New York (November 15, 2022) – Swiss watchmaker Arnold & Son today reveals two new golden variations of its skeletonized Nebula timepiece. Redesigned with a movement whose finishes are more advanced than ever, the Nebula collection continues its expansion with two new Nebula 41.5 and Nebula 38 Gold Supernova models and a fresh color combination of grey NAC and 5N red gold.
Since its creation, Nebula has been a star. Its stellar mechanism, the A&S5201 caliber, is the gravitational force of this collection, endowing it with unique appearance, identity, and strength. Like radiant stars, the Nebula further illuminate Arnold & Son’s watchmaking skill, attention to detail, and powerful designs. Created in two case dimensions, the new combination of grey NAC and 5N red gold serves to further highlight the striking structure of their skeletonized caliber.
VOLUME
The Nebula case is available in two diameters – 41.5 mm or 38 mm – and is remarkably slim, measuring just 8.73 mm thick. It is crafted from a block of 5N red gold for a limited edition of 88 pieces.
RELIEF
Arranged in a star around the edge of the caliber, the open-worked, chamfered and satin-finished bridges create the impression of a watchmaking explosion, as well as a sense of rhythm and control. Positioned at regular intervals, these bridges are identical in shape but differ in size and reflect the aesthetic heritage of John Arnold’s chronometers. They also illustrate Arnold & Son’s ‘Manufacture’ expertise.
LEVELS
In space, light never exists alone, but coexists with darkness. A watch inspired by the stars, Nebula thus naturally plays with chiaroscuro. It combines contrasting shades of gold and anthracite grey. The grey is created by a NAC treatment – a galvanic bath fed with metals close to platinum. When applied to the skeletonized main plate, the barrels, and the flange, Nebula highlights the relief of its A&S5201 movement. Its construction is clearly legible on various levels, with the bridges in the foreground, the gear train and barrels on the second level, and the main plate behind them.
GRAPHICS
Viewed from the back, the A&S5201 caliber takes on another dimension. Two large arcs, also treated with NAC, intersect to reveal a second graphic structure, that of the main plate. Highly openworked, it, too, is chamfered and its surface is covered with a signature Arnold & Son pattern known as ‘Rayons de la Gloire’.
MASTERY
Like all the movements used by Arnold & Son, the A&S5201 caliber has been entirely developed, manufactured, decorated, assembled, adjusted, and finished at the Manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds. This caliber draws on a pair of large barrels and an oscillating frequency of 3 Hz, which delivers a 90-hour power reserve.
In addition, its depth of 4.18 mm is exceptional for a skeletonized movement, as these types of calibers usually retain a certain thickness in order to compensate for their openworked designs, which typically weaken their structures. Despite this, Arnold & Son’s long Manufacture experience has made it possible to imbue the Nebula’s mechanical latticework with extraordinary finesse.
About Arnold & Son
Named after John Arnold, English watchmaker of the 18th century renowned for his ingenuity and work on marine chronometers, Arnold & Son perpetuates today his legacy, exploring contemporary ways to interpret traditional watch craftsmanship. From its Manufacture based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, cradle of the Swiss watchmaking industry, Arnold & Son develops its timepieces in-house including its complicated calibers.
The House established iconic collections such as the Time Pyramid with its unique architecture, the Nebula featuring a fully skeletonized movement, the Perpetual Moon and the Luna Magna displaying among the most spectacular moon phases on the market or the Globetrotter, impressive three-dimensional worldtimer. The twenty plus calibers presented to date by Arnold & Son have all been conceived, designed, developed, machined, decorated, assembled, and adjusted by its sister Manufacture, La Joux-Perret. This independence and creativity demonstrate the House’s ability to perpetuate John Arnold’s exceptional inventions.
For more information, visit arnoldandson.com
About Swiss Institute:
Swiss Institute (SI) is an independent non-profit space for international contemporary art. Open to all and always free of charge, its innovative exhibitions, education workshops, and public programs make SI one of New York City’s pioneering venues for art since 1986. As a fully independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization primarily funded through private support, philanthropy is essential in implementing SI’s mission.
For more information, visit www.timeforart.ch and www.swissinstitute.net
