Arnold & Son have pared back the Ultrathin Tourbillon Gold to its purest expression – its vast dial displays an almost lunar silver-toned opaline finish, while the off-centred hours dial is made of genuine white opal.
The Ultrathin Tourbillon Gold is a harmonious timepiece housed in an 8.3 mm-thick case. Its dial with a wide opening has received a remarkably refined treatment that is unprecedented in the history of this model, an Arnold & Son icon. The vast expanse of the dial features two apertures. One houses the hours dial and the other welcomes the visible elements of the A&S8300 calibre.
With a bassiné design, the slim 5N red gold case encircles the dial. A fine metal band of the same golden colour surrounds the hours dial and the tourbillon aperture. These repeating round lines are established according to a gentle yet rigorous geometry, creating a symmetry that enables the tourbillon carriage to stand out all the more clearly.
At the heart of the Ultrathin Tourbillon Gold beats the A&S8300 calibre, which – at only 2.97 mm thick – is one of the slimmest ever designed. The highest point of the calibre is at the top of its tourbillon carriage. The variable-inertia balance ensures more stable calibration over time. The redesigned tourbillon carriage echoes the leading role John Arnold played in marine exploration during the 18th century. Its triangular shape evokes a sextant, while its double-arrow counterpoise represents an anchor. The point in the middle serves as a seconds marker, as the carriage completes a full rotation in one minute.
In the background of the tourbillon, its bridge appears in the mainplate aperture, hand-engraved with a design inspired by the engravings found on John Arnold’s pocket watches. Crafted in 3N yellow gold, it blends with the gear train while creating an aesthetic contrast with the rest of the calibre. Modifications to the tourbillon carriage and regulating organ have increased the power reserve of the A&S8300 calibre, which lasts 100 hours.
Technical Specifications:
Reference 1UTBR.I01A.C246R
Functions
Hours, minutes
Movement
Calibre: A&S8300, 1 minute flying tourbillon, manual winding
Jewels: 29
Diameter: 32.00 mm
Thickness: 2.97 mm
Power reserve: 100 hours
Frequency: 3 Hz/21,600 vph
Finishes
mainplate: circular-grained
bridges: polished and chamfered by hand, Côtes de Genève stripes radiating from the centre
wheels: circular satin-finished
screws: blued and chamfered, mirror-polished heads
tourbillon carriage: ‘Arnold & Son’ signature, polished, satin-finished and chamfered by hand
rear tourbillon bridge: 18-carat yellow gold (3N), engraved by hand
Dial
silver-toned opaline
Hours dial
white opal
Case
Material: 18-carat red gold (5N)
Diameter: 41.50 mm
Thickness: 8.30 mm (with crystal)
Crystal: domed sapphire with an anti-reflective coating on both sides
Case back: sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating
Water resistance: 3 bar (30 metres/100 feet)
Strap
Material: hand-stitched blue alligator leather, black alligator leather lining
Clasp: folding clasp in titanium with 18-carat red gold (5N) cap
Reference 1UTBR.I01A.C246R
Limited edition 88 timepieces
Swiss retail price CHF 70,000 including taxes (may be subject to modifications)
For more information please visit Arnold & Son