Arnold & Son has reinterpreted one of its most personal collections, the DSTB 42, which stands for ‘Dial-Side True Beat’, reveals its true-beat seconds mechanism on the dial side.
The true-beat seconds function is characteristic of the instruments that John Arnold supplied to the Royal Navy. Their escapement used to beat at one oscillation per second, naturally indicated by a sweep-seconds hand. This explicit function inspired Arnold & Son to create one of its most iconic complications: ‘True Beat’, also known as deadbeat seconds. The distinctive feature of the DSTB collection is that it displays this mechanism in full on the dial, hence the ‘Dial-Side True Beat’ name, delivering watchmaking, design and spectacle all in one.
The sweep-seconds hand on the DSTB 42 jumps from second to second, powered by a mechanism similar to an escapement, developed by Arnold & Son’s watchmakers. The choice to place it on the dial side creates an additional level in the calibre. This, in turn, required three dedicated bridges, fashioned in line with the brand’s aesthetic, whose graphic design and finishes give the dial its truly unique appearance.
The DSTB collection was one of the founding pieces in the Arnold & Son catalogue. Its first version measured 44 mm in diameter. It featured a calibre that was 7.40 mm thick, allowing a 45-hour power reserve. The DSTB 42 improves on each of these points. The exclusive Manufacture calibre A&S6203 is 5.54 mm thick and offers 55 hours of autonomy. The case drops to 42 mm in diameter and settles for a total thickness of 12.95 mm.
The DSTB 42 Red Gold comes in a 5N gold case, whose copper content gives it the name red gold. This warm colour is paired with a blue PVD-treated dial for a soothing overall effect. The DSTB 42 Platinum offers the opposite contrast, with its combination of 950 platinum and a dial featuring a rose-gold PVD treatment known as ‘salmon’.
They are both powered by the calibre A&S6203, which has been entirely developed, machined, assembled and adjusted in the Arnold & Son Manufacture. Designed to work in harmony with the true-beat seconds mechanism, this calibre is self-winding thanks to an oscillating weight in 22-carat gold. It features a 55-hour power reserve and a regulating organ oscillating at 28,800 vibrations per hour.
Technical Specifications:
DSTB 42 Platinum & DSTB 42 Red Gold
Functions
hours, minutes, true-beat seconds
Movement
Calibre A&S6203, self-winding mechanical
Jewels 32
Diameter 33 mm
Thickness 5.54 mm (8.33 mm on the bridges of the true-beat seconds)
Power reserve 55 hours
Frequency 4 Hz / 28,800 vph
Finishes mainplate: palladium finish, côtes de Genève stripes radiating from the centre
bridges: polished and chamfered
wheels: circular satin-finished
screws: blued and chamfered, polished heads
oscillating weight: 22-carat gold
true-beat seconds mechanism: 18-carat gold bridges, polished and chamfered
Dial
sunray-brushed, with blue or salmon PVD treatment
Hours dial
white opal
Case
Material 18-carat (5N) red gold or platinum (Pt 950)
Diameter 42 mm
Thickness 12.95 mm
Crystal domed sapphire with an anti-reflective coating on both sides
Case back sapphire with an anti-reflective coating
Water resistance 3 bar (30 metres/100 feet)
Strap
Material blue alligator leather, hand-stitched
Clasp pin buckle, 18-carat (5N) red gold or platinum (Pt 950)
References
Red gold: 1ATCR.U01A.C200A
Platinum: 1ATCX.P01A.C200X
Limited editions
Red gold: 88 timepieces
Platinum: 38 timepieces
Swiss retail price
Red gold: CHF 42,600 incl. tax (subject to change)
Platinum: CHF 54,400 incl. tax (subject to change)
For more information please visit Arnold & Son