ARNOLD & SON

Watchmaker and inventor John Arnold (1736-1799), who gave us the modern definition of the term “chronometer,” was English, not Swiss, but his remarkable horological innovations in the 18th century live on today in the company that bears his name, based in the Swiss watch hub of La Chaux-de-Fonds and owned by Japan’s Citizen Group. Arnold & Son makes high-end mechanical watches, all with in-house-made, highly decorated movements, whose designs hearken to the marine chronometers that John Arnold made for the British navy. Among the maison’s notable pieces are the Time Pyramid Tourbillon, with a three-level, openworked linear-oriented movement that features a 12 o’clock tourbillon and dual power reserve indicators; the Globetrotter, an inventively designed world-time watch with a miniature-painted 3D globe that rotates under a suspended bridge over the dial to display multiple time zones simultaneously; and the Luna Magna, introduced in 2021, which boasts the largest 3D moon-phase ever used in a wristwatch.

Founded: 1764 (original), 1995 (modern)

Headquarters: La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland

Ownership: La Joux-Perret, under Citizen Group

Notable models: Time Pyramid, Globetrotter, Luna Magna

Did you know: John Arnold, considered one of the inventors of the modern mechanical watch along with Abraham-Louis Breguet, was the inventor of the overcoll balance spring, which is still found in watches today

History of Arnold & Son

After completing his watchmaking apprenticeship in 1755, John Arnold left England for Holland to sharpen his watchmaking skills. Upon his return two years later, he spoke fluent German, which would serve him well in the future. By his mid-twenties, he had established his reputation as a watchmaker in London.

By 1764, John Arnold earned an audience with King George III by presenting him with a ring, featuring a half-quarter repeater. The King loved the piece and presented Arnold with 500 guineas. It is said that the Emporer of Russia offered him 1000 guineas to duplicate it, but he refused.

In 1771 Arnold presented a marine chronometer to the Board of Longitude that he could produce for only 60 guineas. They swiftly awarded him £200, the first of several grants he received over the years. Arnold’s first chronometer traveled to Madagascar with Admiral Sir Robert Harland of the Royal Navy. A John Arnold Marine Chronometer No. 3 accompanied James Cook on his second voyage of discovery to the Pacific in 1772.