If you ever want to teach someone about the workings of a mechanical watch, the Arnold & Son Time Pyramid collection is good place to start. These fascinating skeleton watches display the entire movement through the dial and case back, and cleverly tickle the part of our human brain that is pleasured by perfect symmetry.
Arnold & Son Time Pyramid 42.5 Red Gold & Platinum - Credit Arnold and Son
For the collection’s latest instalment, the Time Pyramid is redesigned with new dimensions, a blue aventurine glass case back and new case materials. Suitably named the Arnold & Son Time Pyramid 42.5 Red Gold & Platinum watches, they deliver 42.5mm wide cases in red gold (5N) and platinum (PT950) and present the dial’s skeletonised landscape with a backdrop of sparkly aventurine glass. Yep, that’s right, no more wrist hair peeking through this one.
Arnold & Son Time Pyramid 42.5 Red Gold & Platinum - Credit Arnold and Son
The case, with its new diameter of 42.5mm and thickness of 10.72mm, still places all the attention on the Time Pyramid’s movement. The case’s wide opening and slender bezel reveals a full-sized dial with a skeletonised movement shaped like a pyramid. The arrangement is inspired by the creations of Arnold & Son’s founder, John Arnold and his British peers, reviving a clock that was fashionable in the 1830’s.
Arnold & Son Time Pyramid 42.5 Red Gold & Platinum - Credit Arnold
On display is the screw balance at 12 o’clock which watches over the gear train highlighted by an array of finishes including hand chamfering, satin-finished and sunray-brushed wheels, snailed barrels and blued screws. The structure is split in two beneath a ring of white opal for displaying the classic hours and minutes with blued hands and printed black Roman numerals. To both the left and right, you’ll spot two power reserve indicators mirroring each other. They indicate the same information, reflecting the power reserve of 90-hours left in the two barrels.
Arnold & Son Time Pyramid 42.5 Red Gold & Platinum - Credit Arnold and Son
Also new for the Arnold & Son Time Pyramid 42.5 Red Gold & Platinum watches is the case back, which is no longer transparent or opaque but crafted from a thin disc of aventurine glass. The deep blue, gold-flecked material has never been used on the Time Pyramid before, but it’s enchanting, night sky-like aesthetic matches very well.
Arnold & Son Time Pyramid 42.5 Red Gold & Platinum - Credit Arnold & Son
In the day, the glass allows light to filter through it when the watch is not worn, revealing interplays of transparency and colour. It’s a well-thought-out combination of materials and colours. Reflections also play a large role on the dial, where the mix of gold-plated and anthracite NAC-treated finish bring to life the Côtes de Genève stripes.
Arnold & Son Time Pyramid 42.5 Red Gold & Platinum - Credit Arnold & Son
The Arnold & Son Time Pyramid 42.5 Red Gold & Platinum watches are powered by the same movement as before, the A&S1615 manual winding calibre. The movement is wound using the large, integrated crown at 6 o’clock and runs at a frequency of 21,600vph. The watches also deliver a 30 metre water resistant rating and arrive on blue alligator leather straps with black calfskin linings and pin buckles in their respective case material.
Arnold & Son Time Pyramid 42.5 Red Gold & Platinum - Credit Arnold and Son
The Arnold & Son Time Pyramid in red gold can be found under reference 1TPER.W01A.C153A. It is limited to 88 pieces and retails at CHF 43,000. Meanwhile, the platinum novelty under reference 1TPEX.W01A.C153X is even rarer with only 38 pieces being made and will retail for CHF 54,900.
Technical Specifications:
- Brand: Arnold & Son
- Model: Time Pyramid 42.5 Red Gold & Platinum
- Price: CHF 43,000 (red gold), CHF 54,900 (platinum)
- Material: Red gold or platinum
- Movement: A&S1615 manual winding
- Complications: Hours, minutes, double power reserve
- Dial: Skeletonised with blue aventurine backdrop
- Size: 42.5mm
- Water Resistance: 30 metres
- Strap: Blue alligator leather
- Limited: 88 pieces (red gold), 38 pieces (platinum).
