Made of stardust
The ever-changing moon is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for Arnold & Son. And so, the largest and most spectacular moon in the watchmaking cosmos begins a new cycle with Luna Magna Platinum. With a satin circular-grained finish, the hour and minute subdial is crafted from white opal, a semiprecious gemstone known for its purity and delicacy and befitting of Luna Magna’s complication. The off-centred position of this display frees up the dial, which is adorned with a large sand-coloured meteorite disc. At 6 o’clock, the three-dimensional moon is carved from the same meteorite and Cacholong opal whose properties lend it to sculpting. Lastly, the understated shine of the platinum case establishes the distinguished elegance of this limited edition of 28 pieces.
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
Subdial
Moon phases
Case
- Material:
- platinum (Pt950)
- Diameter:
- 44 mm
- Thickness:
- 15.90 mm
- Crystal:
- domed sapphire, with an anti-reflective coating on both sides
- Back:
- sapphire crystal, with an anti-reflecting coating
- Water resistance:
- 3 bar (30 metres/100 feet)
Strap
- Material:
- grey alligator leather, orange alligator leather lining, hand-stitched
- Buckle:
- folding clasp, platinum (Pt 950) and titanium folding buckle
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Moon Landing
Arnold & Son chose a meteorite from the octahedrite class that, once worked, reveals “Widmanstätten patterns”, which are instantly recognisable for their jagged criss-crossing structures. The PVD treatment in a grey-beige shade reminiscent of stardust brings out the striking geometric motifs, creating a sense of harmony with Luna Magna’s astronomical complication.
The various materials catch the light and give this timepiece multiple different faces. The cool shine of the platinum is tempered by the iridescence of the meteorite and the milky whiteness of the various opals. Arnold & Son selected these stones both for their moonlike porcelain hue and their properties which make it possible to add Super-LumiNova – invisible by day but glowing blue-green at night.
Gallery
Fine craftsmanship
Luna Magna Platinum is driven by the A&S1021 calibre, which has been fully developed, manufactured, assembled and adjusted in the Arnold & Son Manufacture. This handwound calibre, which has been designed with the lunar globe in mind, features a 90-hour power reserve and a regulating organ oscillating at a frequency of 3 Hz. The movement includes a secondary display detailing the age of the moon on the case-back side. Its clearly readable markings are designed for high-precision adjustments.
The sophisticated mechanics are also based on precise astronomical reality. The duration of a complete lunar cycle is 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 2.8 seconds. The Manufacture has managed to replicate it in such a way that it will take 122 years for the movement’s display to deviate from the correct celestial reading by one day. The correction required at this time will be easy to make, as the Luna Magna Platinum’s moonphase function can be accessed directly via the crown. This practical feature has been made possible by Arnold & Son’s total mastery of the watchmaking process.