JUN 2023

Something New

We knew it was something new, but we weren't quite sure what it was. We were sure it was very cool and extremely Arcanauty, but how to make it work as a watch was a question that would require months of trial and error and several drawing board revisions.

With every Experimental release we want to push ourselves to do our very best and to stretch the brand in new directions. And so the dial, as amazing as it was, wasn't enough. We had to modify the case as well...

JUL 2023

Skeletonisation (but not as you know it)

The Bonehead gets its name from the resin-injected aerospace-grade aluminium foam's matrix, which reminded us of bone marrow.

And because James is a Bonehead. Obviously.

That led us to consider bringing "skeletonisation" into the frame, but how would that work with a case we need to be wearable and robust? In the end, Anders (Chief Designer) settled on a deep engraving that revealed the "bones" of the ARC II case design without sacrificing its structural integrity.

SEP 2023

Converting a Classic

We're very proud of the ARC II case design. Although the wild composites and Fordite dials we produce tend to grab the headlines, the case shape is the true foundation of the brand.

The Experimental series of 2023 was the first time we'd attempted significant aesthetic changes to the case and figuring out how we were going to do that without undermining the work that had gone before took some time and a lot of help and patience from our machining partners in Copenhagen.

But it was worth it...

NOV 2023

Racing Towards Release

As our December release date approached, we were working tooth and nail to get the concept close enough to something we knew we could produce over the projected nine-month delivery period.

We were comfortable leaving some elements of the design open to changes as we knew a lot of challenges awaited us when it came to bringing these pieces to life, but eventually, we zeroed in on what was most important to add to the Bonehead collection and thereafter geared up for launch.

DEC 2023

The Launch!

December rolled around quicker than we could have ever imagined and the time came to release the Experimental line, limited to 33 pieces for the Bonehead and 33 pieces for the Tiger Sh'arc, available for pre-order with just a 10% deposit.

We held back a few pieces of each model so we would have something to put live on the site when production was finished to satisfy any newcomers to the Arcanaut family and give those who missed out on the initial order another bite of the cherry, which was just as well because all available pieces sold out within one week.

JAN 2024

The Case Shape Taking Shape

While it may seem simple (as we're sure a lot of things do from the outside looking in), getting the machining files and processes as close to perfect as we could before we started applying the "framing" finish to our standard case took a long time.

Of course, it's rare for anything to work the first time, and as we experimented with the process we changed our finishing techniques and the CNC settings several times to get it just right.

FEB 2024

Dialing up a Win

For the Bonehead in particular, we knew the model's success hinged on getting the dial just right. How to construct such a novel dial with multiple components (one of which is made from a material totally untested in watchmaking) was the subject of many conversations.

After many visits to the drawing board, we decided to develop two different constructions and test both in tandem to see which yielded the best results. Happily, we believe in both and will keep whichever format we don't use for the Bonehead in our back pocket just in case it suits a dial design we come up with in the future...

MAR 2024

One of the Most Complex Closed Case Backs You'll Ever See

The "Glowpatch" concept was something that was born during the many brainstorming sessions we enjoyed in the run-up to release.

We all agreed it was extremely on-brand to hide an inordinate amount of lume on the case back for the amusement of UV-Torch-toting watch lovers, and decided to make it central to the design.

Unfortunately, we had no idea how to bring it to life at first. Weeks of designs and 3D prints followed until we got it right.

APR 2024

Learning as we go

We've learned many useful lessons during the production of the D'Arc Matter Colours Collection, Havender, and Klint pieces, and we're putting all of that accumulated know-how into the production (and eventual delivery) of the Experimental models.

The Bonehead and the Tiger Sh'arc are Arcanaut's most important pieces yet. Thanks to our backers' support, we've been able to push ourselves in terms of design and material research like never before, in order to create something totally unseen in watchmaking circles.

AUG 2024

In the Metal

After months of hard work, the first prototypes started coming together. First our cases were finished and then we figured out the dial construction through many drafts and iterations. We changed the design of the chapter ring from a skeletonised flat disc of steel, to a dot-marker german silver ring with more height, a chamfer that leads into the dial, and a warm, blasted finish that harmonises with the creamy daytime colour of the dial and the PVD-blue handset.

SEP 2024

Trial by night

The key to the Bonehead's success was always going to be its lume performance. We trialled several different thicknesses of the lume plate, trying to keep it as close as possible to the original prototype while slimming it in all the right places for use in a watch. We think the result is the perfect balance.

OCT 2024

Backing up our word

The glowpatch case back concept was another crucial aspect of the original pitch to get right. It could so easily go wrong (and it so nearly did so many times). We've experimented with laser cut steel medallions, experimented with aluminium (our ultimate choice), and tried cutting the design with multiple tools. The medallions need to be hand-filled with liquid lume — a job that takes two plus hours per case back. You can see our first functioning prototype of the glowpatch caseback above without the laser engraved text around it that will ultimately round out the look.