There are a lot of great in-house movements out there — Rolex, Omega, and even Seiko offer truly impressive in-house movements that really make a solid pitch for your dollars over the average ETA or Sellita movement. Then there’s Arnold & Son. A&S produces a new movement for every model it releases, and each new model serves as a vessel to display the brand’s design prowess; they also provide a new way to explore the art and science of designing and manufacturing high-end movements. As part of its Baselworld 2019 releases, Arnold & Son is presenting the Nebula 38.

Specifications

Brand: Arnold & Son
Model: Nebula 38
Dimensions: 38mm diameter, 8.91mm-thick
Water Resistance: 30 meters
Case Material: 18k red gold
Crystal/Lens: Sapphire
Movement: In-house A&S5101
Frequency: 21,600vph
Power Reserve: 90 hours
Strap/Bracelet: “Brandy” or grey alligator leather
Price & Availability: CHF 23,300, limited to 50 pieces

A&S has produced this case out of 18k red gold, with matching gold hands and movement accents to complete the look. However, the star of the show here is the movement, both aesthetically, and academically. The overall design of the Nebula 38 is built around highlighting the movement inside, the A&S5101 manual wind. Sandwiching the movement are two sapphire crystals, giving you a full view of the skeletonized dial design. Making up the visual and mechanical components, the Nebula 38 shows off 10 chamfered bridges treated with palladium, dual barrels, and NAC-treated main plate.

The A&S5101 is more than just a pretty face. Twin barrels provide a generous 90-hour power reserve to the escapement, which is beating away at 21,600vph. With the detailed level of finishing and its sole creation for the Nebula 38, it’s clear that Arnold & Son takes a lot of pride in its movement prowess, opting to bypass a dial design altogether in favor of giving the movement a leading role.

Dress watches such as the Nebula 38 represent more than just a good-looking watch you can wear with your tuxedo at a black tie event, in my opinion. Watches like the Nebula 38 represent the level of skill and detail that is still alive and well within the watch industry. Even though the Nebula 38 will be limited to 50 pieces, it keeps alive an art form that most of society has forgotten. If you’d like to be one of the 50 owners of an Arnold & Son Nebula 38, you’ll need to lay your hands on the asking price of CHF 23,000. Learn more at arnoldandson.com.