The New Arnold & Son Globetrotter Platinum Limited Edition

Independent watchmaker Arnold & Son presented the striking Globetrotter in 2018, and a slightly updated version saw the light of day in 2021. Both editions were executed in stainless steel and came out as an exciting and visually pleasing take on the world time complication. This year, the company chose to launch the Globetrotter Platinum Limited Edition, dressed in the most precious of metals, as if to highlight the preciousness of our planet.

It is easy to get excited by the sheer look of the Arnold & Son Globetrotter, for the beauty of Earth seen from above is undisputed; and the A&S Globetrotter features a very large three-dimensional model of our planet, showing the Northern Hemisphere as seen from above the North Pole. But the pretty picture is very functional, as the Earth rotates once every 24 hours to let you read world time against the 24-hour ring. This feature distinguishes this timepiece from most world-timers, where we find a rotating 24-hour ring that shows time simultaneously in 24 different time zones. With this watch, your local time is indicated by red arrows pointing to the indices, and to read world time, you need to imagine a longitude from the centre of the bridge to the 24-hour ring. The setting of the hour hand works independently.

The Arnold & Son Globetrotter Platinum comes in a round 45mm case with domed sapphire crystal, and is perfect for bringing attention to the dial detail. The bridge that crosses the dial above the Earth and holds the jewel in the centre to mark the universal time axis is crafted from white gold. The bridge surfaces are chamfered, polished or satin-finished, matching the techniques used on a platinum case. The dial, or rather the wide outer ring that encompasses the hemisphere like a cosmos or an ocean, is tinted mother-of-pearl with graduated shades of blue. The applied faceted white gold rhodium-plated indices have a sheer amount of Super-LumiNova. The 24-hour transparent ring floats like a thin cloud above the blue surface and looks blue in harmony with the rest of the dial unless you turn the watch sideways.

The Earth’s sculptured image is worth looking at closely, as only a few watches offer such attention to geographical detail. The land is polished and rhodium-plated, with the mountains’ relief in a matt finish. The oceans are hand-painted with several layers of lacquer, and the blue pigments radiate thanks to the added powdered mother-of-pearl. The best touch… the use of Super-LumiNova to create a lighter shade of blue along the coastlines, and it shines in the dark as if you witness the natural wonder of bioluminescence.

The Globetrotter is powered by the beautifully decorated self-winding A&S6022 movement, all yours to enjoy through the exhibition caseback. The oscillating weight with a Clous de Paris guilloché pattern is skeletonised and NAC coated; it winds the watch to 45 hours of power reserve. Several fine watchmaking finishing techniques were used to highlight the exceptional character of this movement: perlage on the mainplate, sunburst Côtes de Genève bridges, satin-finished wheels, and bevelled and mirror-polished screws, to name a few.

The Arnold & Son Globetrotter Platinum Limited Edition is worn on a blue alligator skin strap with raspberry-pink lining, with a folding clasp in platinum and titanium. This Globetrotter edition will be produced as a limited series of just 28 pieces, offered for CHF 64,900, including taxes. For more, please visit www.arnoldandson.com.