Second Glances – Arnold & Son’s CTB Watch
The CTB is the brand’s second chronograph, but it’s also a world-first. Why? Because the watchmaker, in its quest for absolute precision, has put a true beat seconds hand and a chronograph seconds hand together – on the same axis no less. A phenomenal invention that’s protected by two patents.
This watch comes with a slight warning: the entrancing effect of seeing the two hands progress at their own separate pace can get more than a little addictive. Both seconds hands rotate with different jumping intervals, which means the chronograph hand advances at a rate of eight beats per second and forever looks as if it’s about to catch up with the true beat hand. Which never happens of course, because the true beat hand leaps forward again just in time.
What else can we tell you? The automatic movement has a column-wheel operated chronograph giving optimum balance to the dial and the finishing is superb, with hand-beveled edges and radiating Côtes de Genève engraving, combined with a light-grey or silvery-white and opaline dial. It’s a timepiece that brings a real sense of depth and dimension to any lucky wrist. Definitely worth a second look.