Arnold & Son adds detailing to its Ultra-Thin Tourbillon Escapement
Two new references of Arnold & Son’s distinctive (Ultra-Thin Tourbillon Escapement) UTTE are unveiled with a sleek and elegant 18-carat solid gold handmade guillochédial
A product of Arnold & Son’s skillful Swiss watchmaking expertise and superb engineering, the new UTTE never fails to impress the world’s watch aficionados. Resulting from several years of research and development, the UTTE line delivers what sets it apart from the rest: It is ultra-light in weight, possesses a large three-dimensional tourbillon cage and harboursan extensive power reserve.
This year, Arnold & Son welcomes new members to the UTTE collection by unveiling two new models: The Guilloché I and The GuillochéII. Unique to the new timepieces is the intricate 18-carat solid gold, silvery-white or silvery opaline hand-guillochédial. The art of guillochéis a timeless form of handcraft that uses a rose engine to etch exquisite patterns onto watch dials, thus channelling a truly elegant charm to the timepiece.
While remaining true to the original UTTE design aesthetic, each new model houses the renowned A&S8200 ultra-thin tourbillon manufacture movement that measures 32mm in diameter and merely 2.97mm in thickness. Once the movement is sealed inside the waterproof case, the total height measures 8.34mm, making the UTTE one of the thinnest tourbillon watches in the world.
Adding to the timepiece’s visual appeal is the easily identified spherical tourbillon that occupies almost half of the movement space in the lower part of the watch. The tourbillon cage measures an impressive 14mm in diameter with a breath-taking three-dimensional aesthetic effect. The one-minute flying tourbillon of the UTTE is not set into the actual calibre, but instead rises above the movement, through the dial, and reaches the same height as the hour and minute hands that are positioned near the midday Roman numeral marker. Moreover, the watch has no visible screws so the spherical tourbillon cage appears rightfully balanced.
In addition, the timepieces have a unique hand-engraved tourbillon bridge that is created by Arnold & Son’s master engraver. The watch movement boasts circular satin-finished wheels with hand-chamfered polished edges, and blued screws complete with beveled, mirror-polished heads.
Arnold & Son ensures that the UTTE power reserve is sufficient enough to last 90 hours before the watch requires gearing up again. As a bonus two barrels have been incorporated to offer constant force, allowing the watch to maintain energy levels should one barrel lose power.
The overall sophisticated look comes from the 18-carat red gold case that measures 42mm in diameter and holds together the cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides, which protects the watch from accidental damage. For those who appreciate detail, the movement can be admired from a see-through sapphire case back. If preferred, the timepieces are available with a diamond-set bezel. With only twenty eight pieces on offer, the guillochéreferences are the limited editions a connoisseur must have and each watch is pleasantly completed with a hand-stitched brown or black alligator leather strap.
