Episode #54: Arnold & Son: Two Eras of Watchmaking & The New Constant Force Tourbillon with Pascal Béchu
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Welcome back to your favourite watch-related podcast!
To mark 260 years of one of the most important brands in British watchmaking and horological history, Arnold & Son, we speak to their engaging CEO and consummate gentleman, Pascal Béchu.
Sit back and learn about some of the most mind-blowing historical stories about the brand, created by John Arnold and his son John Roger Arnold in 1764. Discover how he went from a humble watchmaker to making watches for a British king, a world famous nautical explorer, and the home of timekeeping, London's Greenwich Observatory. It doesn't end there the discussion continues with John Arnold's watchmaking relationship, legacy and collaborations with one Abraham Louis Breguet, and were they really BOTH behind the creation of the tourbillon?
It's not just a history lesson, we talk about modern-day Arnold & Son and how the brand, under Pascal, is striving to keep every element of the brand's history and heritage alive and up to date in this modern watchmaking era.
It is indeed an honour and a pleasure to mark the launch of Arnold & Son's brand new Constant Force Tourbillon today too, with them choosing Chrono Passion 7 to be the first podcast to talk about it and discuss it before Watches & Wonders 2025 where it will be launched as their novelty for the big show.
So buckle up and enjoy the ride as we talk history, modernity, and a possible inspiration for MBNF and their Legacy Machine.
First up, we have the wristwatch checks: Pascal starts things off with his Arnold & Son DSTB, followed by Parm with his new Breitling Navitimer A23322. Andy wraps up the wrist checks with his Tudor Submariner 76100 Lollipop.
Moving on to some of the most important historical pieces from Arnold & Son, we start with the Arnold & Son miniature repeater ring watch, which John Arnold made for King George III’s 26th birthday in 1764, the same year the brand was founded, 260 years ago. Next is the Arnold & Son marine chronometer No. 3, which accompanied James Cook’s second Pacific voyage (1772–75), overseen by astronomers from the Board of Longitude. Lastly, we have the Arnold & Son pocket watch No. 1/36, sent to the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, where it was praised for its precision.
Turning to the Longitude range, this collection takes inspiration from the historical pieces shown above, such as the Chronometer No. 3 and the Arnold & Son Pocket Watch No. 1/36, celebrating the brand's 260th anniversary.
Pictured above is the incredible Arnold & Son pocket watch No. 11, originally gifted to Abraham-Louis Breguet by John Arnold. After John’s death, Abraham-Louis Breguet modified the movement by adding his tourbillon and returned the watch to John Arnold’s son as a tribute to his father, with the plate on the back inscribed.
Next, we come to the star of the show, the Arnold & Son CFT 11, which pays tribute to the famous pocket watch above and celebrates Arnold & Son’s 260th anniversary.
The following link will take you to the Arnold & Son website, where you can view the three principles under the [watches] tab.
Here, we have an example of how historical design cues run through different brands. Pictured are the Arnold & Son Luna Magna and the Ultrathin Tourbillon, followed by the MB&F Legacy Machine 101, and finally, the Breguet Tradition 7057.
That’s it for the show notes! We hope you enjoyed the show, let us know your thoughts in the comments. Until then, you’ll hear us on the next one.
