2013/04/05
Arnold & Son the HMS1 Royal Blue
An outstanding timepiece in a grand tradition:
the HMS1 Royal Blue from Arnold & Son
Inspired by the timepieces made during the earlier part of John Arnold’s life for King George III and the royal court, the latest addition to the Arnold & Son Royal Collection is an eloquent expression of elegance and sophistication in the inimitable English style and demonstrates the brand’s traditional prowess in the classical decorative arts.
The HMS1 Royal Blue from Arnold & Son is an object of beauty and a worthy new member of the Royal Collection. Our designers and watchmakers took much of their inspiration for the new timepiece from a gold- and enamel-cased half-quarter repeating watch made by John Arnold in 1775, at a time when he had already established his reputation as an outstanding watchmaker with two miniature watches made for King George III. The outer case reflects the changeover from rococo to more classical design taking place at the time and was made by Mary Reasey, whose mark “MR” was registered at Goldsmith’s Hall in 1773 and appears on the case.
John Arnold, half-quarter repeater, gold and enamel cased cylinder pocket-watch,
No. 253, London, 1775
© The Trustees of the British Museum
The workmanship and ornamentation of this historical timepiece by John Arnold is echoed on the dial of the HMS1 Royal Blue. Finished with intricate guilloché pattern overlaid by sumptuous, translucent deep blue lacquer, it creates a spectacular illusion of depth that contrasts with and is underscored by the ultra-slim case in elegant rose gold.
The A&S1001 calibre, with its gorgeous Côtes de Genève rayonnantes decoration was an inspired choice and takes up the iridescent play of light that creates depth and dynamism in the dial. The movement is made of rhodium-treated nickel silver with haute horlogerie finishing. Apart from the Geneva stripes, this includes hand-chamfered bridges with exquisitely polished edges, fine circular graining and blued screws.
The HMS1 Royal Blue is also available in an 18-carat rose gold model featuring a bezel exquisitely set with 80 diamonds.
Ref. : Ref. 1LCAP.U02A.C110A
Calibre : A&S1001
Exclusive Arnold & Son mechanical movement, hand-wound, 21 jewels, diameter 30 mm, thickness 2.7 mm, power reserve 80 h, two barrels, 21'600 vibrations/h
Functions : hours, minutes, small seconds at 6 o’clock
Movement decoration : nickel-silver movement, rhodium treated with Haute
Horlogerie finishing : manually chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining and Côtes de Genève rayonnantes, blued screws
Dial colour : guilloché, with translucent blue lacquer
Case : 18-carat rose gold, diameter 40 mm, cambered sapphire with anti-reflective coating on both sides, case back see-through sapphire, water-resistant to 30 m
Strap : hand-stitched brown alligator leather
