Arnold & Son Longitude Titanium Watch Review
The Arnold & Son Longitude Titanium was unveiled at Watches & Wonders 2024. Competing in the ‘sports-chic’ watch segment, this new model embraces modernity with its contemporary styling, while simultaneously upholding traditions with its ultra-refined movement.
Selecting a name for a watch
“Deny thy father and refuse thy name” are the emotive words uttered by Juliet in Shakespeare’s play centred around two ill-fated, star-crossed lovers. Quite simply, names have significance and they have the capacity to contribute to the success or failure of a product.
Over the years, I have often been asked to conceive names for new watches. It can prove a challenging task, thinking up a name only to discover that another watch brand has already registered it. With persistence, a few suitable options are proposed to the client and they select their favourite. Once an appropriate has been settled on, it still doesn’t necessarily guarantee success.
Recently, at Watches & Wonders 2024, Arnold & Son unveiled a new, elegant sports watch with, what I perceive is the perfect name – ‘Longitude’. Why perfect? Well, John Arnold, one of the greatest names in watchmaking history, devoted a significant portion of his life to creating marine chronometers; highly precise instruments designed to calculate longitude at sea. With just nine letters, the modern-day brand, based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, has honoured the great man’s legacy and conceived an original and memorable name that most people can pronounce and, most importantly, remember.
Sports-chic watch
Nevertheless, the Arnold & Son Longitude Titanium is more than a clever name. The watch taps into the present-day horological zeitgeist for ‘sports-chic’ timepieces. This popular genre of watch offers versatility, perfectly complementing both casual and formal attire. Moreover, the finest examples are endowed with refined finishing befitting the term ‘fine watchmaking’.
Recently, whilst attending Watches & Wonders 2024, I visited Arnold & Son’s exhibition stand and enjoyed an intimate moment with the new Longitude Titanium. It did not take long for me to fall under its coquettish spell. Allow me to elaborate.
Arnold & Son Longitude Titanium dial
The Swiss Maison offers three dial colours: ‘ocean blue’, ‘fern green’ and my favourite, ‘Kingsand gold’. This latter variant is limited to 88 pieces, whereas the blue and green options are non-limited. All dial variants feature a sumptuous vertical satin brush.
Time is indicated with partly openworked hour and minute hands incorporating Super-LumiNova. The hands are very distinctive with their stepped sides, yet they remain eminently clear to read. Each hour is denoted with matching indexes, once again lined with luminescent fill. The hands and indexes are executed in a rhodium-plated or golden finish, depending on the dial colour.
In the upper reaches of the dial, a series of small apertures, increasing in size, serve to indicate the status of the mainspring (power-reserve). Reminiscent of a sandwich dial, the small rectangular-shaped holes reveal glimpses of a blue-toned lower level (on my preferred Kingsand model). It may sound a small detail, but it is the masterful incorporation of subtle touches that engenders ownership delight.
A small seconds display resides at 6 o’clock. It is recessed and features snailed detail, sometimes termed ‘azurage’. The minute track encircling the dial is also snailed and sits slightly lower than the main dial surface. Another delightful detail on the Longitude Titanium is the way the indexes appear to cantilever over the minute track. It is clear that the design of the display is not the product of haste but protracted contemplation.
Arnold & Son Longitude Titanium case
The Arnold & Son Longitude is housed in a 42.5 mm Grade 5 titanium case. This lightweight alloy is not liable to corrosion and is hypoallergenic. Unlike cheaper Grade 2 titanium, the case of the Arnold & Son Longitude Titanium can be polished to a resplendent gleam, a characteristic Arnold & Son has fully exploited. Indeed, the Swiss marque has juxtaposed finely brushed and highly polished surfaces, culminating in a sublime aesthetic.
Hold the watch between forefinger and thumb and you will readily see sinuous case flanks positioned adjacent to precisely defined lines. The watch can be worn with either a matching titanium bracelet, fitted with a folding clasp, or, in the case of the blue and green dial options, a colour-coordinating rubber strap fitted with a titanium pin buckle. An ‘interchangeable system’ allows the wearer to swap between the bracelet and strap without the need for tools.
Arnold & Son A&S6302 calibre
The A&S6302 calibre is a self-winding movement, endowed with a large barrel, allowing the watch to run autonomously for 60 hours. The dorsal glazing affords views of the ultra-refined finishing. The hand-chamfered bridges are enriched with the brand’s own ‘Rayons de la Gloire’ motif, a form of decoration similar in appearance to Côtes de Genève rayonnantes, while the mainplate is adorned with perlage. In addition, the transmission wheel is embellished with sunray-brush and the ratchet wheel is decorated with a spiral-shaped motif. Lastly, blued screws uphold fine watchmaking practise while also adding a sprinkle of colour.
Arnold & Son has equipped the A&S6302 calibre with a 22-carat gold oscillating mass. It has opted for an openworked design, affording superior views of the finely decorated bridges, etc. The outer edge of the oscillating mass (the felloe) is engraved with ‘graduations similar to those on a sextant – another maritime instrument’.
In the 18th century, marine chronometers were essential for safely navigating vast oceans. While the vessels of today employ GPS systems to accurately pinpoint a ship’s position, the importance of precision timekeeping has never gone out of fashion. The Longitude Titanium is a certified chronometer (COSC), providing independent assurance of its timekeeping prowess.
Arnold & Son Longitude Titanium – closing remarks
The Arnold & Son Longitude Titanium is more than just a name. It is a handsome watch endowed with an array of nuanced details and incorporates a beautifully appointed movement. Moreover, this highly precise ‘sports-chic’ model delivers sublime levels of wearer comfort.
In my opinion, this is a watch worthy of its brilliant name; I just wish I had thought of its fabulous moniker myself.
Further reading
Technical specification
- Model: Arnold & Son Longitude Titanium – Kingsand gold – 1LTAT.J01A.N001U
- Model: Arnold & Son Longitude Titanium – ocean blue – 1LTAT.U01A.N001U
- Model: Arnold & Son Longitude Titanium – fern green –1LTAT.F01A.N001U
- Case: Grade 5 titanium, diameter 42.5 mm, height 12.25 mm (with crystal), water resistance 10 ATM (100 m), sapphire crystal to the front and exhibition case back
- Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds, power-reserve indicator
- Movement: A&S6302 calibre, self-winding movement, frequency 28,800 vph (4 Hz), 36 jewels, power reserve 60 hours
- Strap – titanium bracelet with folding clasp. Additional strap in rubber with titanium pin buckle
- Swiss retail price: – Kingsand gold – CHF 22,600 including taxes (RRP as of 9.4.2024) – 88 timepieces
- Swiss retail price: – ocean blue – CHF 21,500 including taxes (RRP as of 9.4.2024) – not limited
- Swiss retail price: – fern green – CHF 21,500 including taxes (RRP as of 9.4.2024) – not limited