Arnold & Son Time Pyramid Black Edition

One of the main points of interest of Arnold & Son timepieces has always been their uniquely skeletonised movements, based on an almost perfectly symmetrical design. Whether you take ultra-complex pieces such as the Constant-Force Tourbillon or the Tourbillon Chronometer N° 36, or more simple pieces like the Nebula, most of the brand’s creations please the eye simply because of this symmetry. One of the most striking designs of this manufacture, the well-known Time Pyramid, is another demonstration of such savoir-faire and is now presented in a handsome Black Edition.

The Arnold & Son Time Pyramid has always been a watch to please the eye. It is widely known that the human brain has an attraction for balanced and symmetrical designs. This partially explains why something clicks when you look at this watch. However, creating an entirely symmetrical movement is not an easy task, knowing that you’ll have to place over 150 parts, most of them round, in a pleasant and mechanically efficient way. Yet, this is exactly what the Time Pyramid is: a true work of art in terms of movement design.

Starting at the 12 o’clock position, where the regulating organ is located, the rest of the movement is built around a central vertical line. On this line, you’ll see (from top to bottom) the escapement, the gear train, the seconds sub-dial and the off-centred hours and minutes dial. This isn’t all, as on each side of this vertical line are the exact same technical elements: one barrel per side, one going train and one power reserve indicator. With the exception of a few wheels, left and right sides are mirror copies. Besides being symmetrical, this movement is also entirely openworked, with bridges and plates reduced to the maximum, leaving an unobstructed view of the moving parts.

This movement, with two barrels, stores up to 90-hours of power reserve and its exposed escapement beats at a 3Hz frequency. It is finished in a pleasant and refined way, with its main plate and bridges treated in black ADLC and decorated with Côtes de Genève stripes and chamfered polished edges. Even the winding crown follows the same vertical line and is placed at 6 o’clock – an elegant solution that isn’t the most practical one though. The movement is placed under a translucent grey-coated sapphire case back, which doesn’t obstruct the view of the movement, and acts like a mirror on the dial side, hiding unsightly wrist hairs when the watch is worn.

For 2018, the Arnold & Son Time Pyramid is updated with a new Black Edition, which plays on black and gold codes. The 44.60mm steel case is coated with black DLC, the alligator strap is black, as well as the inner flange and the bridges of the movement. Creating a nice contrast, all the moving parts of the movement as well as the rings surrounding the sub-dials and the hands, are rose gold-plated.

The Arnold & Son Time Pyramid Black Edition will be produced in 50 pieces only and priced at USD 28,700 (excl. VAT). More details on www.arnoldson.com.