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Named after John Arnold, the English watchmaker of the 18th century renowned for his work on chronometers and marine chronometers, Arnold & Son perpetuates the legacy of its namesake from the heart of the modern-day Swiss watch industry. John Arnold first gained fame in 1764 by presenting an exceptionally small ring containing a half-quarter repeater watch to King George III. From 1770 onwards, John Arnold dedicated himself to solve one of the greatest challenges of his age: calculating longitude reliably at sea. That challenge was precision, and Arnold made it his passion. Between 1770 and 1790, he painstakingly refined the art of watchmaking, introducing decisive improvements and trailblazing inventions. John Arnold, together with his friend A.-L. Breguet, largely invented the modern mechanical watch. Thus, Arnold & Son rapidly became the leading supplier of chronometers to the Royal Navy. His son, John Roger, joined the firm in 1796.

SWISS WATCHMAKING

SWISS WATCHMAKING

Inspired by John Arnold’s relentless quest for precision and innovative technology, the modern-day Arnold & Son company keeps this fine English watchmaking tradition alive at its headquarters in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the watchmaking capital of Switzerland.

SOPHISTICATED COMPLICATION

SOPHISTICATED COMPLICATION

Arnold & Son belongs to a select group of watchmaking companies in Switzerland entitled to call themselves a manufacturer, a French term reserved exclusively for watch manufacturers who develop and produce their own movements in-house. The brand's prowess in the development and production of in-house movements is reflected by an impressive collection of Arnold & Son calibers with a complete range of sophisticated complications. Unlike other watch manufacturers, who often use the same caliber for different models, Arnold & Son develops a new movement for every single model.
Today, the brand maintains a product philosophy established well over 200 years ago, combining traditional, hand-finished craftsmanship with state-of-the-art technology.

CREATIVE CRAFTSMANSHIP

CREATIVE CRAFTSMANSHIP

True to its founder, Arnold & Son today carefully preserves and cultivates the skilled creative craftsmanship in the form of hand-finished engravings and miniature paintings that have been characteristic of the brand throughout its history. Today, the company has its own qualified hand-engravers, who specialize in a traditional art form involving the use of hardened steel tools called burins in combination with other special tools. 

JOHN ARNOLD

JOHN ARNOLD

John Arnold was born in Cornwall in 1736 as the son of a watchmaker. He left England for the Netherlands at the age of 19 and returned to London two years later speaking excellent German. This stood him in good stead at the court of George III, from the house of Hanover, to whom Arnold presented the smallest repeating watch ever made. He was one of the most inventive watchmakers of his day and held patents for a detent escapement, bimetallic balance, and helical balance spring. Arnold also played a central role in the significant events of his age, such as the competition to determine longitude at sea, and won several grants and awards offered by the British Parliament.

Timepieces Collection