Arnold & Son continues to reflect on its most iconic and classic collections. Time Pyramid, with its unique appearance and structure, has been elegantly revisited.
With a fully redesigned case in a new diameter of 42.5 mm, a blue aventurine glass case back and a white opal minutes circle, the Time Pyramid collection is also brought to life through materials, available now in Red gold (5N) and platinum (PT950).
Inspired by the creations of John Arnold and his British peers, the Time Pyramid revives a clock shape that was fashionable in the 1830s. By arranging the movement’s organs from top to bottom instead of in a circle, Arnold & Son goes beyond the chronometric horizon to achieve an unparalleled feat of design.
Devoid of a full-sized dial, this wristwatch reveals a skeletonised movement in the shape of a pyramid. Alternatively, it can be seen as taking the form of an anchor, recalling the Arnold & Son logo and making direct reference to John Arnold’s title as watchmaker for the Royal Navy.
In the new case, with a diameter of 42.5 mm, a thickness of 10.72 mm, and in a choice of either red gold or platinum, the distinct features of Time Pyramid’s movement stand out. Its crown at 6 o’clock remains unique in the world of watchmaking, as does its baroque approach to symmetry.
The expression ‘open-air’ applies literally here, as the glass used for the case-back offers yet another new interpretation by Arnold & Son. Neither transparent nor opaque, it is composed of an extremely thin disc of aventurine glass in what constitutes a first for this iconic material.
Constellated with copper inclusions, aventurine glass originated in the region of Venice, which is renowned for its glass-making culture. It is said to have been discovered by accident when a workman dropped some copper filings into a vat of molten glass. Once cooled and cut, the dazzling a l’avventura glass revealed a myriad of sparkles.
The movement driving Time Pyramid is displayed for all to see. The case’s wide opening and slender bezel showcase the movement’s mechanical arrangement, while the screw balance sits majestically at 12 o’clock. Below, the gear train highlights an array of finishes that include hand chamfering, satin-finished and sunray-brushed wheels, snailed barrels and blued screws. The calibre’s structure then splits in two beneath a ring in white opal – the signature stone of Arnold & Son’s off-centred dials.
On either side of the encircled dial, two power-reserve indicators mirror one other, indicating the same information and reflecting the two barrels that power the calibre A&S1615 just a few millimetres below the surface. Fully developed, machined, assembled and adjusted at the Manufacture, it can operate for 90 hours without rewinding.
Technical Specifications:
Time Pyramid 42.5 Red Gold & Time Pyramid 42.5 Platinum
Functions hours, minutes, seconds, double power reserve
Movement:
Calibre – A&S1615 with manual winding
Jewels – 27
Diameter – 37.60 mm
Thickness – 4.40 mm
Power reserve – 90 hours
Frequency – 3 Hz/21,600 vph
Finishes mainplate: NAC-treated, satin-finished
bridges: NAC-treated, hand-chamfered, vertical Côtes de Genève stripes
wheels: gold-plated, circular satin-finish
screws: blued and chamfered, mirror-polished heads
Hours dial white opal
Case
Material – 18-carat (5N) red gold or platinum (PT 950)
Diameter – 42.5 mm
Thickness – 10.72 mm (with crystal)
Crystal – domed sapphire with an anti-reflective coating on both sides
Case back – blue aventurine glass lined with a sapphire crystal, anti-reflective coating
Water resistance – 3 bar (30 metres/100 feet)
Strap
Material – blue alligator leather, black calfskin lining, hand-stitched
Buckle – pin buckle, 18-carat (5N) red gold or platinum (PT 950)
References – red gold: 1TPER.W01A.C153A; platinum: 1TPEX.W01A.C153X
Limited edition – red gold: 88 timepieces; platinum: 38 timepieces
Swiss retail price – red gold: CHF 43,000 incl. tax (subject to change); platinum: CHF 54,900 incl. tax (subject to change)
For more information please visit Arnold & Son