The Time Pyramid has and always will be a showcase for just what Arnold & Son can do. Bold and architectural with a movement like a spacecraft, it’s not the kind of watch you can miss. Now for Baselworld 2019, the watchmaker is showing their latest version and boy is it magnificent.
As the name suggests, the structure of the movement is laid out like a pyramid. At 12 o’clock is the tourbillon and balance wheel assembly; either side of that are the twin power reserve indicators linked to the barrels (with a combined 90-hour power reserve) that make up the right and left corners of the pyramid. In the centre, dominating it all is the hours and minutes, set on sapphire crystal and rhodium-plated discs respectively.
Other than the mechanics so obviously on display, the main feature here is space. The architectural nature of the movement means that there are swathes of dial that are nothing but air and sapphire. If you’ve ever seen an old 18th century clock, you’ll know exactly where Arnold & Son got their inspiration.
The case is large but elegant at 44.6mm wide. It’s available in rose or white gold and works as a restrained backdrop for what it otherwise a horological tour de force. Despite the size it’s not particularly heavy, but then half the case is empty so that’s not too much of a surprise. In fact, it feels pretty good on the wrist and is surprisingly slim for having a flying tourbillon inside. It just about fits under a sleeve.
The only oddity otherwise is the crown at 6 o’clock, though when you think about it that makes a lot of sense. The entire movement is that side of the watch and you wouldn’t want a crown stem interrupting all that space.
Not that I particularly like that space too much myself. That’s more of an issue with watches like this in general though; I don’t particularly like seeing my hairy wrist through the watch, particularly when even the hour disc is sapphire too.
Still, it’s that particular facet that makes the Time Pyramid distinct from the other skeletonized watches out there. Where they do it to look like a Ferrari engine minaturised, Arnold & Son’s style is an homage to classical clockmaking. It’s built like a museum piece. At around £38,000, it’s also priced like one. At the very least, it’s a hell of an update from 2014’s steel version.
Price & Specs:
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- Model Name: Arnold & Son Time Pyramid Tourbillon
Ref: 1TPBR.T01A (red gold), 1TPDS.T01A (stainless steel) - Case: 44.60mm diameter x 10.09mm thickness, 18-karat red gold (5N) or stainless steel
Dial: Hours on a sapphire disc and minutes on a rhodium plated ring- Movement: Calibre A&S8615, mechanical hand-wound
Frequency: 3 Hz / 21,600 vph - Power Reserve: 90h
Water Resistance: 30m (100ft) - Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds on tourbillon, power reserve indicators
Strap: Hand-stitched brown or black alligator leather - Price & Availability: CHF 46,800 for red gold or CHF 37,150 for the stainless steel version, limited to 28 pieces each
- Movement: Calibre A&S8615, mechanical hand-wound
- Model Name: Arnold & Son Time Pyramid Tourbillon
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For more information visit Arnold & Son’s website.
