On February 17, 2026, the lunar calendar will transition away from the Wood Snake, ushering in the reign of the Fire Horse. This particular zodiac sign, which occurs only once every sixty years, is associated with untamed energy, mystical ambition, and a dazzling, almost volatile spirit. It is a period that astrologers often describe as one of high intensity and rapid movement, setting a distinct tone for the year that spans into early 2027. To mark this significant astrological shift, the Swiss manufacture Arnold & Son has continued its annual tradition of creating a dedicated timepiece for the Chinese Zodiac. Now in its sixth consecutive year of this series, the brand has unveiled a creation that captures the flamboyant nature of the Fire Horse through a combination of high-precision mechanics and intricate artistic crafts. The release is strictly limited, with only eight examples being produced for collectors worldwide.
The Arnold & Son Perpetual Moon 41.5 Red Gold "Year of the Horse" is not merely a depiction of an animal but a composed scene of motion and celestial drama. The watch serves as a canvas for the brand’s "Métiers d’Art" capabilities, merging miniature painting with three-dimensional sculpture. The chosen medium for the backdrop is black aventurine glass, a material celebrated for its ability to mimic the depth of a star-filled night sky. The glass is infused with metallic inclusions that glitter under direct light, creating an infinite, sparkling abyss that sets a dramatic stage for the golden figure in the foreground. This choice of dial material provides a stark, high-contrast theater where the interplay of shadow and light can play out effectively.
Courtesy of Arnold & Son
Dominating the lower right quadrant of the dial is the horse itself, a sculpture rendered in 18-carat red gold (5N). The figure is not stamped but rather hand-engraved with remarkable attention to anatomical detail. The artisan has captured the animal in a rearing stance, a classic pose of power and dominance. The engraving work highlights the tension in the equine muscles, the flowing texture of the mane, and the precise articulation of the hooves. The gold appliqué has been polished to catch the light, making the horse appear to leap forward from the darkness of the aventurine. It is a dynamic representation, avoiding the static stiffness sometimes found in zodiac tributes, instead opting for a posture that suggests potential energy about to be released.
Surrounding the golden beast is a landscape that defies traditional realism in favor of symbolic storytelling. The ground beneath the horse is not simple earth but a rugged terrain of mountainous reliefs and shadowy woodland undergrowth. This scenery is hand-painted using gold powder, applied with delicate brushstrokes to create texture and depth. What makes the scene truly specific to the "Fire Horse" is the trail of sparks that follows the animal’s wake. These are not random speckles but a deliberate application of golden dust meant to evoke a metaphorical fire ignited by the creature's passage. It suggests that the horse is not just moving through the world but transforming it, leaving a burning legacy of vitality and spirit behind it.
The visual experience of the dial changes significantly when ambient light fades, revealing a second personality to the watch. The artisans have employed Super-LumiNova in a highly specific manner to animate the scene in darkness. The trail of sparks and the landscape are accented with touches of red and yellow luminescent material. In low light, these elements glow with the hues of smoldering embers, reinforcing the "fire" element of the zodiac sign. This nocturnal transformation ensures that the narrative of the untamed spirit continues even when the intricate engraving of the gold horse is less visible. It creates a duality in the display, shifting from a scene of golden opulence by day to one of mystical, glowing energy by night.
Hovering above this terrestrial drama is the complication that gives the watch its name: the Perpetual Moon. The moon phase display on this model is exceptionally large, occupying a significant portion of the upper dial. The moon disc itself is crafted from mother-of-pearl, chosen for its iridescent, cloud-like quality that closely resembles the actual lunar surface. It has been treated with Super-LumiNova as well, allowing it to shine with a cool, pale radiance that contrasts sharply with the warm, fiery tones of the landscape below. This large aperture does not just show the phase of the moon; it acts as a secondary light source within the composition, balancing the visual weight of the gold horse below.
Courtesy of Arnold & Son
The sky surrounding the mother-of-pearl moon is also made of the same black aventurine glass as the main dial, ensuring a seamless visual integration. However, the upper section of the sky is further detailed with hand-painted constellations. The stars of Cassiopeia and Ursa Major are depicted in the firmament, also treated with luminescent material. These familiar celestial markers ground the artistic interpretation in astronomical reality, reminding the wearer that this is, at its heart, an instrument of time and space. The placement of the Big Dipper and the Queen constellation adds a layer of navigational history, nodding to the marine chronometer heritage of the brand's founder.
Encasing this intricate artwork is a 41.5mm case crafted from 18-carat red gold (5N). The choice of red gold is intentional, harmonizing with the copper tones of the aventurine sparkles and the rose gold horse appliqué. The case measures 11.67mm in thickness, a dimension that allows it to have a significant presence on the wrist without being unwieldy. The bezel is slim and polished, maximizing the visible surface area of the dial. The lugs are stepped and curved, designed to hug the wrist comfortably while maintaining a classic silhouette. A domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides protects the dial, ensuring that the view of the engraving and painting remains distortion-free from any angle.
The finishing of the case is executed with the expected standard of high horology. The polished surfaces amplify the warmth of the red gold, creating a frame that feels substantial and luxurious. The crown, also in red gold, is knurled for easy gripping, which is necessary for the manual winding of the movement. Water resistance is rated at 30 meters (3 bar), which is standard for a dress watch of this caliber. It is designed to withstand the occasional splash but is certainly not intended for aquatic use, preserving the delicate nature of the leather strap and the internal mechanics.
Turning the watch over reveals the mechanical engine that drives the artistic display. The timepiece is powered by the A&S1512 calibre, a manual-winding movement that was entirely developed, produced, decorated, and assembled at the Arnold & Son manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The view through the sapphire caseback is expansive, showcasing the fine finishing of the bridges and plates. The movement is relatively large, with a diameter of 34mm, filling the case nicely. It operates at a frequency of 3 Hz, or 21,600 vibrations per hour, a traditional beat rate that is often associated with reliability and longevity in mechanical watchmaking.
Courtesy of Arnold & Son
The A&S1512 calibre is notable for its impressive power reserve. Thanks to a double-barrel architecture, the movement can run autonomously for 90 hours when fully wound. This long-lasting power supply is a practical benefit for collectors who may rotate their watches frequently, as it allows the Perpetual Moon to be set down for nearly four days without stopping. The barrels are integrated seamlessly into the movement architecture, which features a radiant Côtes de Genève pattern on the bridges. The screws are blued and chamfered, and the jewels are set in polished sinks, demonstrating the "Haute Horlogerie" finishing standards that the brand adheres to.
However, the true technical prowess of the A&S1512 lies in its astronomical precision. The moon phase mechanism is designed to track the lunar cycle with extreme accuracy. A standard lunar cycle, or lunation, lasts approximately 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, and 2.8 seconds. Most mechanical moon phase watches approximate this to 29.5 days, leading to an error that requires correction every two and a half years. Arnold & Son, however, has engineered a gear train that approximates the cycle so closely that it would take 122 years for the display to deviate by a single day from the actual moon, assuming the watch was kept constantly wound.
For the user's convenience, the movement features a secondary moon-phase indicator on the bridge side, visible through the caseback. This technical addition serves a practical purpose: it allows for the fast and accurate adjustment of the moon age. While the dial-side display is poetic and visual, the caseback display is clinical and precise, featuring a graduated scale that helps the wearer set the complication exactly. This duality of "poetry on the front, precision on the back" is a hallmark of the brand's approach to astronomical complications.
The heritage of the brand is deeply rooted in the work of John Arnold, an 18th-century English watchmaker who was a contemporary and friend of Abraham-Louis Breguet. Arnold was renowned for his marine chronometers, which were essential tools for navigation at sea. He was a principal supplier to the Royal Navy and played a pivotal role in defining the modern concept of a "chronometer" as a high-precision timekeeper. Although the brand is now Swiss-based, it maintains a strong connection to this British lineage through its focus on chronometry and astronomy. The Perpetual Moon collection is a direct descendant of this legacy, translating the navigational necessity of tracking the moon into a modern artistic expression.
Courtesy of Arnold & Son
Arnold & Son’s identity today is built on three pillars: Astronomy, Chronometry, and World Time. The Perpetual Moon falls squarely into the first category, but the underlying mechanics pay tribute to the second. The independence of the manufacture, supported by its sister company La Joux-Perret, allows for a high degree of vertical integration. This means that from the initial concept of the Fire Horse design to the final casing of the movement, every step is controlled internally. This capability is what allows for such limited production runs, as the brand does not rely on generic movements or external suppliers for its core components.
The layout of the dial also speaks to the brand’s specific aesthetic codes, which often prioritize symmetry and open space. Even with the complex engraving and painting, the dial does not feel cluttered. The hands for the hours and minutes are open-worked and faceted, designed to be legible without obstructing the view of the moon or the horse. They are silver-toned, providing a subtle contrast to the gold elements and ensuring that the time-telling function remains secondary to the artistic display. The indices are applied markers, faceted to catch the light, hovering above the aventurine glass like floating debris in space.
The strap chosen for this model is a black alligator leather, selected for its large, square scales which suggest a high grade of material. In a subtle nod to the "Fire" theme, the lining of the strap is made from red alligator leather. While this detail is mostly hidden when the watch is worn, it adds a private touch of color and luxury for the owner. The strap is hand-stitched, reinforcing the artisanal nature of the product. It is secured to the wrist by an 18-carat red gold pin buckle, matching the case material and featuring the Arnold & Son logo.
The "Year of the Horse" edition is a continuation of a series that has previously celebrated the Dragon, the Rabbit, and other zodiac signs. Each year, the brand explores different artistic techniques to best represent the animal in question. For the Horse, the focus on "unbridled art" and the metaphorical fire is particularly apt. The choice to limit the production to just eight pieces makes this an exceedingly rare object, targeting a very specific niche of collectors who appreciate both Chinese cultural symbolism and independent Swiss watchmaking.
Courtesy of Arnold & Son
It is worth noting the emotional resonance of the Fire Horse sign itself. In Chinese astrology, those born under this sign are said to be destined for exceptional lives, full of travel, adventure, and unpredictability. The watch attempts to capture this sentiment through the dynamic pose of the horse and the explosive nature of the gold powder sparks. It is a timepiece that tells a story of energy and motion, frozen in a moment of artistic perfection. The combination of the deep black dial, the warm red gold, and the luminescent fire creates a palette that is both aggressive and sophisticated.
The Arnold & Son Perpetual Moon 41.5 Red Gold "Year of the Horse" is priced at $79,900. With a strict limitation of only eight pieces produced, availability is expected to be extremely scarce, likely reserved for the brand's most established clients. The watch represents a significant investment in terms of craftsmanship and exclusivity, offering a rare blend of fine art and high-precision mechanics that honors the transition to the lunar new year with appropriate grandeur.
Case: 18K red gold (5N) construction; 41.5 mm diameter; 11.67 mm thickness; domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides; sapphire crystal display back with anti-reflective coating; water resistant to 3 bar (30 meters/100 feet).
Movement: A&S1512 calibre; manual winding; 34.00 mm diameter; 5.35 mm thickness; 27 jewels; frequency of 3 Hz (21,600 vph); 90-hour power reserve via double barrel; functions include hours, minutes, astronomical moon phases (122-year accuracy), and secondary moon-phase indicator on the caseback.
Dial: Black aventurine glass material; 18-carat rose gold (5N) hand-engraved and polished horse appliqué; hand-painted landscape with gold powder and Super-LumiNova; mother-of-pearl moon discs with Super-LumiNova; hand-painted constellations (Cassiopeia and Ursa Major).
Strap: Hand-stitched black alligator leather with red alligator leather lining; 18K red gold (5N) pin buckle.
Price: $79,900 USD
Reference Number: 1GLBR.Z11A.C1293A
Notes: Limited edition of 8 pieces worldwide; created to celebrate the Year of the Fire Horse (2026); features a secondary moon-phase indicator on the movement side for precise adjustment.