Arnold & Son, a benchmark in classic fine watchmaking, is exploring uncharted territory on the map of horology. The Longitude Titanium is a sports-chic COSC-certified chronometer with a 42.5 mm titanium case
Longitude Titanium
Longitude presents a titanium case whose curves and profile are directly inspired by the design of contemporary sailing boats. The case middle is taut like a ship’s waterline, while the case back is basin-shaped like a keel. The base of the bezel – the ship’s rail – is graduated with 60 notches, echoing the fluted ring of John Arnold’s marine chronometers. The finishes – polished on the flanks and satin-finished on the flat surfaces – continue this high-sea influence. The crown, protected by a shoulder, is screwed down to guarantee water-resistance to 100 metres. The watch is fitted with an integrated titanium bracelet, complemented by an interchangeable system, and comes with an additional rubber strap.
The satin-finished, polished, and luminescent hour-markers recall the shape of the bracelet links. The watch features a mirror-polished power-reserve indicator shown by cut-outs in the dial at 12 o’clock, the hour and minute hands in the centre, and the imposing small seconds at 6 o’clock. This layout was also chosen for its ties to John Arnold’s marine chronometers. The first edition, limited to 88 timepieces, is adorned with a sandy golden shade called ‘Kingsand’ in reference to the eponymous beach, which is one of the county’s hidden jewels. The second version sports an ocean blue, while the third and final series is a fern green. At the heart of Longitude Titanium beats the new COSC-certified A&S6302 calibre. The shape of its oscillating weight is reminiscent of the prow of an 18th-century English frigate cleaving through the water and is carved from a single block of 22-carat gold. Its felloe is engraved with graduations similar to those on a sextant. Like all its movements, the A&S6302 was entirely developed and produced at the Manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds and features a large barrel with an oscillation frequency of 4 Hz, providing a 60-hour power reserve.
