & Son Time Pyramid watches feature a movement that is heavily bottom weighted. The tourbillon takes position at the top of the pyramid structure and the entire movement is built on three levels. These timepieces boast a rhodium-plated ring for the minutes and two power reserve indicators superposed by sapphire crystal for representing the hours, with glimpses of the movement adding both a visual and technical finish to the design. 

Without being ostentatious, Arnold & Son watches attract attention. With a level of meticulous attention to detail carried out in each design, no two timepieces from the company’s catalogue look the same. For this reason, the manufacturer can continue releasing new expressions of horological mastery without losing clientele. Whether new to the world of Arnold & Son watches or experienced, these timepieces remain an interesting talking point on the wrist. New bold and dynamic designs keep collectors coming back for more, while those new to the brand will, no doubt, find it difficult to choose which timepiece will be their first to invest in.