In the watchmaking language of Arnold & Son, the double tourbillon is a rare construction, making the eponymous collection a vehicle for unique pieces. Double Tourbillon White Gold draws on the richness of the natural materials that Arnold & Son explores with method and originality. After imperial jade, malachite and Baltic amber, Arnold & Son presents charoite.
In terms of pure watchmaking, Double Tourbillon draws on the Manufacture’s design, production, finishing and adjustment capabilities. Its sapphire crystal is convex to accommodate the depth of its two tourbillons, which are in turn each secured to a three-dimensional, skeletonised, cantilevered bridge in white gold. They are also at the end of a double gear train. The A&S8513 calibre is thus equipped with two barrels, two crowns and two time zones.
They can display the same time, two different times, or one can tell the time while the other is timing a long event. Unlike the majority of so-called travel watches, Double Tourbillon can thus adapt to time zones that are offset by 15, 30 or 45 minutes
Parma violet, mauve, lavender, lilac… There are many words to describe the shifting colour of charoite. Like lapis lazuli, it is the product of a rich and textured coalition of different minerals. In fact, it is one of the most complex stones ever formed by the Earth’s crust since its chemical formula is a silicate containing traces of aluminium, iron, manganese, barium and strontium.
Charoite is made up of an interweaving of complex textures. It was in these strata that Arnold & Son sought the surface for the dial of Double Tourbillon White Gold, finely cutting the stone without breaking it, opening up two large spaces for the subdials and tourbillon carriages, and polishing it to reveal a mauve peppered with white
