Arnold & Son reached for the stars and created Nebula as one of its harmonious yet striking skeleton timepieces. Previously housed in a red gold case, the Nebula 38 now comes in a steel version with a diameter rarely seen in this category.
Nebula 38 is housed in a steel case with a diameter rarely seen in the skeleton watch category. (Arnold & Son)
Based in La Chaux-de-Fonds in the Swiss Jura region, Arnold & Son differs from other companies in this horological hub as it boasts English roots dating back to 1764.
A native of Cornwall, John Arnold made a name for himself when Great Britain dominated the production of precision timepieces. His son John Roger Arnold joined him, and eventually took over the company, then known for its award-winning marine chronometers.
The British heritage is complemented by Swiss know-how for engineering the Nebula, whose sculptural movement evokes an inverted and exploding star, with all the bridges converging from the edge towards the centre of the watch.
The seven bridges span four axes that cross the watch, for a visual balance. Arranging the structure of a skeleton movement in a ring facing inwards is a unique approach, based on carefully-considered symmetry.
The front and back of Nebula 38.
Reduced to a black lacquered flange, the dial acts as a bridge in supporting some of the intricate gearing.
The domed sapphire crystal on the dial side explicitly reveals the openworked bridges and other components. The small seconds function at 7 o'clock is twinned with the balance. While technically different, these two blocks adopt similar shapes to achieve the movement's sense of equilibrium.
The winding mechanism linked to the crown stem has been moved to the case back, giving it an unusual position, for an overall symmetric and aesthetic coherence.
Equipped with a hand-wound mechanical movement, the Nebula 38 was designed with practicality in mind, as it presents a 90-hour power reserve that is rare for skeleton models.
