Arnold & Son TB88 - New References

Timeless elegance meets innovative technology

With timepieces that reference its English watchmaking heritage, Arnold & Son unveils two new versions of its famous TB88 featuring the hand-finished A&S5003 calibre. Conceived, designed and manufactured in-house, these superbly engineered wristwatches are part of the Royal Collection that combines classical styling with leading-edge technology. 

Courtesy of Arnold & Son

John Arnold was an exceptional watchmaker, who excelled in the development and production of marine chronometers. With his son, he built up a company that established itself as one of the most reputable suppliers of timepieces to the Royal Navy as well as intrepid explorers like James Cook, Matthew Flinders and George Vancouver, to name but a few. By the early 19th century, he had several major patents to his name and created a minor storm in precision timekeeping with the Arnold No. 36, the first-ever watch to be called a ‘chronometer’ – a term used to this day for a supremely accurate timepiece. The Arnold No. 36 was considered so important that it was included in the collection of the National Maritime Museum in London, where it can still be seen today.

Courtesy of Arnold & Son

Main technical characteristics:

Calibre:    A&S5003
Exclusive Arnold & Son mechanical movement, hand-wound, 32 jewels, diameter 37.8 mm, thickness 5.9 mm, power reserve 100 h, two barrels, 18’000 vibrations/h, Breguet spring  


Functions:   
hours, minutes, true beat seconds at 8 o’clock

Movement decoration:   
18-carat rose gold case model:

nickel-silver movement, palladium treated bridges and NAC grey treated main plate with Haute Horlogerie finishing: manually chamfered bridges and steel parts with polished edge and brushed surfaces, circular satin-finished wheels, screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads

Stainless steel case model:
nickel-silver movement, NAC grey treated brides and black ruthenium treated main plate with Haute Horlogerie finishing: manually chamfered bridges and steel parts with polished edges and brushed surfaces, circular satin-finished wheels, screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads 

Case:
18-carat rose gold or stainless steel, diameter 46 mm, cambered sapphire with anti reflective coating on both sides, case back see-through sapphire, water-resistant to 30 m   

Strap:
hand-stitched black or brown alligator leather

References :

1TBAP.S01A.C113A, 18-carat rose gold case

1TBAS.B01A.C113S, stainless steel case