Arcanaut / ARC-II D'Arc Matter
Arcanaut ARC-II D'Arc Matter
Collection profile · 2021
Arcanaut’s ARC-II D'Arc Matter family is the Copenhagen independent’s breakthrough composite-dial series, pairing its angular ARC-II case with dials made from pulverized Scandinavian slate bonded into a proprietary material developed with James ‘Black Badger’ Thompson. The line bridges the sold-out 2021 limited edition and later Colours variants while showcasing local case machining, in-house regulation, and distinctive Scandinavian industrial design.
Why it matters
D'Arc Matter is the collection that crystallized Arcanaut’s identity: Scandinavian local manufacturing, unusual material experimentation, and a watch design language that is neither vintage pastiche nor Swiss mainstream. It turned a niche Danish independent into a recognizable name among modern material-driven watch brands.
Key references
Collection timeline
- 2018 — Arcanaut released the ARC-I proof-of-concept series, establishing the platform that preceded the D'Arc Matter-era ARC-II.
- 2020 — James Thompson, known as Black Badger, joined Arcanaut as part-owner and Chief of Materials Development.
- 2021 — Arcanaut launched the original 50-piece ARC-II D'Arc Matter limited edition, the first use of the slate-based D'Arc Matter composite.
- 2023 — Arcanaut presented the D'Arc Matter Colours collection as the successor to the original 2021 limited edition, adding colorful lume accents and the new Grand Paw handset.
FAQ
What is D'Arc Matter made from?
Arcanaut describes D'Arc Matter as a proprietary composite made by grinding Scandinavian slate stone into powder and bonding it with a UV-resistant binding agent under pressure in a vacuum chamber.
Was the original ARC-II D'Arc Matter a limited edition?
Yes. Arcanaut’s official product page states the original 2021 ARC-II D'Arc Matter release was a sold-out limited edition of 50 pieces, while later Colours models were presented as small-batch successors.
More from Arcanaut
- ARC-I — Arcanaut’s debut Swiss-made proof-of-concept collection, released in 2018 as a small sold-out series that established the brand’s signature Nordic design language and set the foundation for the ARC-II era of experimental Scandinavian-made components.