A new one-off watch from Arnold & Son (A&S) which pays tribute to the falcon though miniature art is sure to find favour among lovers of fine watches in the Gulf.

Part of the brand’s Royal Collection, the Métiers d’Art HM Falcon unique piece will appeal to watch connoisseurs who appreciate the finest-quality watchmaking combined with beautiful arts and crafts. 

The hand-painted miniature depicts a falcon proudly perched atop a rock against the clear sky. The subtle, soft colours set off to perfection by the shimmer of the dial in white mother-of-pearl. 

The exclusive nature of this reference is underscored by its limitation to just one piece.

Mankind’s fascination and relationship with the falcon goes back several millennia. In ancient Egypt, the falcon was deified as Horus, the god of the sky and kingship. In other civilisations and cultures, the falcon symbolises vision, agility and victory.

An art in itself, the earliest known practices of falconry date back to ancient Mesopotamia over four thousand years ago, and possibly Mongolia. It later spread to Europe, becoming a sport for nobility. Today, falconry is upheld in various parts of the world, particularly the Arabian Gulf.

The watch was created to celebrate this majestic bird of prey. Adorning the mother-of-pearl dial is a hand-painted miniature of a falcon. In this technique, the artist uses delicate nuances of colours and tones, using tiny brushstrokes and texturing gradually to build-up the entire image with an astonishing richness of details and depth. 

The art of painting miniatures by hand calls for infinite patience and consummate skill. As A&S’s  master miniature painter Andre Martinez explains: “The art of hand-painting miniatures takes many years of concentrated practice to perfect. This unique miniature painted dial technique shows how today A&S carefully preserve and cultivate the skilled creative craftsmanship that have been characteristic of the brand throughout its history.” The sumptuousness of the falcon is a counterpoint to the simplicity of the white mother-of-pearl dial, which shimmers entrancingly with the play of light.

 This unique piece boasts the ultra-thin A&S1001 manufacture movement with over 90 hours of power reserve; the movement is housed in an 18-karat rose gold case, with a brown alligator strap.

The Métiers d’Art HM Falcon is limited to just one example. If desired, the watch is available with a diamond-set bezel.

The price is upon request.