Arnold & Son Launches 3 Perpetual Moon Steel Watches at CHF 21,100

Q: How does a steel watch priced at CHF 21,100 challenge the traditional definition of luxury material value?

It argues that luxury value now sits less in the metal and more in the watchmaking. At CHF 21,100, Arnold & Son’s steel Perpetual Moon 41.5 undercuts the old idea that a high-end watch must justify its price through gold or platinum. The case is stainless steel, but the value proposition comes from elements collectors increasingly prize more highly: an in-house calibre, a 90-hour power reserve, haute horlogerie finishing, a precise moon-phase system, and extremely limited production of 18 pieces per version. The dial work is central to that shift. Coloured mother-of-pearl moons, PVD-treated mother-of-pearl skies that preserve natural iridescence, and hand-painted luminescent constellations turn the watch into a piece of decorative craft rather than a simple steel object. In that sense, the price reflects labor, technique, and artistic execution more than raw material cost. It also reflects a broader market reality. Some of the most sought-after modern luxury watches are steel models, especially when backed by strong brand heritage, distinctive design, and scarcity. Arnold & Son, founded in 1764, is leveraging that logic: heritage and horological credibility can outweigh intrinsic material value. So the challenge is direct: this watch suggests that in contemporary luxury, steel is no longer a “lesser” material. If the movement, finishing, storytelling, and rarity are strong enough, the case metal becomes secondary to craftsmanship and exclusivity.

3 articles · Updated · Monochrome Watches · Jun 23

Three limited-edition Perpetual Moon 41.5 Steel models—Blue, Golden and Red Moon—mark Arnold & Son’s latest update to the astronomy-themed line, with each version capped at 18 pieces.
CHF 21,100 buys a notable shift in materials: the brand swaps the collection’s usual precious metals for a 41.5mm stainless-steel case while keeping the oversized moon-phase display central.
Mother-of-pearl dials use PVD coloring and Super-LumiNova to recreate rare lunar effects, with hand-painted Cassiopeia and Ursa Major adding to the night-sky motif.
The watches run on Arnold & Son’s hand-wound A&S1512 calibre, which offers a 90-hour power reserve and a highly precise moon-phase mechanism adjustable via a secondary display on the back.
The release extends a Perpetual Moon collection that has been on the market for more than a decade, reinforcing the brand’s focus on astronomical complications.