ASTRONOMIA TABLE CLOCK

Space has long driven Jacob Arabo's creativity. In 2014, he translated his intimate passion into an ambitious timepiece concept. Astronomia Tourbillon is an unheard-of translation of astrophysics into watchmaking form. Its large format version, Astronomia Table Clock, is one of the most complex and special clocks in contemporary watchmaking. The Astronomia Table Clock case is a 128-mm sphere. Shaped like a planet of its own, its front opens along hinges and becomes a stand. Astronomia Table Clock celebrates the wonder of our Solar system with unprecedented motion and scale.

The Earth from space, with the sun shining over the horizon.

The International Space Station, floating above the Earth as the sun shines in the horizon.

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. As vast, deep and dark as our universe, Astronomia Table Clock is large-scale high watchmaking showmanship.

Creating a miniature, mechanical solar system required going beyond all preconceptions, innovating and breaking barriers, like space exploration. Caliber JCAM17 is one of the most advanced and complex movements in the Jacob & Co. catalog. Caliber JCAM17 is a three-dimensional movement with a central, vertical axis. It carries four satellites. All of them rotate on their individual axis, and around the central axis. A genuine piece of meteorite, an Earth globe, a rotating dial, its complications take on the form of planetary bodies. The rotation of Astronomia's central axis impacts energy management, power reserve and most of all, the impression Astronomia leaves on the viewer. The platform’s full rotation takes 10 minutes. This high speed is mitigated by the movement's overall weight, kept to a minimum with the extensive use of lightweight titanium. As a result, Astronomia Table Clock offers an 8-day power reserve.

Front Interior Movement of the Astronomia Table Clock

Back Interior Movement of the Astronomia Table Clock

Triple-axis flying tourbillon. Rotating piece of meteorite. Rotating Earth globe. Always-upright rotating dial with differential. 399 components. 8-day power reserve.

III

Astronomia Table Clock blends constant motion and extreme precision on a large scale. It is a choreography of celestial bodies that are actually complications, achieved by exclusive, hand-wound Caliber JCAM17.

IofV

THE ROTATING PLATFORM

The most visually striking feature of Astronomia Table Clock is its structure. From the aventurine glass back-dial emerges a vertical platform. It revolves on its own axis in 10 minutes. Its constant motion powers all the movement's functions and indications.

IIofV

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 2.5 minutes. Since it travels along with the central platform, this adds a third axis, with a 10 minute rotation period. With a single attachment point, this is a flying tourbillon.

IIIofV

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 keeps the dial constantly upright and readable.

IIIIofV

THE EARTH

As Astronomia Table Clock represents a solar system, it contains our home planet. Crafted out of aluminum for lightness, earth is hand-lacquered in blue for likeness. The shape of emerged grounds and continents is clearly visible. This Earth spins on its own axis every 60 seconds.

VofV