Arnold & Son Globetrotter 42 Steel

The lineage of Arnold & Son is deeply intertwined with the history of exploration and the quest for precision. John Arnold, a seminal figure in 18th-century English watchmaking, was instrumental in developing marine chronometers that allowed seafarers to determine longitude, effectively unlocking the globe. This legacy of creating instruments for world travelers finds a contemporary and dramatic expression in the Globetrotter collection. The latest additions, the Globetrotter 42 Steel models, refine this concept, presenting a mechanically sophisticated worldtimer within a more compact and accessible format, continuing the brand's historical narrative of navigating the world through precision timekeeping.

These new iterations are a direct response to evolving tastes in watch wearability, presenting a more thoughtfully proportioned instrument for today's adventurers. The original Globetrotter made a bold statement with its size, but this new version introduces a 42 mm stainless steel case. This reduction in diameter, coupled with a revised thickness of just over 15 mm, creates a watch that is significantly more balanced on the wrist. This isn't merely a scaling-down exercise; it's a careful reconsideration of ergonomics, ensuring that the watch's impressive visual depth and mechanical complexity can be appreciated and worn comfortably in a variety of settings, from a business meeting across continents to a casual weekend exploration.



The true spectacle of the Globetrotter 42 Steel is its dial, a multi-layered, three-dimensional theater of global time. The design eschews the flat, printed world map dials common to many worldtimers in favor of a vivid, sculptural representation. The centerpiece is a large, domed hemisphere depicting the continents of the northern hemisphere as viewed from the North Pole. This is not just a decorative element; it is the functional heart of the world time complication. The sheer architectural quality of the dial sets it apart, creating a sense of depth and activity that is captivating from every angle.

Spanning this miniature globe is the collection's signature feature: a large, delicately arched bridge. Crafted from a single piece of steel, this bridge is a feat of micro-engineering and hand-finishing. Its surfaces are meticulously polished, and its edges are carefully chamfered by hand, reflecting light and drawing the eye across the expanse of the dial. Functionally, the bridge serves two purposes. First, it securely holds the rotating Earth dome in place via a ruby set at its very center, directly above the North Pole. Second, it acts as a visual divider, demarcating the day and night hours on the 24-hour ring that encircles the dome.

The dome itself is a marvel of detail. The landmasses are rendered in metal and given a sunray-brushed finish, which causes them to catch the light and stand out with a tangible sense of relief against the oceans. These oceanic expanses are polished to a high sheen, creating a beautiful contrast in texture and finish. For these new models, Arnold & Son has enhanced the functionality of this rotating globe. Around its perimeter, a new ring has been added, featuring the three-letter codes for twelve reference cities from both the northern and southern hemispheres, each positioned opposite its approximate location on the map. This addition provides a more intuitive framework for reading the time across different zones.



One of the two new references is the ‘Greenwich Green’ model, a direct homage to the brand’s English heritage. The color palette is inspired by the verdant, wooded hills that surround the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, the historical home of the Prime Meridian. The main dial ring, featuring gold-finished Roman numerals, has a deep green sunray-brushed finish. The 24-hour ring is bead-blasted for a matte texture, also in green with gold-finish Arabic numerals. On the dome, the oceans are depicted in a polished ‘Greenwich Green,’ while the continents and powdered city codes are finished in 4N gold, matching the screws on the steel arch for a cohesive and warm aesthetic.

The second version is the ‘Strand Blue’ model, which draws its inspiration from a different, yet equally significant, London landmark. The Strand is the street, running parallel to the River Thames, where John Arnold established his workshop. This reference features a cooler, more reserved color scheme. The primary dial ring has a sunray-brushed rhodium finish, against which blue Roman numerals provide a crisp contrast. The 24-hour ring is bead-blasted rhodium with blue Arabic numerals. The continents on the dome are also rhodium-finished with a sunray brushing, while the city codes are powdered silver. The oceans are a polished, deep ‘Strand Blue,’ and the screws securing the arch are heat-blued, tying the entire composition together.

Powering both versions of the Globetrotter 42 is the in-house self-winding mechanical calibre A&S6122. A significant update to this movement is the extension of its power reserve from 45 to a more robust 55 hours, a practical improvement for any mechanical watch. This calibre beats at a modern frequency of 4 Hz, or 28,800 vibrations per hour, ensuring reliable accuracy. The entire time-setting process, including the adjustment of the local hours and the world time display, is conveniently managed through the single, three-position crown, making it exceptionally user-friendly for travelers who frequently change time zones.

Like every movement from the brand, the A&S6122 is a product of the Arnold & Son manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Its creation is an integrated process, encompassing every stage from initial development and production to the final decoration, assembly, adjustment, and casing. This commitment to in-house production ensures a level of quality and coherence that is palpable in the final product. The movement's architecture and finishing are proudly displayed through a transparent sapphire crystal case back, offering a view into the mechanical soul of the watch.



The decoration of the calibre A&S6122 adheres to the high standards of traditional Swiss watchmaking. The oscillating weight, responsible for automatically winding the mainspring, is not a simple solid mass; it is intricately open-worked and engraved with a guilloché pattern. The main plate features fine circular-graining (perlage), while the bridges are adorned with radiating Côtes de Genève stripes. Further details, such as the satin-finished wheels and the meticulously chamfered and polished screw heads, demonstrate a comprehensive attention to aesthetic detail that extends to every component, seen or unseen.

A noteworthy finishing touch on the movement is its palladium coating. This treatment gives the movement's components a distinct, light-grey finish. This specific choice of color and material is not arbitrary; it was selected to create a visual harmony with the cool tone of the stainless steel case that houses it. This thoughtful synergy between the movement's appearance and the watch's exterior casing speaks to a holistic design philosophy where every element is considered in relation to the whole.

Completing the watch is a strap crafted from high-quality alligator leather, which has been hand-stitched to ensure durability and a refined appearance. The ‘Greenwich Green’ model is paired with a matching ‘Cornwall’ green strap, while the ‘Strand Blue’ version is fitted with an ‘ink’ blue strap. Both are fastened to the wrist with a classic stainless steel pin buckle, a simple and secure choice that is engraved with the Arnold & Son emblem.

The visual experience of the Globetrotter 42 is dominated by its impressive depth. The journey for the eye begins at the highly domed sapphire crystal, which has anti-reflective coatings on both sides to minimize glare and maximize clarity. This crystal creates a bubble-like window into the dial. Beneath it, the great steel arch rises and crosses the display, creating a sense of structural integrity. Furthest down is the rotating hemisphere itself, a dynamic element that brings the entire dial to life. This layering creates a sense of space and complexity that few other watches can match.



The case construction, while now more compact, remains robust and well-defined. The stainless steel is polished to a high shine, providing a bright frame that contrasts effectively with the intricate details and rich colors of the dial. The lugs curve down gently to hug the wrist, improving the fit of the 42 mm case. The crown is appropriately sized for easy operation, a crucial feature for a watch whose functions are all controlled through this single input. Despite its intricate appearance, the case is rated for a water resistance of 30 meters, suitable for everyday wear and protection against accidental splashes.

From a functional standpoint, the Globetrotter 42 is an intuitive tool. The local time is read via two traditional, arrow-shaped hands that emerge from beneath the central dome and point to the Roman numerals on the outer dial ring. Simultaneously, the world time can be determined by observing the position of any location on the rotating dome relative to the fixed, 24-hour ring that encircles it. The addition of the city codes on the dome's edge further simplifies this process, allowing a user to quickly reference the time in a major city without mental calculation.

The historical context of John Arnold's work is critical to understanding the Globetrotter's place in the watch world. In the 18th century, accurate timekeeping at sea was the most pressing technological challenge of the age. Arnold’s marine chronometers were among the first to be produced in significant quantities, offering the accuracy and reliability needed for the British Royal Navy to navigate the world's oceans with newfound confidence. This history of creating practical, life-saving instruments for global travel is the philosophical bedrock upon which the modern Globetrotter is built.

The craftsmanship is evident not just in the broad strokes of the design but in the microscopic details. The hand-chamfering of the central bridge, the precise application of lacquer for the oceans, the crispness of the printing on the 24-hour ring, and the sunray brushing on the tiny continents all require immense skill and patience. It is this dedication to fine craft that elevates the watch from a mere time-telling device to a piece of kinetic art for the wrist.



For the modern globetrotter, this watch offers a compelling blend of practicality and poetry. The ability to adjust all functions through the crown is a significant convenience, eliminating the need for fiddly pushers. The improved power reserve means the watch can be set down for over two days without needing to be rewound and reset. More than that, it offers a romantic yet functional visualization of our planet's rotation, a constant reminder of the interconnectedness of time and place.

These new Arnold & Son Globetrotter 42 Steel watches are produced in a limited edition of just 88 pieces for each color variation, ensuring a degree of exclusivity. With a retail price of $20,800, they occupy a space in the market for collectors and enthusiasts who appreciate unique complications, in-house manufacturing, and a design that makes a strong, individualistic statement.

Case: Stainless steel, 42 mm diameter, 15.10 mm thickness. Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides. Sapphire crystal exhibition case back. Water resistance of 3 bar (30 metres/100 feet).

Movement: In-house Calibre A&S6122, self-winding. 55-hour power reserve, 29 jewels, frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vph). Functions include hours, minutes, and world hours via a 24-hour ring and rotating dome. All functions adjusted via the crown.

Dial: Available in 'Greenwich Green' (sunray-brushed green, gold-finish details) or 'Strand Blue' (sunray-brushed rhodium, blue details). Features a central 3D dome of the Northern Hemisphere with sunray-brushed continents, polished oceans, and a steel arch bridge.

Strap: Hand-stitched alligator leather in 'Cornwall' green or 'ink' blue. Stainless steel pin buckle.

Price: $20,800

Reference Number: 1WTBS.F01A.C1242S (Green); 1WTBS.K01A.C0263S (Blue)

Notes: Limited to 88 pieces per color. The central architectural element is the large, hand-finished steel bridge spanning the rotating 3D world time dome.