Arnold & Son is a luxury watch brand that has a rich and storied history dating back to the 18th century. The company was founded by John Arnold in 1764 in London, England, and quickly gained a reputation for producing some of the most accurate marine chronometers of its time.
John Arnold was an accomplished watchmaker who had worked for some of the most prestigious watchmakers of his time, including George Graham, another famous watchmaker of the era. Arnold’s first significant contribution to watchmaking was the development of a pocket chronometer in 1770, which was one of the first watches to achieve high levels of accuracy while also being portable.
Arnold continued to innovate throughout his career, and in 1787 he developed the first watch with a detent escapement, a significant advancement in watchmaking that greatly improved accuracy. He also developed the first watch with a helical balance spring, which further improved accuracy by compensating for changes in temperature and pressure.
After Arnold’s death in 1799, the company was taken over by his son, also named John Arnold, who continued to innovate and produce high-quality watches. In 1815, Arnold & Son introduced the first watch with a constant force escapement, which is still used in some of the brand’s watches today.
Arnold & Son continued to produce innovative and high-quality watches throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, and the brand was acquired by the Swiss watch company La Joux-Perret in 2010. Today, the brand continues to produce luxury watches that combine traditional watchmaking techniques with modern technology, and is known for its innovative designs and high levels of craftsmanship.
