In the world of poetic horology, where light, shadow, and history intertwine, Arnold & Son’s Perpetual Moon 41.5 Red Gold Cliff Grey Edition emerges as a masterstroke, a watch not merely worn, but experienced. This limited edition of 28 pieces is a tribute to the Cornish cliffs, the birthplace of John Arnold, and the very spirit of maritime exploration. The watch is a dialogue between past and present, earth and sky, all rendered in the most evocative hues and textures one could wish for.
The Perpetual Moon as a model is steeped in the legacy of John Arnold, a name synonymous with the golden age of British watchmaking and the advent of the marine chronometer. Introduced in 2013, the Perpetual Moon line has become a canvas for Arnold & Son’s fascination with astronomy, navigation, and the poetic passage of time. Each iteration pays homage to the vital role celestial bodies played in navigation before the chronometer’s invention, and the Cliff Grey edition draws this narrative into sharper focus with its references to Cornwall’s dramatic coastline and the constellations that once guided mariners.
The dial is, quite simply, a spectacle. Arnold & Son’s signature Stellar Rays motif radiates from the centre, its irregular rays engraved at varying depths and widths to create a mesmerising interplay of light and shadow. The Cliff Grey shade is achieved through a meticulous PVD treatment, followed by successive layers of transparent lacquer, producing a dial that shifts in character with every movement of the wrist. Dominating the upper half is the immense moonphase aperture, home to a moon crafted from white mother-of-pearl, hand-painted with delicate shadows and overlaid with Super-LumiNova for a haunting nocturnal glow. The night sky, rendered in grained midnight blue, is punctuated by the hand-painted constellations of Ursa Major and Cassiopeia—both luminous, both a nod to the navigational heritage that defines the collection. The result is a dial that feels alive, a tableau of celestial drama that rewards close inspection at every turn.
Turning the watch over, one is greeted by the A&S1512 calibre, a movement that is as much an ode to precision as it is to artistry. Developed, decorated, and assembled entirely at Arnold & Son’s manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds, this hand-wound movement is equipped with two barrels, delivering a robust 90-hour power reserve. Its crowning achievement, however, is its moonphase accuracy: the mechanism is so precise that it will deviate by just one day after 122 years of continuous operation. The movement is beautifully finished, with radiating Côtes de Genève, chamfered bridges, blued screws, and a secondary moonphase indicator on the reverse for precise adjustment – a detail that will delight any true connoisseur.
The case, executed in 18-carat 5N red gold, measures 41.5mm in diameter and a svelte 11.3mm in thickness. Its slim bezel opens up the dial, allowing the celestial display to take centre stage, while the taut, bevelled lugs flow seamlessly from the case middle, lending the watch an elegant yet assertive presence on the wrist. The domed sapphire crystal, with anti-reflective coating on both sides, ensures that every nuance of the dial is visible, whether under sunlight or moonlight. Water resistance is rated at 3 bar, sufficient for daily wear, though this is a piece that begs to be admired rather than submerged. Completing the ensemble is a warm grey alligator leather strap, hand-stitched and secured with a matching red gold pin buckle—a tactile reminder of the watch’s artisanal origins.
To wear the Perpetual Moon 41.5 Red Gold Cliff Grey Edition is to carry a piece of horological poetry on your wrist. It is a watch that speaks not only of time, but of place, memory, and the eternal dance of the heavens. With its limited run of just 28 pieces, it is destined to become a collector’s treasure; a fitting tribute to Arnold & Son’s enduring commitment to blending English heritage with Swiss precision, and to capturing the fleeting beauty of the night sky in gold, lacquer, and mother-of-pearl.
