That is possible since they are a part of this Swiss watch movement manufacturer La Joux-Perret (yes, it is owned by the Citizen Group from Japan – however they don’t really make any decisions about how it’s run, to be fair), which gives Arnold & Son the ability to do things all its rivals simply can not. At least not with this scale. What’s really driving the invention forward is probably Sebastien, who just has a lot of ideas to stay idle.Ignore the movement and dial, and the Arnold & Son Nebula is quite much what we have come to expect out of Arnold & Son dress-style watches. The Arnold & Son Nebula comes in either steel or 18k red gold, and the case is 41.5mm wide and 8.73mm thick – making it incredibly wearable. It isn’t the smallest or the biggest dress watch which Arnold & Son makes, however with its thinner case along with classical proportions it surely works well as a more formal timepiece.In graphics, the three-dimensional thickness of the dial is hard to convey. For me, that is actually the magic of looking into the Arnold & Son Nebula – along with the visually very attractive charm of this motion architecture. Arnold & Son is not likely to beat Patek Philippe, Chopard, or Vacheron Constantin nowadays when it comes to the level of motion finishing, but it is pretty good – especially for the cost. More to the point, over the years I’ve really seen it get better – for instance, in how they do the beveled edges on the ends of motion bridges or wheels.
Welcome back to an original aBlogtoWatch feature, “My First Grail Watch.” In this series, we ask prominent people in the watch industry about the first timepiece that they lusted after. Today, we’re speaking with Sebastien Chaulmontet, who heads the movement team at Arnold & Son. You’ll also note that he’s an avid collector enamored with chronographs, just like many of us.
aBlogtoWatch (ABTW): Who are you, and what is your relationship to the watch industry?
Sebastien Chaulmontet (SC): I am head of movement development at Arnold & Son, and I am also part of the design team.
ABTW: When did your fascination with watches start?
Sebastien Chaulmontet: As a child; I was 10 years old. I bought my first vintage watch (a simple ladies’ Omega) at a flea market. I wanted to give it to my mother for her birthday. It cost me 10 CHF at the time (around USD 10) and I still remember the day and place where I bought it. My mother still has the watch today and she remembers fondly that I bought my first watch for her.
ABTW: That’s a great bit of family history there. Let’s turn the focus more towards your collection – what was your first grail watch?
Sebastien Chaulmontet: I had been searching for years for a vintage Angelus Chrono-datoluxe, the first ever chronograph with a big date.
ABTW: What drew you to this particular watch?
Sebastien Chaulmontet: I am a chronograph collector and I have always been attracted to Angelus as it was a real manufacture. This watch is particularly rare and a must-have for any chronograph collector.
ABTW: Was there ever a time in your life when you could afford it – and if so, did you get it?
Sebastien Chaulmontet: Yes, absolutely, I could and did buy it. I even bought some additional versions later on.
ABTW: Do you still have it, or have you moved on to something else?
Sebastien Chaulmontet: Of course, I still have it as part of my collection. As a collector the search/quest never ends, and I continue to collect other vintage chronographs.