WORLDTEMPUS - 30 March 2010
Elizabeth Doerr
Founded in 1998 by Eric Loth, Pierre-André Finazzi, and Dr. Ernst Thomke, the shape of The British Masters has changed over the last ten years in all but one thing: a desire to do justice to the British masters who are the namesakes of the two brands incorporated into the society: Graham and Arnold. Loth now leads the “masters” without the aid of Finazzi and Thomke, but with joint venture partner and movement supplier La Joux-Perret.
Dead Beat © Arnold & Son
John Arnold (1736-1799) was a famous English chronometer maker. He began his love affair with precision around 1768, and today continues to be known as the most important pioneer of chronometry after John Harrison.
The modern Arnold & Son brand constituting part of The British Masters concentrates on timepieces with longitudinal themes; the line extensions introduced during Baselworld 2010 include True Moon with its realistic moon phase display and Hornet Trafalgar with its unique second and third time zone displays that depict both half hours and the Battle of Trafalgar. The Sir John tourbillon—which represents a tribute to the friendship between John Arnold and Abraham-Louis Breguet—is presented in three new bezel executions limited to 25 pieces.
The newest masterpiece is called Dead Beat and combines a tourbillon with deadbeat sweep seconds making rounds around the entire expanse of the dial. The deadbeat mechanism is secured by a central bridge shaped like a Celtic Ax, and the design of the movement is distinctly English to reflect the origins of the brand.
