February 10, 2024, marks the start of the year of the Wooden Dragon in the Chinese calendar. To commemorate the occasion, Arnold & Son have launched two limited editions: the Perpetual Moon Red Gold “Year of the Dragon” and Luna Magna Red Gold “Year of the Dragon.”
LUNA MAGNA RED GOLD “YEAR OF THE DRAGON”
A red golden dragon and a two-tone moon form the three-dimensional focus of this addition to the Luna Magna collection. This model is available in two versions: pietersite or onyx. Both are limited to just eight pieces. The large dial on which the dragon rests is in fact a wide disc in either pietersite or onyx, and the same stone also forms part of the three-dimensional two-tone moon. Pietersite is a blue stone with veining, while onyx is smooth, glossy and black.
The other part of the two-tone moon is in the same red gold as the dragon. The off-centre dial showing the hours and minutes is in white opal. Sculpted from red gold, just like the case that encloses it, the dragon is hand-engraved, transforming the watch into an objet d’art.
The powerful body of the mythical creature coils around the dial, with its head reflected in the large moon. Featuring scales, claws, whiskers and horns, this Asian-style dragon turns its full attention to the three-dimensional globe that shows the phases of the moon.
The sphere has a double meaning here. It stands both for the moon, the cycles of which direct the Chinese calendar, and for the pearl of wisdom that, according to legend, is inseparable from the dragon, who ceaselessly attempts to catch it. The lining of the straps is crafted from red alligator leather.
The watch is powered by the in-house A&S1021 calibre. Designed around the lunar globe, this manually wound calibre has a regulating organ oscillating at a frequency of 3 Hz and offers 90 hours of power reserve. On the case back, the movement provides a secondary display of the moon’s age, with very legible graduations that allow precise adjustment of the lunar globe.
The sophistication of this celestial mechanism is evident in its astronomical accuracy. The total duration of a lunar cycle is 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, and 2.8 seconds. Arnold & Son has approached this so closely that it would take 122 years to build up a 24-hour discrepancy between the display and astronomical reality. The disparity would be easy to correct since the moon function is accessible directly via the crown.
PERPETUAL MOON 41.5 RED GOLD “YEAR OF THE DRAGON”
Part of the Perpetual Moon collection, this model’s dial forms the canvas for a nocturnal garden setting illuminated by a large, panoramic moon. In the foreground is an oriental flying dragon sculpted in rose gold. The model is also offered in two versions: the dial is either black or blue aventurine – which is glass sparkling with metallic powder to give it an appealing glitter. Both versions are limited to eight pieces.
The dragon, positioned with its profile against the aventurine glass, is a delicate hand-crafted sculpture featuring details such as feet, dissuasive claws, open maw, and whiskers flowing in the wind. The large, mother-of-pearl moon, depicted realistically with hand-painted shadows, is overlaid with Super-LumiNova.
It is placed against an aventurine glass sky and surrounded by the constellations of the Great Bear and Cassiopeia, which are also hand-painted and overlaid with luminescent material. The choice of these star patterns is a direct allusion to the history of marine chronometer-maker John Arnold. In the middle distance lies the pole star, indicating north.
On the case back, a secondary display of the phases of the moon allows fast and accurate adjustment of the moon age. The manually wound in-house A&S1512 calibre that powers the watch can track the phases of the moon with exceptional accuracy. It takes 122 years for this movement, if constantly wound up, to accumulate a 24-hour discrepancy between the display and astronomical reality. This calibre uses a double barrel with an oscillation frequency of 3 Hz, giving a 90-hour power reserve.
The Arnold & Son Perpetual Moon 41.5 Red Gold “Year of the Dragon” and “Luna Magna Red Gold “Year of the Dragon,” are as much miniature works of art as they are timepieces. Since both are issued in two colourways – blue and black – with each colourway limited to just eight pieces each, a total of only 32 of these magnificent dragon-inspired timepieces will be available for collectors worldwide.
