Arnold Son expands its DSTB 42 line with two striking new editions. The red gold case is paired with a fresh Mint Green dial, while the platinum version introduces a refined Ascot Blue. Limited to just 18 pieces per edition, both highlight the collection’s hallmark: a true-beat (deadbeat) seconds display. The dials feature a fine grained texture that catches the light, while three openworked gold bridges proudly carry the seconds mechanism, set opposite a white opal sub-dial for the hours and minutes. The result is a play of balance, contrast and depth that underscores the singular design language of the DSTB.
The true-beat seconds complication is central to Arnold Son’s history. John Arnold’s 18th-century marine chronometers, used by the Royal Navy, relied on escapements that ticked once per second for ultimate precision at sea. Translating this into a modern wristwatch demands an additional mechanism, since no standard calibre naturally beats at one hertz. In the A&S6203 movement, operating at 4 Hz, a dedicated in-house system transforms the rapid oscillations into a steady, jumping seconds hand. This mechanism is showcased dial-side, held in place by sculptural gold bridges, paying tribute to Arnold’s pioneering role in chronometry.
Beyond its historical reference, the DSTB 42 demonstrates contemporary craft. The true-beat mechanism’s anchor-shaped counterweight recalls the brand’s maritime heritage, while the long central hand advances in sixty precise jumps each minute. Powered by the self-winding A&S6203 calibre, with a 22-carat gold rotor and a 55-hour power reserve, the DSTB 42 captures both innovation and tradition in equal measure.
