Experimental: ARC II — Garnet Goblin
VAT included. Free shipping.
What’s the story?
The Arcanaut ARC II – Garnet Goblin is a surface-dwelling stunner born of fire, stone, and (imagined) Bohemian folklore. It has been produced in collaboration with Prague-based retailer Chronoshop.cz and the historic Garnet company Granát Turnov.
While “Garnet Goblin” might sound like a craft beer or a D&D campaign, make no mistake — this is serious watchmaking with a sly grin. Our off-kilter charm is in full effect, but this time there’s a mythological gravity anchoring it all. The garnet, once believed to guard against poison and guide travelers at night, lends a talismanic quality to the piece. It’s wearable magic, steeped in geology and a dash of goblin mischief.
This isn’t just a watch. It’s a collaboration built on cultural bedrock — combining Danish design, Czech culture, and the dark beauty of natural garnet. With just 66 pieces on offer, each one is more than limited. It’s a relic in the making.
What is the dial material?
Each dial incorporates hundreds of small (0.8 mm) garnets, arranged in a cluster formation, fused by a clear binding agent, and then polished down to a flat sided disc. That disc is then adhered to a gold-plated baseplate to bring out the fire of the garnet whenever it catches the light. We only use garnet — once the gemstone heart of Bohemia — from the legendary Turnov open-pit mine.
When is it available?
The first five pieces are available now at the pre-order price of EUR 3,900 excluding taxes and tariffs, but including shipping. This batch will deliver by the end of August. Subsequently, the remaining pieces will be priced at EUR 4,350 excluding taxes and tariffs, but including shipping.
You can buy through our site directly or via Chronoshop.cz.
Deliveries are expected to commence by the end of August 2025
Description
Case
316L stainless steel case, CNC milled north of Copenhagen with tolerances down to a micron (a thousandth of a millimetre or about the same size as a bacteria). The case has received our new "skeleton framing" decoration, with matte micro-blasted recesses. As with all our watches, the case features our signature "Pentablock" crown, which is shaped to follow the form of the case perfectly.
As with the case, the crown is CNC milled with a tolerance down to a micron to make it fit perfectly into the side of the case.
Hands
Laser-cut micro-welded, 9-carat-gold-coated steel hands, made in the southern part of Denmark and coated in Copenhagen.
Caseback
Our luminous "Glowpatch" casebacks have evolved! Originally, Glowpatches were deeply-engraved single-piece medallions, but now we've developed a two-part construction using a laser-cut stencil design top layer and an etched base filled with lume. The glow intensity and duration is better than ever and the crispness of the sharp stencilled lines, as well as the depth on display, is like nothing else in watchmaking.
This iteration sees our latest character, the Garnet Goblin shooting us a devilish grin!
Delivery
The first five pieces of the Arc II — Garnet Goblin will ship by the end of August 2025. The next batch will be available for order thereafter and will ship 3–4 months after order confirmation.
Technical information
Name: Arcanaut Arc II — Garnet Goblin
Assembly: Regulated and assembled in Copenhagen Denmark
Dimensions: 40.52 mm width, 12.82 mm thick (including crystal), and 49.06 lug-to-lug
Case: Micro-blasted and hand-polished stainless steel case with “skeleton framing”, machined and finished in Denmark
Water resistance: 100 m
Dial: Garnet Cluster dial, hand polished in Copenhagen; garnets sourced from the historic Turnov Garnet Mine in Czechia
Hands: 9 carat gold coated laser cut steel hands made in Denmark topped with colour-matched Lumicast tips produced by RC Tritec in Switzerland
Movement: Swiss automatic Soprod M100 (closed GlowPatch caseback with a Garnet Goblin motif)
Functions: Time only
Power reserve: 42 hours
Limitation: Sixty-six pieces, numbered
Pre-order price for first five models: EUR 3,900 excluding taxes and tariffs, but including delivery.
Full RRP: EUR 4,350 Excluding taxes and tariffs, but including delivery.
FAQ
Do you ship wordwide?
Yes, we offer free shipping from Denmark.
When will I be able to select my serial number?
All 66 Garnet Goblin pieces will be individually numbered. Feel free to request a specific number or numbers. We'll do our best to match you with your preference.
When can I expect the watch to ship?
The first five pieces of the Garnet Goblin will ship by the end of August 2025. Following that, the remaining pieces will be available for order and will ship 3–4 months following order confirmation.
How will my watch be delivered?
Your watch will ship in an Arcanaut-branded leather watch roll, stashed safely in sturdy rivet-joint boxes handmade right here in Copenhagen! We'll also ship you a strap change tool and some spare strap screws when you order.
What is the total price of the watch delivered?
The retail price includes worldwide shipping, but it does not cover VAT, import duties, or other local taxes. These additional charges vary by country, so we recommend contacting your local customs or tax office to get a full landed cost estimate before purchasing. That way, you’ll know exactly what to expect—no surprises.
Where can I buy the Garnet Goblin watch watches?
You can only buy the Garnet Goblin from us directly or via our Czech retail partner, Chronoshop.cz.
The Legend of the Garnet Goblin
How Maria escaped the caves and followed her dreams
In the beginning
Alone in the D'Arc
Once upon a time, there was a very special Goblin born deep underground in the middle of Bohemia.
She wasn't sure why but she never felt like she fit in. All the other Goblins were boisterous oiks, obsessed with digging as deep as possible for gold and diamonds, but the character of our tale dreamed of something more...
She dreamed of leaving the dark and dusty mines and visiting the surface. She felt that's where she belonged and was sure it was her destiny to escape the caves and bathe in the sun.
A daring escape...
In the dead of night
One day, she summoned her courage and borrowed (with force) a lantern from one of the sillier goblins she'd been forced to live with ever since she was born, and made her way through the dark and dank tunnels that she hope would lead her to freedom.
It was a long journey with many twists and turns, but after hours and hours of fumbling through the underground labyrinth, she say a light at the end of the tunnel...
Shine Bright Like A Garnet
Freedom!
She couldn't believe it! She'd made it to Bohemian Paradise! The most beautiful rolling hillsides dotted with small, tile-roofed houses and hearty trees rustling in the wind.
But most surprising of all was her own skin! She looked down at her hands and feet and legs and arms with wonder.
"I'm a Garnet Goblin!" she exclaimed. "That's why I never felt at home underground! Garnet's exist on the surface!"
A wondrous discovery
Fields of Gold
Her eyes widened as she took in her surroundings. Garnets! Garnets everywhere! The finest Czech stone! The deep red emblem of a proud nation.
"What a sight," she smiled as she surveyed the glittering ground around and about her. "I know now why Empress Maria Theresa was so fond of these stunning stones. You know what? I think I shall give myself a new name in her honour!"
A collection to be proud of
A Big Bag of Beauty!
Maria the Garnet Goblin set about collecting as many of the shining stones as she could find. She found a big sack and started to fill it with her newfound treasure.
"I can't wait to see what I can do with all these beautiful stones!" she mused out loud.
Another Bright Idea
The lightbulb moment
And suddenly it dawned on her!
Garnet jewellery is common enough, but what about a garnet watch? Although Maria was only a passing student of horology (having passed her time underground reading Hodinkee, Time & Tide, aBlogtoWatch and the like on her Smartphone), she couldn't remember ever seeing garnets deployed on a watch before.
The only question was, which was the brand to do it?
Goblinet should be a thing...
A perfect match
A quick Goblinet search returned Maria the answer she needed to a very simple search prompt (see image).
Arcanaut, the Danish materials maestros! If anyone could wrestle these stones into shape, it would be them.
And for once, she hoped, it wasn't very likely to explode...
At Arcanaut, we're not just creating watches; we're crafting stories, adventures, and a journey that you can wear on your wrist.
Our experimental line is more than watch series; it's an incubator of ideas.
Technical information
40.52 mm width (excluding crown), 12.82 mm thick (including crystal), and 49.06 lug-to-lug
Micro-blasted 316L stainless steel case with "framing" case engraving
100 m (10 ATM)
9-carat-gold-plated laser-cut stainless steel hands made in Copenhagen
Soprod M100 — Swiss automatic movement
42 hours
Garnet Cluster dial, hand polished in Copenhagen; garnets sourced from the historic Turnov Garnet Mine in Czechia
Limited to 66 pieces
Super ergonomic rubber strap
Colour-matched Badgerite — based on Super-LumiNova®
For years, Arcanaut has enjoyed a special connection to Czechia. We've received incredible support from collectors, retailers, and journalists in this small but storied nation. As such, one of our very first retailers in the world was chosen to be Chronoshop, standing in the historic centre of Prague.
We decided we wanted to produce an exclusive, Czech-market edition for Chronoshop and the idea of working with Czechia's national stone, the Garnet, quickly emerged.
Soon after, we visited the famous Garnet company Granát Turnov to discuss a partnership that would see garnet stones play a central role in watch design for the first time in modern horology.
An active company and a museum. An untouchable icon and an ever-consistent contributor. The Garnet company Granát Turnov is an institution in Czechia with stores selling its wares seen all over the country. Hundreds of trained professionals work in the garnet ecosystem, collecting, sorting, cutting, finishing, setting, transporting, and selling the stones that define a region, maybe even a people.
It takes all kinds of skills and equipment to collect, sift through, shape, shine, and set a garnet.
The same is true of the men and women behind the processes! Each one is a cog in a massive machine that rolls on day and night.
It takes all sorts to get the job done...
These wax-tipped holders are used for delicate faceting on the diamond wheel.
Hand finishing the stones on a diamond wheel takes a long time, but it's important every stone is polished before it leaves the factory! This was one of the conditions that Empress Maria Theresa stipulated to ensure only the finest quality of garnet stones would represent the Czech people abroad.
It wasn't the most explosive, poisonous, or complicated material we've ever worked with, but it was certainly the hardest to wrestle into submission. Garnets can be polished to a high shine, but it takes some doing. Every dial requires hours upon hours of physically taxing handwork.
Unlike the initial finishing of the stones in Garnet company Granát Turnov, once we've cast hundreds of them together into one solid lump, we've got to work on them simultaneously. Needless to say, that complicates matters considrably...
Wish us luck!
For years, Arcanaut has enjoyed a special connection to Czechia. We've received incredible support from collectors, retailers, and journalists in this small but storied nation. As such, one of our very first retailers in the world was chosen to be Chronoshop, standing in the historic centre of Prague.
We decided we wanted to produce an exclusive, Czech-market edition for Chronoshop and the idea of working with Czechia's national stone, the Garnet, quickly emerged.
Soon after, we visited the famous Garnet company Granát Turnov to discuss a partnership that would see garnet stones play a central role in watch design for the first time in modern horology.
An active company and a museum. An untouchable icon and an ever-consistent contributor. The Garnet company Granát Turnov is an institution in Czechia with stores selling its wares seen all over the country. Hundreds of trained professionals work in the garnet ecosystem, collecting, sorting, cutting, finishing, setting, transporting, and selling the stones that define a region, maybe even a people.
It takes all kinds of skills and equipment to collect, sift through, shape, shine, and set a garnet.
The same is true of the men and women behind the processes! Each one is a cog in a massive machine that rolls on day and night.
It takes all sorts to get the job done...
These wax-tipped holders are used for delicate faceting on the diamond wheel.
Hand finishing the stones on a diamond wheel takes a long time, but it's important every stone is polished before it leaves the factory! This was one of the conditions that Empress Maria Theresa stipulated to ensure only the finest quality of garnet stones would represent the Czech people abroad.
It wasn't the most explosive, poisonous, or complicated material we've ever worked with, but it was certainly the hardest to wrestle into submission. Garnets can be polished to a high shine, but it takes some doing. Every dial requires hours upon hours of physically taxing handwork.
Unlike the initial finishing of the stones in Garnet company Granát Turnov, once we've cast hundreds of them together into one solid lump, we've got to work on them simultaneously. Needless to say, that complicates matters considrably...
Wish us luck!
Empress Maria Theresa
Empress Maria Theresa (1717–1780), the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions, is often remembered for her sweeping reforms and ironclad will, but her influence reaches further — right down into the vibrant heart of Bohemian craftsmanship. Among her lesser-sung achievements was the deliberate elevation of the deep red Bohemian garnet to a national symbol. Recognising the stone’s abundance in the Czech lands and its commercial potential, Maria Theresa actively promoted local mining and craftsmanship. She understood the value of a strong, distinct cultural export at a time when Europe was brimming with opulent competition.
Under her reign, Bohemian garnet jewelry wasn’t just encouraged — it was curated into a statement of identity, with pieces often crafted into intricate, uniquely Czech designs. This subtle but strategic endorsement tethered the garnet to notions of national pride, setting the stage for the stone’s enduring association with Czech heritage. Centuries later, when a Czech garnet gleams in the light, it does so not just with the fire of geology, but with the political foresight of an empress who knew the power of branding long before the term ever existed.
Experimental collection
Fordite collection
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