The Enticing Arnold & Son Luna Magna Red Gold Meteorite
The Luna Magna rises again with blue meteorite to evoke the cosmos and milky-white opal to capture the moonlight.
Boasting one of the largest spherical moon phase displays in watchmaking, Arnold & Son’s Luna Magna collection continues to grow with the incorporation of yet another stunning model. Following the previous models, which came in gold or platinum cases that sported various types of dials, it now comes in a luxurious red-gold case with a blue meteorite dial hosting the spectacular 3D Moon as it performs its monthly cycle of waxing and waning.
Arnold & Son has a very special relationship with our neighbouring satellite, which first manifested itself in 2016 with the Perpetual Moon and Double Hemisphere Perpetual Moon. While these models featured large apertures and realistically engraved lunar surfaces, the two-dimensional Moon was flat. Then, in 2021, Arnold & Son captured the Moon in three dimensions with the Luna Magna and its massive revolving 12mm sphere.
Octahedrites, the most common class of iron meteorites, are renowned for the Widmanstätten pattern revealed when a cut and polished surface of the meteorite is etched with diluted acid. The classic metal crisscrossing patterns of the meteorite are treated with a matte blue shade of PVD to suggest the cosmos. The sub-dial at noon displaying the hours and minutes is crafted in milky-white opal with classical black Roman numerals and blued hands with open arrow-shaped tips. A second sub-dial at 6 o’clock hosts the fascinating 3D moon phase, and together, the two dials form an elegant upside-down figure eight.
Half of the sphere representing the moon is made from Cacholong opal, and the other half is a blue PVD meteorite. Opal’s natural iridescence plays with the ambient light beautifully, but in low-light conditions, the dial and the opal half of the moon emit a blue-green glow thanks to the Super-LumiNova coating. Astronomical accuracy is guaranteed by the precision moon phase complication on the back of the movement that, if the watch were kept wound, would require an adjustment of only one day every 122 years. However, there is a practical way to correct the moon phases directly at the crown.
The polished 18k red gold case measures 44mm with a thickness of 15.90mm (incl. box sapphire crystals over the dial and caseback). The reverse side of the case offers a view of the other side of the moon and the A&S1021 calibre, a hand-wound movement beating at 21,600vph/3Hz with a robust 90-hour power reserve. Like all A&S movements, the finishing is traditional, with Geneva stripes radiating from the centre and perlage.
Availability & Price
The Luna Magna Red Gold Meteorite comes on a blue alligator leather strap with an electric blue alligator lining and a red gold pin buckle. It is a limited edition of 38 timepieces and retails for CHF 59,000 (incl. tax).
For more information, please consult arnoldandson.com.