The globetrotting watch is even more precious. Arnold & Son, a Swiss watchmaker with roots in London (in 1764) has coated its Globetrotter in 950 platinum, a noble metal that recalls the era of great explorations, when John Arnold’s chronometers were essential for travellers. In the centre, the Globetrotter Platinum, produced in just 28 pieces, features a dome depicting the northern hemisphere, supported by a large transversal bridge in 18-karat gold. Depending on which side it is viewed from, it is bevelled, polished, and satin-finished. Globetrotter has a ruby in the center which holds the universal time axis.
The watch maintains an essential design, with faceted indexes on two levels, made of 18-karat gold with Super-LumiNova coating. The lower part of the dial, which surrounds the globe, is mother-of-pearl with blue undertones. The world time ring is made of transparent sapphire. Local time is read through the red hands pointing to the hour markers, while for world time reading an imaginary longitude is visually traced from the ruby on the central bridge to the 24-hour ring.
Under a big bridge
The cross bridge of the Globetrotter Platinum is a carved 18-karat gold. It is made with a single piece, with an extraordinary perforation. It features smooth flat sections, satin sides, and wide bevels. The quality and type of finishes are the classic ones of Arnold & Son caliber components. However, an exceptional level of accuracy was used given the large size of the bridge.
Above the equator, the land surface of America, Eurasia and Africa is depicted in minute detail. It is a single element, with a rhodium-plated and polished finish. The reliefs of the mountain ranges are matted. The oceans are hand painted with several layers of lacquer, whose blue pigments enriched with mother-of-pearl powder give them intense depth and luminosity. The ribs, with a lighter shade and with Super-LumiNova, glow at night and further accentuate the relief of this miniature handcrafted work.
Inside, the Globetrotter Platinum has the Maison’s automatic caliber A&S6022. Like all Arnold & Son movements, it was entirely developed, manufactured, decorated, assembled, adjusted and cased within the La Chaux-de-Fonds manufacture. In addition to being openworked, the 22-karat gold oscillating weight is guilloché decorated with a Clous de Paris motif. The A&S6022 caliber is also decorated with the traditional motifs of haute horlogerie: pearlescent plate, Côtes de Genève sunburst bridges, satin-brushed wheels, chamfered and polished screws. The specific finishes consist of a NAC treatment. This type of plating uses precious metals similar to platinum. It gives a high-quality anthracite appearance that matches perfectly, due to its tone and nature, the 950 platinum case of the Globetrotter Platinum.
Technical specifications
Functions hours, minutes, world time (24-hour ring)
Movement
Caliber A&S6022, mechanical with automatic winding
Stones 29
Diameter 39.00mm
6.55mm thick
Power reserve 45 hours
Frequency 4 Hz / 28.800 halt/h
Plate decoration: pearly and with NAC treatment
bridges: Côtes de Genève sunburst, bevelled and polished, with NAC treatment
wheels: circular satin and rhodium-plated
screws: chamfered and mirror polished
Oscillating weight: rhodium-plated 22-carat gold, “clous de Paris” guilloché
Mother-of-pearl dial with blue hues, with rhodium-plated 18-karat gold three-dimensional indexes embellished with Super-LumiNova
Sapphire crystal 24-hour ring with hour decal
Dome Earth Continents: Rhodium plated and polished with matte mountain range details
oceans: hand painted, blue lacquer and mother of pearl powder
ribs: hand-painted, blue lacquer and mother-of-pearl powder embellished with Super-
LumiNova
bridge: rhodium-plated 18-karat gold, polished and satin-finished on the sides
Earnings
Material Pt 950 platinum
Diameter 45.00mm
Domed sapphire crystal, with anti-reflection treatment on both sides
Sapphire crystal case back, with anti-reflection treatment
Waterproof 30 meters /100 feet
Strap
Blue alligator leather material, raspberry pink alligator leather lining, hand-stitched
Folding clasp, Pt 950 platinum and titanium
Retail price in Switzerland CHF 64,900 incl. VAT (subject to change)
