Arnold & Son released a preview today of the Golden Wheel, the first watch to combine wandering hours and true beat seconds. It is powered by a manufacture movement (caliber A&S6018), which took three years to make from concept to development.

The wondering hours complication is indicated via three clear sapphire discs that rotate on a carrousel that displays both hours and minutes. Arabic numerals hours are printed on the discs, with the minutes indicated by the small arrow that is also printed above the numeral. The disc points to the semi-circle scale at the top of the dial that reads 0-60 (highlighted by the semi-circle mother of pearl plate underneath the scale), this indicates the current hour and minute.

Dead beat, or “true beat” seconds, are indicated by the long, gold, arrow-shaped hand that circles the dial (it does not move smoothly like a typical mechanical watch, instead it ticks, like a quartz).

The movement is palladium treated with hand-chamfered bridges with polished edges, fine circular graining and Côtes de Genève rayonnantes. The carousel is supported by an 18K red gold mechanism, that is satin-finished with hand-chamfered and polished edges. The dial plate NAC grey treated with Côtes de Genève, circular satin-finished wheels, blued screws with bevelled and mirror-polished heads.

The 4Hz movement is automatic with 29 jewels and a 50-hour power reserve. The oscillating weight is palladium treated, with skeletonized with brushed surfaces. The dial side has a cambered sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides, and a see-through sapphire case back.

The Golden Wheel comes in an 44 mm diameter 18K red gold case that comes with a choice of either brown or black hand-stitched alligator leather strap. Limited edition of 125 timepieces. (Ref.1HVAR.M01A.C120A)

For more, visit Arnold & Son.