Arnold & Son celebrates the Chinese zodiac calendar by unveiling the Perpetual Moon 41.5 Red Gold “Year of the Snake.” It is based on the brand’s “standard” Perpetual Moon model (there are several versions), and limited to 8 pieces.
“According to the traditional Chinese calendar, 2025 is the Year of the Wooden Snake and will be ruled by the word’s perspicacity, intelligence and prudence. In its honour, Arnold & Son is creating Perpetual Moon 41.5 “Year of the Snake”: a series of eight timepieces in red gold. Combining a manufacture calibre with a large astronomical moon – one of its specialities – with an aventurine glass dial base – one of its signatures – and a wealth of delicately worked artistic crafts – one of its recurring themes – Arnold & Son presents a masterful interpretation of the Year of the Snake.”
Key Features
“The Year of the Wooden Snake starts on 29 January 2025. Under this element, the reptile foretells transformation and a need for self-improvement, combined with energy and introspection. It is a year of negotiations, shrouded in mystery and secrecy.”
Image: Beautiful Métiers d’Art dial depicting the Chinese zodiac’s Year of the Snake, set against a backdrop of a giant moon and the constellations.
Functions
Central hours and minutes.
Astronomical moon phase display.
Second moon phase indicator on caseback.
Image: Notice the second moon phase indicator between 6 and 7 o’clock on the caseback. Both moon phase displays are synched. The second one allows the wearer to accurately adjust the display because of its indicator style display.
Dial
Dial is made from blue aventurine glass.
Hand-engraved snake is made from 18K (4N) rose gold. It features a polished finish.
The landscape is hand-painted with gold powder and coated with Super-LumiNova.
12 hour-markers encircle the dial.
Astronomical Moon Phase Display
Sky is made from blue aventurine glass.
Constellations are hand-painted and coated with Super-LumiNova.
Giant moon is made from a mother-of-pearl disc, hand painted with lunar details and coated with Super-LumiNova.
Image: Lume view is gorgeous. Giant moon looks so real.
“The snake is delicately hand-engraved into a block of 18-carat rose gold and set against a blue aventurine glass dial. Its fine scales, forked tongue and broad, flat head are depicted with realism. The large, mother-of-pearl moon, also rendered realistically with its shadows, is overlaid with Super-LumiNova. It illuminates an aventurine glass sky and is surrounded by the constellations of Ursa Major and Cassiopeia, which are also painted with luminescent material.
The choice of these star patterns is a direct allusion to the history of marine chronometer-maker John Arnold. They have served as guiding lights since the dawn of time. Midway between them lies the Pole Star, which unerringly indicates the north. Here, the importance of the stars in determining periods, thresholds and symbols in the Chinese zodiac calendar forms a unique point of cultural and graphic convergence.”
Movement
Image: Calibre A&S1512 was designed and developed by Manufacture La-Joux Perret S.A. in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. It is a sister concern of Arnold & Son.
Powered by hand-wound calibre A&S1512. It powers the hours, minutes, astronomical moon phase, and second moon phase indicator on the caseback. Both the moon phase displays are synched, and the second one allows the wearer to accurately adjust the display.
Diameter: 34 mm. Thickness: 5.35 mm.
Jewels: 27. Frequency: 21,600 vph or 3 Hz.
Barrels: 2. Power reserve: 90 hours.
Movement finishing includes:
- Mainplate is rhodium-plated and features a circular-grained finish.
- Bridges are chamfered and feature radiating Côtes de Genève stripes.
- Wheels are snailed.
- Screws are blued, chamfered, and feature polished heads.
- Second moon phase indicator is rhodium-plated and circular-grained.
“On the case back, a secondary display of the phases of the moon allows fast and accurate adjustment of the complication. The manually-wound calibre that powers Perpetual Moon 41.5 Red Gold “Year of the Snake” is able to track the age of the moon with exceptional accuracy. The total duration of a lunar cycle is 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 2.8 seconds. Arnold & Son has approached this so closely that it would take 122 years for this movement, if constantly wound up, to accumulate a 24-hour discrepancy between the display and astronomical reality.”
Arnold & Son’s movements are designed and developed by Manufacture La-Joux Perret S.A., a renowned movement specialist based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Calibre A&S1512 “was entirely developed, produced, decorated, assembled, adjusted and cased up” here. Citizen Group of Japan owns both Arnold & Son and Manufacture La-Joux Perret S.A.
Case and Strap
Image: The combination of its 18K (5N) red gold case, intricate dial details, and ink-blue strap contrast really well.
Case is made from 18K (5N) red gold.
Diameter: 41.50 mm. Thickness: 11.67 mm.
Dial side features a domed sapphire crystal with dual side anti-reflective coating.
Caseback features a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating.
Water resistant up to 3 Bar / 30 metres / 100 feet.
Watch comes with an ink blue alligator leather strap featuring red alligator leather lining. It is attached to a pin buckle, made from 18K (5N) red gold.
Our Thoughts
Image: Beautiful details throughout, including the red alligator lining on the strap.
Arnold & Son has done a phenomenal job using Métiers d’Art techniques to depict the Chinese zodiac’s Year of the Snake, set against a backdrop of a giant moon and the constellations. The Perpetual Moon 41.5 Red Gold “Year of the Snake” has a universal appeal and will be perfect for collectors that appreciate and own Métiers d’Art watches.
Additional Details
Name: Perpetual Moon 41.5 Red Gold “Year of the Snake”
Reference: 1GBLR.Z09A.C264A
Price: Swiss Franc (CHF): 57,200 (including VAT)
Please visit the Arnold & Son website and Instagram page for more information.
In the UAE, Mohammed Rasool Khoory & Sons retail Arnold & Son. They are based in Abu Dhabi. Please visit their website for more information.
Our recent coverage of Arnold & Son includes the Nebula 40 Steel in Golden & Black Editions.
[…] Arnold & Son, and Manufacture La-Joux Perret (LJP, the renowned movement manufacturer), are the same company and […]