Jacob & Co Astronomia Solar Planets Zodiac White Gold

MPN: AS300.30.AC.AC.ABALA

Celestial bodies and space exploration have long driven Jacob Arabo's creativity. In 2014, he translated his intimate passion into an ambitious timepiece concept. Astronomia is an unheard-of translation of astrophysics into watchmaking form. Astronomia Solar Zodiac is a smaller, deeper and more intensely gem-oriented version of this planetary creation.
The Astronomia Solar Zodiac case is designed like an astronomer's observatory. It is a 43.40-mm version of the original Astronomia case, rounded, vertical and surrounded with four transparent sapphire panes. Their transparency offers a galaxy-wide view in wrist-friendly-sized dimensions.

A vibrant sun sits at the top of the movement, giving the collection its name. A timepiece like no other comes to life. Planets spinning under a large Jacob-cut, 288-facet sun, Astronomia Solar Zodiac tells time with the 12 Zodiac signs. The rotating satellite holds three more planets. All four symbolic stellar bodies are made from Jacob-cut, 288-facet gems of intense color, showcasing the unique Jacob & Co. signature shape.

A starry night sky made of aventurine stone serves as the base underneath it all, inlaid with seven planets made of a selection of hard stone cabochons: white granite for Mercury, rhodonite for Venus, red jasper for Mars, pietersite for Jupiter, tiger eye for Saturn (18K Rose Gold applique for the rings), blue calcite for Uranus, and lapis for Neptune. Creating a miniature, mechanical solar system required going beyond all preconceptions, innovating and breaking barriers, like space exploration.

Astronomia Solar Zodiac is powered by hand-wound Caliber JCAM19, one of the most advanced and complex movements in the Jacob & Co. collections. Jacob & Co. holds patents that govern its inner workings. Caliber JCAM19 is a three-dimensional movement with a central, vertical axis carrying four satellites. All of them rotate on their individual axis and around the central axis.

Its constant motion powers all the movement's functions and indications. The central platform revolves on its own axis in 10 minutes, creating a choreography of celestial bodies achieved by this exclusive Caliber JCAM19. At the end of one satellite arm hangs a flying tourbillon, held inside an openworked carriage. It revolves on its axis in 60 seconds. Since it travels along with the central platform, this adds a second axis with a 10-minute rotation period.

At the end of another satellite arm lies the hour and minute dial. Jacob & Co. has fitted it with a patented differential system, allowing it to spin in the opposite direction of the platform at the same speed. As a result, its 12 Zodiac signs remain constantly upright and readable.

The remaining satellite arms carry three gem-made planets, spinning at the same 10-minute rotation speed as the large central sun that dominates it all. Another part of the platform bears a Jacob-cut, 288-facet diamond moon and a rotating Earth globe. The titanium base also spins counterclockwise in ten minutes and is inlaid with another seven planets.