A subset of Phillips New York Watch Auction: Seven on Dec. 11, TimeForArt is a carefully curated sale of timepieces from some of the world’s most exceptional watchmakers, hosted by the Swiss Institute with 100% of proceeds benefiting its exhibitions, programs, education, and more. And for the occasion, Arnold & Son (a Swiss watchmaker founded in London) has donated a wristwatch designed in collaboration with British artist Matt Copson.
Arnold & Son offered a blank slate for Copson to apply a design of his choosing. He opted for a surprising and visually stimulating spiderweb motif within a 40 mm stainless steel case. The polished silver web is contrasted against a matte silver background with a spider capping the hour hand and a fly the minute, acting as a playful predator-and-prey game in which the spider appears to catch the fly every hour, with it escaping yet again. In the dark, the dial boasts a vibrant green glow and the insects a white one—a nod to the artist’s use of light and lasers in his own body of work. Similarly, the piece, as a whole, is a perfect example of the contemporary work that Copson has become known for that also toys with deeper themes of life, death, and purpose.
Available in a textured black rubber strap, the Arnold & Son HM Swiss Institute by Matt Copson watch’s caseback is signed with both Copson and the Swiss Institute’s names. The truly one-of-a-kind piece also comes with a Certificate of Guarantee, a wooden watch case designed by Matt Copson, and a leather pouch for traveling. It’s estimated to sell for anywhere between $8,000 and $16,000 in the sale—the proceeds of which benefit the Swiss Institute’s initiatives.
Photos courtesy of Arnold & Son
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