Arnold & Son is well known for its spectacular complications and especially for its gigantic moonphase watches. This year, the moonphase indication received a new dimension – a large sphere depicting the Moon itself. We have a look at two variants: the Luna Magna and the precious Luna Magana Ultimate I.
Arnold & Son Luna Magna is the first three-dimensional moon made of marble and aventurine with a starry night aventurine dial packed in a gold case.
Luna Magna Ultimate I steps up the game with a dial decorated with ruthenium crystals, a moon paved with blue sapphires and diamonds, a white gold case with a bezel set with baguette-cut diamonds.
Hands-on Arnold & Son Luna Magna
As mentioned before, Arnold & Son is a storyteller when it comes to the visual spectacle: the complex architecture is beautified with extravagant finishes and materials. The Luna Magna received, even in its simplest form, a selection of eye-catching materials. For a better understanding, I invite you to have a look at the hands-on and wrist-roll videos.
- Luna Magna – hands-on and wrist-roll:
- Luna Magna Ultimate I – wrist-roll:
Precious materials
Arnold & Son creates precious time measuring machines: precious in the material used, precious in the art objects that are created. Luna Magna was manufactured until now in 5N red gold, white gold and platinum (not presented in today’s review). The case has a relatively large diameter of 44 mm.
The splendid case is covered by a domed sapphire with an anti-reflective coating on both sides. The tall dome offers a dramatic depth and opening. To accommodate the large moon-phase indication, the case back features another domed crystal with an anti-reflective coating on the inside. The side view is interesting and despite the dome crystals, the thickness is only 15.90 mm.
Arnold & Son Luna Magna Ultimate I comes in a white gold case the features the bezel with dual-row invisible setting and studded lugs, with a total of 112 baguette-cut diamonds (~5.90 ct).
Luna Magna features a flat crown in the case material decorated with the Arnold & Son logo. The watches are fitted with leather straps with pin buckles. The Ultimate I buckle is set with 26 baguette-cut diamonds (~0.97 ct).
The sky, the Moon and the stars
The brand has always created dazzling dials. Playing with depths (Time Pyramid or Nebula), finishes (Eight-Day or Perpetual Moon) or decorative arts (Metiers d’Arts) are strong points of Arnold & Son. In the case of the Luna Magna, the brand goes further and experiments with rights.
The Arnold & Son Luna Magna represents the starry sky using aventurine glass. Skeletonised arrow hands hoover over a white lacquered hours dial. The minutes are represented with blue PVD on an exterior flange. This construction is also met by the Luna Magna Platinum where the dial is manufactured in white mother of pearl.
The three-dimensional Moon is using two semi-spheres crafted in marble and aventurine, representing the illuminated and respective dark side of our Moon. The mechanism in conjunction with the dial’s construction makes the satellite float.
Arnold & Son Luna Magna Ultimate I presents a slightly changed time-telling dial. Surrounded by ruthenium crystals with a blue shine, the white opal was printed with Roman numerals. On this piece, the minutes’ register is missing.
The moonphase indication received a more poetic configuration: the 12mm diameter 18K white gold celestial was set with 161 diamonds (~0.75 ct) and 161 sapphires (~0.85 ct). The result is breathtaking.
As if it was not impressive enough
Luna Magna, regardless of version, is powered by the hand-wound mechanical Calibre: A&S1021. This movement is fully developed, manufactured, assembled and adjusted in the Manufacture. And it is astounding…
Besides the large moonphase visible on the back, the watch features a secondary display used for the age of the moon, permitting high-precision adjustments. The complication has an accuracy of one day difference in 122 years. An impressive number for such a “heavy” parade.
Another impressive characteristic is the 90 hours power reserve depleted by a 3Hz oscillating system. Driving such a huge mechanical weight and reaching such a long-running time is a witness of the brand’s exceptional capabilities in design and manufacturing.
Arnold & Son Luna Magna Calibre Calibre: A&S1021 is a feast for the eyes. The finishes’ execution counts radiating Côtes de Genève on the chamfered bridges, satin brush on the moonphase indicator and wheels, perlage (circular grain) on the main plate. Even the screws received an impressive amount of care: chamfering, polished heads and temperature blue-tinted.
When the Moon is close to your heart, then wear it on the wrist
The Arnold & Son pieces are not on everybody’s radar even with these huge moons. Is more of a niche, more for those wanting something special that raises eyebrows in wonder. These watches are daring, dramatic and backed up by exceptional finishes.
The beauty is so expressive that the watches lose any sense of size or weight offering (also due to the well-constructed case and lugs) smaller and comfortable wear. Luna Magana is rich in details on the side dial, a feeling retrieved as well on the backside. For 43.900 CHF (without taxes), Arnold & Son offers a “substantial” complication and a sublime choice and execution of finishes. The Ultimate I comes with a price tag of 169,000 CHF (also without taxes). But can you put a price on the Moon, especially so close to your heart?
Arnold & Son Luna Magna Technical Specifications
Reference 1LMAR.A02A.C153A
Functions
- hours, minutes,
- astronomical three-dimensional moon phases (one-day correction required every 122 years),
- a moon-phase indicator on the back
Movement
- Calibre: A&S1021, hand-wound mechanical
- Jewels: 35
- Diameter: 37.60 mm
- Thickness: 12.00 mm with the three-dimensional moon (4.75 mm without moon)
- Power reserve: 90 hours
- Frequency: 3 Hz / 21,600 vph
Finishes
- main plate: circular-grained
- bridges: chamfered, with Côtes de Genève stripes radiating from the centre
- wheels: circular satin-finished
- screws: blued and chamfered, polished heads
- moon-phase indicator: circular satin-finished
Dial
- aventurine glass
- white lacquered hours dial
- blue PVD flange
Moon
- 12.00 mm in diameter
- white marble half sphere and aventurine glass half sphere
Case
- Material: 18-carat red gold (5N)
- Diameter: 44.00 mm
- Thickness: 15.90 mm (with crystal)
- Crystal: domed sapphire with an anti-reflective coating on both sides
- Case back: sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating on the inside
- Water-resistance: 30 metres / 100 feet
Strap
- Material: hand-stitched blue alligator leather
- Buckle: pin buckle in 18-carat red gold (5N)
Limited edition
- 28 timepieces
Global retail price
- CHF 43,900 excl. tax (may be subject to modifications)
Arnold & Son Luna Magna Ultimate I Technical Specifications
Product reference: 1LMMW.Z01A.C177A
Functions
- hours, minutes, astronomical lunar phases (one-day correction every 122 years), moon phase indicator on case back
Movement
- Calibre: A&S1021, hand-wound mechanism
- Jewels: 35
- Diameter: 37.60 mm
- Height: 12.00 mm with the three-dimensional moon (4.75 mm without the moon)
- Power reserve: 90 hours
- Frequency: 3 Hz / 21,600 vph
- Finishes
- main plate: circular-grained
- bridges: chamfered, radiating Côtes de Genève
- wheels: circular satin-brushed
- screws: blued and chamfered, polished heads
- moon phase indicator: circular satin-brushed
Watch face
- dial: blue-treated ruthenium crystals
- subdial: white opal
Moon
- diameter: 12.00 mm
- 18-carat white gold
- set with 161 diamonds (~0.75 ct) and 161 sapphires (~0.85 ct)
Case
- Material: 18-carat white gold, bezel with dual-row invisible setting and studded lugs, with a total of 112 baguette-cut diamonds (~5.90 ct)
- Diameter: 44.00 mm
- Thickness: 15.90 mm (with crystal)
- Crystal: domed sapphire with an anti-reflective coating on both sides
- Back: sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating on both sides
- Water-resistance: 30 metres / 100 feet
Strap
- Material:
- outside: blue or black alligator leather
- inside: blue or black alligator leather
- hand-sewn
- Buckle: pin, 18-carat white gold, set with 26 baguette-cut diamonds (~0.97 ct)
Jewels
- Diamonds
- total weight: ~7.62 ct
- colour: D-E-F
- clarity: IF-VVS
- Sapphires
- total weight: ~0.85 ct
- colour: blue
- clarity: loupe clean
Limited edition: 8 pieces
Global retail price: CHF 169,000 excl. tax (subject to change) excluding tax
Arnold & Son Luna Magna Gallery
