Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Arnold & Son UltraThin Tourbillon Onyx Edition
The dark, mysterious presence of black onyx provides a dramatic backdrop to the spectacle of the flying tourbillon.
Arnold & Son’s UTTE – Ultra Thin Tourbillon Escapement – debuted at Baselworld 2013, powered by the ultra-thin 2.97mm hand-wound calibre A&S8200. Recognised as the world’s thinnest tourbillon wristwatch, the title was stolen from Arnold & Son just one year later with Bulgari’s 1.95mm Octo Finissimo Tourbillon. Still remarkably thin, Arnold & Son’s Ultrathin Tourbillon returns in 2026 in luxurious red gold or platinum cases and inky-black onyx dials, powered by the updated calibre A&S8300, introduced to the collection in 2022.
Sharing specifications with post-2022 models, the round case measures 41.5mm across and is 8.4mm thick, including the domed sapphire crystal over the dial. Framed by a very slim bezel, the novelty here is the finely polished onyx disc on the dial. A variety of agate from the chalcedony family, the onyx is dark, intense and fathomless.
The offset layout of the dial, with hours and minutes in a sub-dial at noon, mirrored by the large tourbillon aperture at 6 o’clock, is designed to resemble the way information was relayed on John Arnold’s historical marine chronometers.
The concave sub-dial for the hours and minutes is also crafted from black onyx and features Roman numerals and openworked hands. However, the onyx in the sub-dial features a matte satin finish, contrasting with the polished onyx on the dial. With so much expanse of black, the aperture of the tourbillon regulator is the true protagonist of the dial. Like the hours and minutes, the tourbillon is framed by a gold or platinum ring matching the case material. Another allusion to John Arnold’s ties to the maritime world is the tourbillon carriage’s shape, which resembles a sextant, while the double-arrow counterweight represents an anchor.
Still considered one of the thinnest calibres available today, the in-house A&S8300 measures just 2.97mm in height. Its 32mm diameter reveals the refined finishings of the components with radiating Côtes de Genève, snailing on the double-barrel ratchet wheels and polished blued screws. The yellow gold flying tourbillon bridge is hand-engraved with plant motifs, similar to those that adorned John Arnold’s pocket watches. Thanks to upgrades executed to the movement in 2022, the power reserve is 100 hours.
The two models are presented on alligator straps with folding clasps. The Ultrathin Tourbillon Onyx in red gold is limited to 8 pieces and retails for CHF 74,600, while the 8 limited-edition platinum references retail for CHF 85,400 (both prices include tax). More information at arnoldandson.com.
