For most of our time on Earth, humans thought the world was flat. In the same vein, since the tourbillon's introduction in 1795, everyone presumed this mesmerizing complication could only be flat and one-dimensional.

In 2014, Jacob & Co. transformed the tourbillon into a vertical, 3D, moving structure on display within a sapphire crystal and precious metal case that puts everything on display. When it was first introduced, the Astronomia Tourbillon's four-satellite structure turned constantly around the dial, making one rotation in 20 minutes. Several years later, never one to leave well enough alone, Jacob & Co. increased the revolutions to 10 minutes.

With the Astronomia Tourbillon Five Minute, Jacob & Co. ups the ante even more -- the four-satellite structure rotates around the dial in an accelerated, and hard to believe, five minutes. This adds even more life and animation to the watch that revolutionized high watchmaking.

The four arms of the Astronomia Tourbillon Five Minute carries the triple-axis tourbillon timekeeping organ of the watch, the magnesium globe in blue lacquer with white gold continents for a spectacular representation of Planet Earth, the exclusive Jacob-Cut® 1-carat diamond with 288 facets, and the skeletonized time display. This four-arm assembly completes a rotation around the center of the watch and over the spectacular backdrop in an astounding five minutes.

Another astounding feature of the Astronomia Tourbillon Five Minute is how each pair of opposing arms are perfectly calculated counterweights of one another - a testament to peerless materials engineering and watch movement design. By having equal weights on these opposing arms, its axles are relieved from strain and increased pull, as the movement takes up different orientations in space.

The tourbillon is widely considered the ultimate complication, as it turns and spins to counter the effects of gravity on the precision of the movement. For the Astronomia Tourbillon Five Minute, Jacob & Co. has taken the tourbillon one step farther, introducing additional axes in which the tourbillon turns. For the Astronomia Five Minute, the tourbillon is triple-axis - turning in two axes: one in 60 seconds and the second in 1 minute and 15 seconds, and the third going around the dial in an astonishing 5 minutes.

Making the four-satellite structure turn faster meant managing the watch's power much more carefully, ensuring that the timekeeping is still precise while everything is accelerated. In fact, the engineers first said it was impossible, but their imagination was sparked and they started thinking about solutions to increase the speed. The research and development for the Astronomia Tourbillon Five Minute took more than two years.

Now more than ever before, the Astronomia Tourbillon Five Minute will never look the same way twice. Its constant motion is on full display in the sapphire crystal and diamond-set 18K rose gold case. Specially-designed for the Astronomia Five Minute, the base dial, bezel ring, and lugs of the case are invisibly-set with baguette-cut white diamonds. Even the 18K rose gold clasp is diamond-set.

The mesmerizing nature of the Astronomia Tourbillon Five Minute is enhanced by the fact that every element of the watch turns and rotates. The triple-axis tourbillon turns in 60 seconds in its first axis, 75 seconds in its second, and in five minutes in its third axis. The one-carat 288-facet Jacob-cut diamond turns on itself in 15 seconds; the lacquered magnesium globe also turns in 15 seconds; and the time display, using Jacob & Co.'s potential differential gear system, is always in the right 12/6 orientation. All four satellites turn around the dial in five minutes.

Speeding up the revolutions from 20 minutes to 10 and now five minutes is an incredible progression for a timepiece that continues to amaze the world. Just like the realization that the world is round, Jacob & Co.'s Astronomia has changed people's perception of what is possible in a tourbillon timepiece.

The Astronomia Tourbillon Five Minute is poetry in fast motion with its ground-breaking Astronomia four-satellite movement rotating in an unthinkable five minutes.

Viva la Revolution!

Serving as a spectacular backdrop for the satellites turning above is the base dial completely invisibly-set with 257 baguette-cut white diamonds (≈8.27 ctw). This makes for a unique coming together of gem-cutting and gem-setting prowess and ultra-high-end watchmaking, as can only ever be experienced in a Jacob & Co creation.

Jacob & Co. has been on the forefront of using precious stones since its founding in 1986, and has developed a number of special cuts and setting techniques. For the Astronomia Tourbillon, the brand developed the 288-facet Jacob-cut diamond. This special cut can be accomplished by only a select few gem cutters, and the rough stone typically starts out double the size of the finished diamond. The facets have to be incredibly precise so the diamond is perfectly symmetrical and round. In the Astronomia Tourbillon Five Minute, the one carat Jacob-cut diamond rotates on itself in 15 seconds.

The globe is made of blue-lacquered magnesium with white gold continents to ensure consistency in weight, as all four satellites have to weigh exactly the same. The globe rotates on itself in 15 seconds, while traveling around the dial in 10 minutes.

The Astronomia Tourbillon Five Minute case measures 50 millimeters in diameter and 25 millimeters thick between the highest point of its specially curved front sapphire crystal and the lowest point of its case. Crafted from 18K gold, sapphire crystal windows are installed throughout the periphery of the case, allowing for unhindered viewing of the spectacular caliber and intricately-set gemstones inside.

The time display sub-dial of the Astronomia Tourbillon Five Minute is driven through an infinitesimal differential system that allows it to always remain always in the proper 12/6 orientation as it rotates together with the movement's four-armed platform across the front of the Astronomia. The Roman numerals on the skeletonized dial are hand-engraved and filled with black lacquer, while the hand-finished hands appear in gun blue metallic.

Four-satellite structure rotating around the dial in 5 minutes.

Triple-axis tourbillon.

One-carat 288-facet Jacob-Cut diamond (turning in 15 seconds).

Lacquered magnesium globe (turning in 15 seconds)

Time display with patented differential gear system.

Sapphire crystal and 18K rose gold case invisibly set with diamonds.

- Lugs: 80 baguette-cut white diamonds ( 6.10ct)

- Bezel: 40 baguette-cut white diamonds ( 3.03ct)

- Base dial: 257 baguette-cut white diamonds ( 8.27ct)

- Clasp: 18 baguette-cut white diamonds ( 1.4ct)

No crown design, setting and winding accomplished through lift-out bows on the case back.