Arnold & Son

Who are Arnold & Son?

Arnold & Son is a Swiss watch brand based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, named after John Arnold, the 18th-century English chronometer maker (Arnold & Son). The modern brand was relaunched in 1995 and has been owned by the Japanese Citizen group since 2012 (Arnold & Son; Citizen). This page covers both stories, the London maker and the Swiss brand, then what to check when buying an Arnold & Son watch second-hand in the UK.

The two are connected by name, not by a continuous business. John Arnold’s firm passed to his son and then to Charles Frodsham in 1843; the name was revived in Switzerland in 1995 (Arnold & Son). Today’s watches are mechanical, built on what the brand calls three principles: astronomy, chronometry and world time (Options, 2026).

The history of Arnold & Son

Arnold & Son’s history has two parts: John Arnold’s London business, which made chronometers for navigation from the 1770s, and a Swiss brand founded in 1995 that took the name and joined Citizen in 2012.

John Arnold. Arnold was born in Bodmin, Cornwall, in 1736. He worked as a watchmaker in The Hague before returning to England around 1757, and with a loan from William McGuire set up in business on the Strand in London in 1762 (Wikipedia). In 1764 he presented King George III with a miniature repeating watch set in a ring (Arnold & Son).

Chronometers. Arnold made timekeepers for finding longitude at sea. Three of them sailed with James Cook and Tobias Furneaux on Cook’s second voyage from 1772; only one was still running on the return in 1775 (Wikipedia). In 1775 he patented a compensation balance and a helical balance spring. His pocket timekeeper No. 36, which he called a chronometer, a word that later came into general use, was tested at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, from February 1779 to July 1780 and performed with great accuracy (Wikipedia). A second patent in 1782 covered the spring detent escapement; Thomas Earnshaw’s competing design led to a long dispute over who invented it (Wikipedia). From about 1783 Arnold made marine and pocket chronometers in quantity at his factory at Well Hall, Eltham (Wikipedia).

Father and son. The Science Museum Group holds a marine chronometer signed “John Arnold and Son, Cornhill, London”, dated 1787–1799. Arnold & Son says Arnold retired in 1796 and passed the company to his son, John Roger Arnold (1769–1843). Sources vary on when the partnership began. Arnold died at Well Hall on 11 August 1799 (Wikipedia).

Breguet. In 1792 Arnold went to Paris to arrange for Abraham-Louis Breguet to take John Roger as an apprentice, and allowed Breguet to use his inventions. In 1808 Breguet presented John Roger with a tourbillon fitted into Arnold pocket chronometer No. 11, as a tribute (Wikipedia; Arnold & Son).

After the Arnolds. John Roger Arnold became a leading supplier to the Admiralty. After his death in 1843 Charles Frodsham continued the firm (Arnold & Son).

The Swiss brand. In 1995 The British Masters relaunched Arnold & Son in Switzerland. In 2010 it became part of Manufacture La Joux-Perret, a movement maker in La Chaux-de-Fonds, and Arnold & Son says its calibres have since all been developed and produced in-house (Arnold & Son). In 2012 Citizen bought Prothor Holding SA, the owner of La Joux-Perret, the component maker Prototec and Arnold & Son, from about 20 private investors including management (SJX Watches, 2012). Citizen records Prothor as a consolidated subsidiary from April 2012 (Citizen).

What is Arnold & Son known for?

Arnold & Son is known for John Arnold’s marine and pocket chronometers, and in its modern form for in-house movements with astronomical displays, skeletonised and tourbillon watches, and world-time watches.

The chronometer heritage. John Arnold’s patents covered the compensation balance, the helical balance spring and the spring detent escapement (Wikipedia; Arnold & Son). The modern Longitude collection, a COSC-certified chronometer with large seconds, is named for his marine chronometers (Arnold & Son). Our guide to COSC certification explains what the test measures.

Moons. The Luna Magna has a large three-dimensional moon that the brand calls the largest rotating moon in a wristwatch, and the Perpetual Moon collection is also built around a large moon display (Arnold & Son).

In-house movements. Arnold & Son says its calibres are developed and produced in-house (Arnold & Son). Its 2026 models used calibres such as the A&S1001 and the manual-winding A&S8300, a flying tourbillon movement 2.97 mm thick (Options, 2026). Our guide to in-house and outsourced movements explains why the distinction matters.

Which Arnold & Son collections are there?

Arnold & Son groups its collections by its three principles: Astronomy (Luna Magna, Perpetual Moon), Chronometry (Longitude, HM, Constant Force, DSTB, Nebula, Time Pyramid, Ultrathin Tourbillon) and World Time (Globetrotter, Double Tourbillon) (Arnold & Son).

A few points help when you read listings:

• Limited editions. Many models are made in small numbers; the 2026 Ultrathin Tourbillon Onyx and Luna Magna Platinum Dragon Verdite were each limited to eight (Options, 2026). Match the edition number to the papers.
• Same collection, different movement. Collections such as Nebula come in several case sizes (Arnold & Son). Check the calibre and reference, not just the collection name.
• Old Arnold pieces. Chronometers by John Arnold and his son are historical instruments, some held in museum collections such as the Science Museum Group’s. They are a different thing from modern Arnold & Son watches, so check which one a listing means.

Who owns Arnold & Son?

Arnold & Son is owned by Citizen Watch Co. of Japan. Citizen bought Prothor Holding SA, the owner of La Joux-Perret and Arnold & Son, in 2012 (SJX Watches, 2012), and records it as a consolidated subsidiary from April 2012 (Citizen). Citizen lists Arnold & Son among its watch brands, alongside Citizen, Bulova, Frederique Constant and Alpina (Citizen).

The operating company is Manufacture Arnold & Son – Angelus SA, at Boulevard des Éplatures 38 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the same address as Manufacture La Joux-Perret S.A. (Citizen; Arnold & Son). Angelus, a brand founded in Le Locle in 1891, is run alongside it, and Pascal Béchu was appointed chief executive of both in May 2026 (Options, 2026). For the parent company, see our Citizen page.

Buying an Arnold & Son watch second-hand in the UK: what to check

Check the calibre and reference against the papers, match any edition number, find out what remains of the warranty and who has serviced the watch, and run a stolen-watch check.

1. Papers and the full set. Ask which items come with the watch and whether they are originals. Our guide to what “full set” means explains what each item proves.

2. Calibre and reference. Arnold & Son names its movements with A&S calibre numbers (Options, 2026). Ask the seller for the calibre and reference and check they match the papers and the model.

3. Warranty. Ask when the watch was first sold and whether any manufacturer’s warranty remains. Arnold & Son’s warranty terms are not published on its site. See watch warranties explained.

4. Servicing. Arnold & Son lists a service centre in Bushey, Hertfordshire, for the UK (Arnold & Son). Ask when the watch was last serviced, by whom, and for the paperwork. Our guide on how to care for a mechanical watch covers what a service involves.

5. Authenticity. Buy from a seller who will put authenticity in writing and accept returns, and have the watch checked by a watchmaker you choose. Our guide on how to spot a fake watch covers what a watchmaker looks at.

6. Stolen-watch check. Check the serial number against a stolen-watch register before you pay. Our stolen-watch check guide lists the UK registers.

For the full process from setting a budget to collecting the watch, see the guide to buying a luxury watch.

Frequently asked questions

Who was John Arnold?

An English watch and chronometer maker, born in Bodmin in 1736, who made marine chronometers used on Cook’s second voyage and patented the compensation balance and helical balance spring (Wikipedia).

Is Arnold & Son a British brand?

The name is British; the modern brand is Swiss. It was relaunched in Switzerland in 1995 and is based in La Chaux-de-Fonds (Arnold & Son).

Who owns Arnold & Son?

Citizen Watch Co. of Japan, which bought its parent, Prothor Holding SA, in 2012 (Citizen; SJX Watches, 2012).

Is Arnold & Son still owned by Citizen?

Yes. Citizen lists Arnold & Son among its brands and Manufacture Arnold & Son – Angelus SA among its overseas group companies (Citizen), and a June 2026 report describes it as part of the Citizen group (Options, 2026).

Does Arnold & Son make its own movements?

Yes. The brand says its calibres have been developed and produced in-house since it joined La Joux-Perret in 2010 (Arnold & Son).

What is the link between Arnold and Breguet?

Breguet trained John Arnold’s son and in 1808 presented him with a tourbillon fitted in an Arnold chronometer, as a tribute (Wikipedia).

Where is Arnold & Son serviced in the UK?

Arnold & Son lists a service centre in Bushey, Hertfordshire (Arnold & Son).

Is Arnold & Son connected to Angelus?

They are run together rather than being the same brand. Angelus, founded in Le Locle in 1891, shares Arnold & Son’s address and, since May 2026, its chief executive, Pascal Béchu (Options, 2026).

This page is general information. Watch60 is independent and has no commercial relationship with Arnold & Son.

We check the facts on this page against the sources listed, and it is correct to the best of our knowledge as of October 2026. Brands change their warranty, servicing and sales terms, so confirm them with the brand or the seller before you buy.