Dragon and the Pearl
Set in a 44-mm diameter case, this timekeeper is defined both by the power of its symbolism and the richness of its execution, combining artistic expression with mechanical mastery. This limited edition of just eight pieces is inspired by the legend of the Dragon and the Pearl of Wisdom, interpreting it in a language of rarity, excellence and noble materials.
The dragon snakes, undulates and circles. Engraved in white gold, it plays with the volumes, surfaces and geometry of the veined verdite dial of the Luna Magna Platinum. It coils around the white opal hours-and-minutes sub-dial before encircling the object of its desire: the large three-dimensional moon, the hallmark of all Luna Magna timepieces.
Technical Specifications
Functions
Movement
- Calibre:
- A&S1021 (view calibre)
- Jewels:
- 35
- Diameter:
- 37.60 mm
- Thickness:
- 12.00 mm with three-dimensional moon (4.75 mm without moon)
- Power reserve:
- 90 hours
- Frequency:
- 3 Hz / 21,600 vph
Dial
- material:
- verdite
- dragon:
- 18-carat white gold, hand-engraved
Subdial
Moon phases
Case
- Material:
- platinum (Pt950)
- Diameter:
- 44 mm
- Thickness:
- 15.90 mm
- Crystal:
- box sapphire with an anti-reflective coating on both sides
- Back:
- box sapphire with an anti-reflective coating
- Water resistance:
- 3 bar (30 metres/100 feet)
Strap
- Material:
- imperial green alligator leather, black alligator leather lining
- Buckle:
- folding clasp, platinum (Pt 950) cover and buckle frame, titanium blades
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The heart of the story
In this, the dragon remains faithful to the legend that inspired it, while Arnold & Son gives it a dual role. Literally, the 12-mm sphere displays the phases of the moon with astronomical precision. Composed half of white gold and half of verdite, it reproduces the visible lunar crescent without requiring correction for 122 years. Figuratively, it embodies the Pearl of Wisdom, the source of the dragon’s power, which it has lost and seeks to reclaim. It extends its sharp talons towards it… This dragon comes from the Asian tradition: wingless, associated with water and with five claws on each foot – a sign of its imperial lineage.
On the surface
For the first time in the Luna Magna collection, Arnold & Son has deployed a real profusion of artistic savoir-faire. The verdite dial showcases rare and precious veining. Among the wide range of nuances offered by this stone, only the finest quality was selected for both the dial on which the dragon rests and the half-moon.
The dragon itself is a work of art. Sculpted from a block of white gold, it has been meticulously hand-engraved with an exceptional level of precision, attention to detail and realism. Its scales, beard, crest, claws, and even its gaze, stand out in a striking relief that can only be achieved by the most skilled hands.
The Maison’s signature hours-and-minutes sub-dial in white opal adds both a poetic and a functional dimension. Enhanced with luminescent material, it absorbs light and emits a soft glow in the dark, ensuring easy reading throughout the night in a subtle echo of moonlight.
Gallery
Under the stone
The Luna Magna Platinum Dragon Verdite owes its astronomical and chronometric accuracy to the A&S1021 calibre. This manual winding movement is fully developed, machined, assembled and adjusted in house. Designed around the lunar globe, the calibre combines a 90-hour power reserve with a regulating organ beating at 3 Hz. On the case back, a secondary moon-age display with clearly marked graduations allows the moon phases to be set with great precision.
The sophistication of this celestial mechanism also lies in its astronomical accuracy. Indeed, a complete lunar cycle lasts 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 2.8 seconds. Arnold & Son’s meticulous approach means that it would take 122 years for the display to drift by a single day from the actual lunar cycle provided the watch were kept fully wound. The moon-phase function of the Luna Magna Platinum Dragon Verdite can be adjusted directly via the crown. A practical feature made possible by Arnold & Son’s total mastery of the watchmaking process.
