The white gold Astronomia Revolution, with white gold honeycomb mirrors in the platform base, and a red skeleton dial.

The rose gold Astronomia Revolution, with rose gold honeycomb mirrors in the platform base, and a red skeleton dial.

The black gold Astronomia Revolution, with a black spinel platform base and a black skeleton dial.

ASTRONOMIA REVOLUTION

Name: Astronomia Revolution
Brand: Jacob & Co.

White Gold

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. It is a wrist-sized model of a planetary system and its constant motion. From the outset, Astronomia was designed to rotate as fast and spectacularly as possible. The movement's rotation speed started at 20 minutes per spin in 2014. It was brought down to 10, then 5, and now Astronomia Revolution makes a whole rotation in just 1 minute, as shown by its seconds hand in the shape of a ruby arrow. Jacob & Co. has crafted a backdrop that's as spectacular as this work of kinetic art. The base dial of Astronomia Revolution is made of a honeycomb array of 18 mirror-polished, red gold hexagons. Laid out in a convex shape, they’re a nod to the primary mirror of the James Webb Space Telescope.

From a creative concept to design inspiration. To the first stroke of a pencil through hundreds of iterations. A timepiece like no other comes to life. The Astronomia Revolution puts our universe in watchmaking, innovative, exciting and fast form.

The Astronomia Revolution has redefined the Astronomia concept. Its speed of 1 rotation per minute created challenges that took several years to overcome. It dramatically impacts energy consumption and the power reserve. Jacob & Co. managed to maintain that autonomy to an industry-standard of 36 hours. One of the solutions used is to put three arms on the platform, rather than the usual four. Moving the platform at such speed requires a vast amount of energy. It goes all the way up to the escapement. In order to protect this fragile organ, Jacob & Co. has crafted a new type of constant force device, acting as an energy buffer. The escapement is situated in a double-axis, flying tourbillon. The movement platform being its third axis, this three-dimensional tourbillon is second to none.

Front Interior Movement of the Astronomia Revolution Watch

Back Interior Movement of the Astronomia Revolution Watch

One full movement rotation in 1 minute. 434 components.Triple-axis flying tourbillon. High frequency constant force device. Orbital ruby seconds hand. 36-hour power reserve.

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Astronomia Revolution blends constant motion and extreme precision. It is a choreography of celestial bodies that are actually complications, achieved by exclusive, hand-wound Caliber JCAM48B.

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THE ROTATING PLATFORM

Like all Astronomias, caliber JCAM48B is a vertical, three-dimensional, rotating platform. It is the fastest rotating platform in all the Astronomia collection. It completes one full spin every 60 seconds. Unlike all the other Astronomia, it has only three arms. This reduces weight, saves energy and preserves the 36-hour power reserve.

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THE RUBY SECONDS HAND

With the movement platform making one revolution every 60 seconds, it naturally tells the second. In order to read that information, Jacob & Co. has crafted an unprecedented seconds' hand. It is a uniquely long, steel arrow. Its tip is a pyramid made of lab-made ruby. It spins on its own axis once every 15 seconds.

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THE HONEYCOMB MIRRORS

A space-themed timepiece needs a space reference. Astronomia Revolution contains an array of 18 mirror-polished hexagons, made from red gold. They’re tightly arranged in a convex shape and are a nod to the ones contained in the James Webb Space Telescope.

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THE TRIPLE-AXIS FLYING TOURBILLON

At the end of one satellite arm hangs a double-axis tourbillon. It's held inside an openworked carriage. It revolves on two axes, one in 60 seconds, the other in 15 seconds. Since it travels along with the central platform, this adds a third axis, with a 1 minute rotation period. And since it's held only by one end of a bridge, it qualifies as a flying tourbillon.

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THE ORBITAL DIAL

At the end of another satellite arm lies the hour and minute dial. The platform rotation would normally shift the numbers and make their reading impossible. Jacob & Co. has fitted the dial with a patented differential system. It spins in the opposite direction of the platform, at the same speed. As a result, it remains constantly upright and readable.

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Astronomia Revolution is the ultimate space-themed timepiece. It is the result of science, engineering, watchmaking, craft and design. Wearing such a timepiece is a statement of awe when faced with the mysteries of astrophysics...and Jacob & Co.'s unique style.