JACOB & CO. ASTRONOMIA SKY CELESTIAL PANORAMA Gravitational three-axis tourbillon
Jacob Arabo, the founder of Jacobs Company, said: “As a sailor driven by the sky to the sea, I found my star: the astronomical sky.” It is like human beings have been fascinated by the observation of the night sky from the beginning. Likewise, Jacob & Co. draws inspiration from astronomical town clocks, which are true masterpieces of technology and aesthetics.
The three-axis tourbillon becomes a star
In 2014, Jacob & Co launched the astronomical gravitational three-axis tourbillon, which shocked the watch industry. This year, Astronomia Sky added unprecedented complications to further address the challenge: a three-dimensional star display combined with an oval sky indicator and a 24-hour day and night display. To understand the complexity of this feat, we will examine each innovation individually.
Sidereal time
The astronomical dial covers the inner surface of the Astronomia case and completes a rotation in a stellar year-this is the actual time it takes for the earth to circle the sun relative to a fixed star. The blue grade 5 titanium dial is decorated with 18K gold stars, hand-engraved and Zodiac signs.
Oval sky indicator
Above this celestial dial is an oval sky indicator, which shows the part of the stars visible from the northern hemisphere. The indicator rotates a full circle in a sidereal day. A sidereal day is the time it takes for the earth to make one revolution around its axis: 23.5640916 hours.
Day/night indicator
In the center of the satellite axis, a lacquered, hand-carved titanium sphere rotates in a colored semi-dome sapphire, symbolizing night and day.
Satellite
Rotating around the swiss watches are four satellite arms, which rotate around the dial every 20 minutes, so when you look at the watch, it will never be exactly the same.
On one of the satellites is an amazing three-axis gravity tourbillon, which rotates around one axis in 60 seconds, the second axis every 5 minutes, and the dial once every 20 minutes.
On the other satellite is the time (hour and minute) subdial. Thanks to the clever differential gear system, the time display is always in the correct position when rotating around the dial, in other words, 12 is always up.
On the third satellite is the orbital seconds hand, which is an open titanium wheel that rotates once every 60 seconds with the second hand and rotates around the dial once every 20 minutes.
On the fourth and final satellite is the patented “Jacob Co” red moon, which is a spherical orange sapphire with 288 facets. This sapphire is the first of the modern jewellery industry. It revolves around its axis every 60 seconds and around the dial every 20 minutes.
Optimize settings
Jacob & Co. found a simple solution for the setting of this complex timepiece. The Astronomia Sky watch has two bows and two wheels on the back, making it easy to set up. One bow is used to set the time and day/night indicator (both based on the 24-hour solar time), while the other bow is used for the winding mechanical movement. One of the wheels is used to set the stars, and the other wheel is used to set the oval sky indicator.
Jacob & Co., known for its unique and fascinating complications, once again launched Astronomia Sky.