John Arnold (1736-1799):
Born in Cornwal, son of a clock-maker.
1764: workshop set up in the Strand, London
Minute repeater-ring gift to King George III, gains access to circles of wealthy people. Joins the Longitude Act compeetition: find a reliable method for calculating longitude at sea to stop, heavy maritime losses and accelerate the expansion of Britain’s empire.

Specializes: Marine Chronometers 1770’s:
stricter rules decreed for watchmaker-longitude method proposals: 2 identical prototypes and tests both at sea and on land Arnold’s vision, entrepreneurial skills and technical genius gives him the edge over competitors, co-wins the Longitude Prize Son John Roger joins the firm, studies for a year with his father’s friend in Paris: A.L. Breguet.

Invents a revolutionary production process
Inventor of detent escapement and substancial movement simplification

Maker of the first ever pocket chronometer (N°36)

Arnold & Son becomes by far the leading supplier to the Royal Navy.

Arnold chronometers accompany numerous famous British explorers: Cook, Phipps, Vancouver, Flinders, Dr.Livingstone, John Franklin, Sir Ernest Shackleton, etc.