Arnold & Son has given its iconic Globetrotter world time model the golden touch in this limited series of just 28 Globetrotter Gold models, produced in 18 karat red gold (5N).
Like a finely-crafted atlas, the Globetrotter Gold represents our Planet. The lands seen on the surface are sculpted to precision, and together with the deep, hand-painted seas, they serve as a backdrop to the world time dual time zone display. Overhanging these is an infinite arch that fixes their rotation. In shades of blue, Arnold & Son pays a chromatic tribute to John Arnold’s famed marine chronometers developed in the 18th century English naval ships.
The Globetrotter Gold measures 45 mm in diameter. In its center, the dome depicting the Northern Hemisphere is held from side to side by an immense open-worked bridge carved in red gold. This arch is the visual signature of the Globetrotter, and houses in its center a functional ruby holding the axis of universal time.
Refined in blue
With its Globetrotter Gold, Arnold & Son has chosen to refine the aesthetics of this major piece in a way that affirms its elegance and modernity. The appliqué indexes on two planes are faceted in red gold and painted in Super-LumiNova. The bottom part of the dial which surrounds the map of the world features a subtle sunlit finish in shades of blue, and the ring showing universal time is in transparent sapphire. Local times are therefore read by the red hands pointing to the gold indexes, while world times are identified by visualizing an imaginary longitude from the ruby in the central bridge to the 24-hour sapphire ring.
Openworked, svelte design
The architecture of the Globetrotter Gold crossways bridge is remarkable. Classy and svelte, the bridge is formed of one central piece in solid gold, with openwork taken to the extreme. The flat parts of the arch are polished, its sides are satin-finished, and the long surfaces of its chamfers beveled. These types of finishes and the level of quality achieved are those commonly applied to the components of Arnold & Son calibers. However, the dimensions of this bridge are considerably larger than they would be within a movement, and thus demanded exceptional care and precision.
Manual, handcrafted
At 45 mm, the case of the Globetrotter Gold is vast. The hemisphere was the guideline to its design and its surface area requires a certain amount of space. Above the equator are North America, Eurasia and part of Africa, all represented with a wealth of detail. In reality, the continents form a single rhodium-plated, polished sculpture. In contrast, the Atlas, Hoggar, Himalayan, Rocky, Ural and Alps mountain ranges are given a matte finish.
The oceans are hand-painted with several coats of blue-pigmented lacquer enriched with pearlescent powder to bestow exceptional depth and shine. The coastlines are lighter on the blue color scale with added Super-LumiNova, so that they stand out at night and further accentuate the relief of this small piece of manual craftsmanship.
Manufactured and finely crafted
The Globetrotter Gold is assembled on the Maison’s automatic caliber A&S6022. Like all Arnold & Son movements, it has been entirely developed, produced, decorated, assembled, adjusted and fitted at their plant in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Its oscillating weight is 22-karat gold, skeletonized and features the Clou de Paris guilloché pattern.
The A&S6022 calibre is decorated with the traditional fine watchmaking motifs: stippled main plate, radiant Côtes de Genève bridges, satin-finished wheels and bevelled, polished screws. Its specific finishes are also NAC-treated. This type of plating uses precious metals close to platinum to produce a particularly high-quality anthracite result that perfectly matches the red gold case of the Globetrotter Gold.
