Arnold & Son brings mythology, sculpture, and astronomical watchmaking together with the new Luna Magna Platinum Dragon Verdite!
Arnold & Son are no strangers when it comes to creating highly expressive artistic timepieces that turn traditional watchmaking into something much more. The brand’s Luna Magna collection is a perfect example of this, taking one of watchmaking’s most poetic complications, the moon phase, and showcasing it through a large three-dimensional sphere, which has become a signature design element for Arnold & Son.
Now, for 2026, Arnold & Son is unveiling a stunning Dragon and Verdite edition, taking the Luna Magna into mythical territory. Limited to just eight pieces, this highly sculptural timepiece combines a platinum case, verdite dial, white gold dragon, and three-dimensional moon phase display, drawing inspiration from the legend of the Dragon and the Pearl of Wisdom.
This isn’t the first time that Arnold & Son have done a dragon edition of the Luna Magna. In 2024, the brand released a “Year of the Dragon” edition, which included a majestic dragon in miniature sculpted form, with the large sphere being one of the central highlights of the timepiece. This new edition takes this exact design and presents it in a new format, using different colours and materials to create a richer, more dramatic interpretation of the design.
Mythology Carved In White Gold
Arnold & Son is presenting the Luna Magna Platinum Dragon Verdite in a 44mm case crafted from platinum, which immediately gives the watch a sense of presence. It is on the thicker side, with the case measuring 15.90mm thick, but given the three-dimensional moon phase display and that beautifully sculpted dial, these proportions start to make sense.
The case features polished surfaces all around, giving the platinum construction a bright and luxurious presence on the wrist. Combined with the box sapphire crystal and sapphire caseback, the design creates a clear sense of depth from both sides of the watch, which allows the sculpted dial and astronomical moon phase display to be the main attractions of the timepiece. The imperial green alligator leather strap also works beautifully with the verdite dial, tying the case, dial, and overall colour palette together in a way that feels rich and intentionally luxurious.
The dial, however, is where this timepiece truly comes to life. Arnold & Son have used verdite, a unique ornamental stone with rich green tones and natural veining, to form the base of the dial. Sitting above this is the hand-engraved white gold dragon, which coils around the white opal hours-and-minutes sub-dial, before it eventually reaches the large three-dimensional moon at 6 o’clock.
The details of the dragon are immaculate. It showcases fine artisan craftsmanship at its very best, with the scales, beard, crest, claws, and even the dragon’s gaze brought to life through meticulous hand-engraving. Against the natural veining of the verdite dial, the white gold dragon feels almost sculptural, giving the watch a level of depth and realism that goes far beyond traditional dial decoration.
The execution of the moon phase is just as impressive as the dial itself. As with all Luna Magna timepieces from Arnold & Son, the moon is presented as a large 12mm three-dimensional sphere, with this particular version being crafted from half white gold and half verdite to match the overall design of the watch.
The moonphase doesn’t just serve as a visual centrepiece either, as the display reproduces the lunar cycle with an impressive amount of astronomical precision, requiring only a one-day correction after 122 years if the watch is kept fully wound. There is a secondary moon-age display on the case back, which allows for precise setting, which also highlights that Arnold & Son has treated this complication with both a sense of artistry and practicality.
The Calibre Behind The Moon
The movement powering the astronomical and chronometric accuracy of the Luna Magna Platinum Dragon Verdite is Arnold & Son’s A&S1021 calibre. This is a manual winding movement that has been developed, machined, assembled, and adjusted fully in-house. Being a manual-winding movement, it operates at a frequency of 3Hz, while delivering a power reserve of 90 hours.
While the dial side is captivating with the dragon sculpture, the caseback shows mechanical ingenuity as well as expert craftsmanship. The movement has been built around the large three-dimensional moon, which can be seen from the back in its verdite and white gold construction, tying the reverse side beautifully to the front of the watch. At the centre is the secondary moon-age display, but surrounding it are various finishes that make the caseback as artistically designed as the dial. The movement is finished with radiating Côtes de Genève, blued screws, chamfered bridges, and openworked details that give the calibre a highly decorative, architectural presence!
Initial Thoughts
Arnold & Son begins a new chapter for the Luna Magna collection, bringing the previously limited-edition Chinese Zodiac dragon sculpture back into the limelight, this time in a beautiful white gold edition. What makes this edition stand out is how the Maison has taken an already dramatic concept and elevated it further through the use of noble materials, with a platinum case, verdite dial, white gold dragon, and a three-dimensional moon crafted from verdite and white gold.
I’m a fan of Métiers d’art creations, so naturally I’m going to enjoy a watch like this. Now the proportions are certainly too large for my wrist size, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the expert craftsmanship behind this timepiece.
What Arnold & Son has done with the Luna Magna Platinum Dragon Verdite is take traditional watchmaking and push it into the realm of sculpture, storytelling, and artistic craftsmanship. Limited to just eight pieces, this is less of a conventional timepiece and more of a miniature work of art, combining mythology, sculpture, ornamental stonework, and astronomical watchmaking in one stunning creation!
Reference & Specifications
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Reference | 1LMAX.Z05A.C1437C |
| Dimensions | 44mm x 15.90mm thick |
| Case | Platinum (Pt 950) with polished surfaces. |
| Dial | Verdite material, with the dragon made of 18-carat white gold and hand-engraved |
| Crystal | Box sapphire with an anti-reflective coating on both sides |
| Movement | Hand-wound Calibre A&S1021 beating at 3Hz / 21,600 vph |
| Functions | Off-centre dial displaying hours and minutes. Large 12mm moon sphere made of verdite and 18-carat white gold at 6 o’clock. |
| Power Reserve | 90 hours |
| Water Resistance | 30M / 3ATM |
| Strap | Imperial green alligator leather, black alligator leather lining, with folding clasp, platinum (Pt 950) cover and buckle frame, titanium blades. |