Introducing the Arcanaut Arc II D’Arc Sh’Arcs – Cyber Cyan and Astax Pink

Introducing the Arcanaut Arc II D’Arc Sh’Arcs – Cyber Cyan and Astax Pink

Cyberpunk Materiality Meets Nordic Madness

Arcanaut, the Copenhagen-based brand known for blending Scandinavian minimalism with experimental materials, has returned with one of its most daring releases yet: the Arc II – D’Arc Sh’Arcs. This dual-drop collection fuses two of Arcanaut’s cult favorites—the Tiger Sh’Arc and D’Arc Matter—into a 30-piece limited edition that channels equal parts mad science and modern art. Only 15 examples will be made of each lume variant: Cyber Cyan and Astax Pink.

As Rob Nudds, Arcanaut’s Head of Brand Development, frames it, these pieces are not designed to please everyone— and that is precisely the point. The D’Arc Sh’Arcs embrace contradiction: sleek yet raw, minimal yet maximal, and utterly unlike anything else emerging from contemporary independent watchmaking.

The Dial: D’Arc Matter, from Bedrock to Wrist

The D’Arc Matter dial remains one of Arcanaut’s signature materials—an in-house invention developed with material artist James Thompson (also known as Black Badger). Thompson hand-harvests Scandinavian slate from beneath a crumbling fountain near his home, pulverizes it into an ultra-fine dust, and binds it with a UV-resistant resin. The mixture is then pressure-cured into solid blocks, CNC-machined, and finished into dial blanks.

The result is visceral and tactile: a rough-hewn texture that captures the chaos of geological time, punctuated only by sharply cut LumiCast indices glowing in RC Tritec-engineered colours—Cyber Cyan or Astax Pink. Each dial is unique, with no two patterns repeating, embodying a vision of refined chaos that has become central to Arcanaut’s identity.

The Case: Zircuti as Sharkskin

For the case, Arcanaut reprises its proprietary Zircuti alloy, a fusion of zirconium and titanium that is heat-treated to reveal swirling striations of grey and black reminiscent of a tiger shark’s skin. Each case is surface-blasted to a matte finish, emphasizing the organic patterning while minimizing glare. The effect is stealthy and muscular, a piece of wearable sculpture that feels more like a lurking predator than a polite object.

The 40.52 mm Arc II architecture maintains Arcanaut’s ergonomic approach, with curved lugs that flow seamlessly into the integrated rubber strap. Each variant is colour-matched—Bondi Blue for Cyber Cyan, black for Astax Pink— creating visual cohesion that feels intentional rather than ornamental. Despite its experimental character, the watch remains practical, offering 100 meters of water resistance.

The Lume: Robot and Flamingo

Lume has always been a core part of Arcanaut’s design language, and the D’Arc Sh’Arcs push that story further. Working with Swiss specialists RC Tritec, the brand has developed two exclusive pigments:

  • Cyber Cyan: a cold, electric cyan that reads like neon circuitry.
  • Astax Pink: an assertive pink described as delivering one of the most intense pink glows available.

These custom tones are deployed across the LumiCast indices and handset tips, then echoed in the caseback Glowpatch. Each watch features a two-layer laser-engraved and hand-lumed illustration beneath a sapphire crystal: a robot for the Cyber Cyan variant and a flamingo for the Astax Pink. It is a playful, deeply considered detail that captures Arcanaut’s blend of technical rigor and offbeat storytelling.

The Movement: Swiss Precision Beneath the Madness

Powering the D’Arc Sh’Arcs is the Swiss automatic Soprod M100, providing hours, minutes and small seconds. It is a robust, dependable calibre that allows Arcanaut to focus its energy and resources on case construction, material development and dial execution, while ensuring reliable timekeeping and straightforward serviceability.

The Philosophy: For the Collector Who’s Seen It All

The D’Arc Sh’Arcs are not designed as a first serious watch, or even a third. They are aimed at collectors who have moved past safe choices; enthusiasts who want pieces with narrative weight, experimental craft, and a willingness to be strange. This is the watch that stays when more conventional options start to feel redundant.

With only 30 pieces produced in total—15 in Cyber Cyan and 15 in Astax Pink— the D’Arc Sh’Arcs stand as a concentrated expression of Arcanaut’s ethos: if normal is boring, this is the antidote.

Key Specifications

  • Case: 40.52 mm Arc II in Zircuti (zirconium-titanium composite), heat-treated and blasted, 100 meters water resistance; Lug to lug: 49mm; Height: 13mm (including crystal)
  • Dial: D’Arc Matter (Scandinavian slate composite), cast, CNC-milled, each dial unique
  • Lume: Exclusive RC Tritec colours—Cyber Cyan or Astax Pink
  • Hands: Rhodium-plated with LumiCast tips
  • Caseback: Sapphire crystal with Glowpatch illustration (Robot for Cyber Cyan, Flamingo for Astax Pink)
  • Movement: Swiss automatic Soprod M100 (hours, minutes, small seconds)
  • Strap: Integrated rubber strap; Bondi Blue for Cyber Cyan, black for Astax Pink
  • Limited Edition: 15 pieces per variant (30 pieces total)

The Arcanaut Arc II D’Arc Sh’Arcs are available at collectivehorology.com. Thanks as always for reading and supporting independent watchmaking.

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