The Perpetual Moon 41.5 Red Gold “Year of the Snake” by Arnold & Son is a masterfully crafted timepiece that epitomizes the fusion of artistic elegance and horological precision, inspired by the 2025 Year of the Wooden Snake in the Chinese zodiac calendar. This limited edition series, containing only eight pieces, stands out with its luxurious materials and intricate design, making it a collector’s treasure.
Design and Craftsmanship
The Arnold & Son Perpetual Moon 41.5 Red Gold “Year of the Snake” features a 41.5 mm case crafted from 18-carat red gold (5N), with a depth of 11.67 mm. The domed sapphire crystal, along with the sapphire case back, both of which have anti-reflective coating on both sides, provides a clear and unobstructed view of the intricacies within and ensures durability against scratches. This choice of materials not only emphasizes luxury but also ensures robustness and longevity.
The dial is a work of art, centered around an 18-carat rose gold, hand-engraved snake that elegantly wraps itself around a ginkgo biloba branch. The landscape surrounding the snake is meticulously hand-painted with gold powder and enhanced with Super-LumiNova, creating a captivating nocturnal scene. This artistic scene sets the snake against a deep blue aventurine glass, evoking the calm, clear night sky, which is adorned with hand-painted constellations of Ursa Major and Cassiopeia, also luminescent with Super-LumiNova.
The pièce de résistance of the dial is the large mother-of-pearl moon, rendered with admirable realism and paired with adventurous aventurine glass sky, which mimics the visual splendor of the lunar surface and celestial expanse. The moon itself is coated with Super-LumiNova, glowing with a mystical aura that aligns with the watch’s astral themes.
Movement and Functionality
At the heart of this timepiece is the hand-wound mechanical movement, the A&S1512 calibre. Completely designed and manufactured in Arnold & Son’s facility in La Chaux-de-Fonds, this calibre offers remarkable technological feats. Utilizing two barrels, it delivers a substantial 90-hour power reserve and operates at a frequency of 3 Hz (21,600 vph). The movement is adorned with exquisite finishes, including a rhodium-plated, circular-grained mainplate, chamfered bridges with radiating Côtes de Genève stripes, snailed wheels, and blued, chamfered screws with polished heads. This movement is not only a marvel of precision, achieving lunar phase accuracy that promises a 122-year cycle before a 24-hour deviation, but it is also a testament to Arnold & Son’s commitment to aesthetic beauty in watchmaking.
Adding to the moon phase complication visible on the dial, a secondary moon phase indicator on the case back provides precision and ease of adjustment, maintaining the timepiece’s alignment with astronomical reality.
Strap and Finishing Touches
The Arnold & Son Perpetual Moon 41.5 Red Gold “Year of the Snake” is complemented by an ink blue alligator leather strap, lined with red alligator leather, offering comfort and visual appeal. An 18-carat red gold prong buckle secures the strap, maintaining the timepiece’s luxurious coherence.
Exclusivity and Pricing
With only eight timepieces in existence, this limited edition watch is a rare gem for collectors, priced at CHF 57,200 inclusive of VAT. The exclusive nature and cultural significance, coupled with its intricate craftsmanship, position the Perpetual Moon 41.5 Red Gold “Year of the Snake” as not merely a timekeeper but an exceptional work of art and tradition.
