The TE8 Métiers d'Art I From Arnold & Son
Today we have the latest project from Arnold & Son, the TE8 Métiers d'Art I, a piece inspired by a pocket fake watch made for King George III. You still get a remnant of the pocket fake watch styling but this is a fully modern watch, that even borders on futuristic. It's also incredibly British—everything from the inescapably linear construction to the fanciful decoration of the barrel bridge displays the balance between the restrained and the decorative.
Closer Look At The TE8 Métiers d'Art I From Arnold & Son
The heart of the TE8 Métiers d'Art I is the caliber A&S8000. This movement is hand-wound and has been specially arranged so that the tourbillon and barrel spring are visible at 6 and 12 o'clock respectively. Triangular bridges and three-spoke wheels continue the geometric precision of the movement, and the plates are crafted from German silver. Quite literally rounding things out is a wave design that Arnold & Son have cut into the 3/4 barrel bridge, which pairs well with the bridge's custom, hand-engraved detailing.
Caliber A&S8000
There is no real dial to speak of here - the movement sits between two sapphire crystals with a thin hours/minutes track around the edge. All of this is housed in an 18k rose gold case that comes in at 44mm. There's a lot going on here, a result of the combination of exposed movement structure and decoration, but that's what this fake watch is all about (as you might have guessed from the name).
Limited to only eight numbered pieces, full details on the TE8 Métiers d'Art I can be found at Arnold & Son.
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