Swiss luxury watch brand paying tribute to English watchmaker John Arnold (1736-1799), who was instrumental in developing marine chronometers that helped solve the problem of longitude at sea. Today, Arnold & Son is a true manufacture developing and producing in-house movements with sophisticated complications including tourbillons, perpetual calendars, moon phases, and world timers.
John Arnold was born in Cornwall in 1736 and became one of the most innovative watchmakers of his era. In 1764, he gained an introduction to King George III by presenting him with the smallest half-quarter repeater ever made, mounted in a ring. This established his reputation, and Arnold went on to create pioneering marine chronometers for the British Navy and Board of Longitude. His chronometer No. 3 accompanied James Cook on his second voyage in 1772. Arnold held patents for the detent escapement, bimetallic compensated balance, and helical balance spring. He retired in 1796, transferring the company to his son John Roger Arnold (1769-1843), who continued as a predominant supplier to the Admiralty. After John Roger's death in 1843, the business was continued by Charles Frodsham until the mid-19th century. The brand was revived in 1995 by British Masters SA in Switzerland. In 2010, Arnold & Son joined Manufacture La Joux-Perret, and in 2012, the entire Prothor holding (including La Joux-Perret, Arnold & Son, and Prototec) was acquired by Citizen Watch Co. for approximately CHF 65 million.
PRICE SEGMENT
LuxuryMOVEMENT TYPES
MANUFACTURING
Full ManufactureSPECIALIZATIONS
HEADQUARTERS
Switzerland1764 John Arnold
1799 John Roger Arnold
1843 Charles Frodsham
1958 British Masters SA
2010 La Joux-Perret
2012 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.
