CoJoBo Essen/Mensa » Jacob & Co. Astronomia Sky replica

Jacob & Co. Astronomia Sky Celestial Panorama Gravitational Triple Axis Tourbillon Watch Hands-On

Jacob & Co. has launched a new version of its highly sought-after Astronomia collection of giant watches – the Astronomia Sky Celestial Panorama Gravitational Triple Axis Tourbillon. This watch is not intended to replace the original Astronomia (click here for a hands-on review), but rather to complement it. The “Jacob & Co. Astronomia Sky” adds some complications and features a smaller case size.

Compared to the standard Astronomia's 50mm diameter, the Jacob & Co. Astronomia Sky has a diameter of “only” 47mm and a thickness of 25mm. While such a slim design is uncommon, Jacob & Co. was invited to create an Astronomia watch more suitable for everyday wear. Furthermore, it's important to note that the images of the Jacob & Co. Astronomia Sky Celestial Panorama Gravitational Triple Axis Tourbillon we've showcased are of a pre-production prototype. A key flaw in this prototype is the lack of an anti-reflective coating on the sapphire crystal. This results in poor dial clarity, making it almost impossible to photograph the watch's details through the crystal. It should be noted that the final version of the watch will not have such severe crystal reflection issues.

This first-edition Jacob & Co. Astronomia Sky Celestial Panorama Gravitational Triple Axis Tourbillon features an 18K rose gold case topped with a large domed sapphire crystal, and a ring of sapphire crystal surrounds the sides of the case. This design allows for a clear and visually appealing view of the watch's internals and movement. A matching pen is also included. More precisely, these pens are custom-designed for the entire Astronomia watch collection, produced in collaboration between Visconti and Jacob & Co. in Italy. These pens are currently pre-production prototypes and will be available in 18K rose gold and 18K white gold.

The essence of the Astronomia watch lies in providing a "four-armed" movement, comprising a time dial (which remains upright as the entire movement rotates around its axis), a tourbillon (strictly speaking, the tourbillon moves on two axes), a rotating seconds indicator, and a rotating sphere opposite the seconds indicator. The Jacob & Co. Astronomia Sky watch largely retains these functions (although with different style and workmanship) and adds some astronomical complications.

Looking at the edge of the dial through the side of the case, you'll see a month indicator, indicated by a small hand along a 12-month scale encircling the dial. Now, look at the center of the four-armed movement, and you'll find a small sphere shaped like the Earth. This Earth sphere has a hemispherical outer shell around which it rotates, serving as a day/night indicator. Two key points to note: the 24-hour rotation of the day/night indicator and the Earth's rotation every 20 minutes, as the four-arm movement's rotation period is 20 minutes. This miniature "Earth" itself is made of titanium and is hand-painted and engraved.

Below the movement on the dial is a star chart, marked with a series of zodiac constellations. The dial is crafted from blued titanium steel (similar to the material of our beloved De Bethune watches) and features an oval "sky indicator" hand. The entire dial rotates once a year, while the oval sky indicator hand rotates once per sidereal day (approximately one day) to show the visible stars in the Northern Hemisphere.

As you can see, Jacob & Co. aimed to incorporate a wealth of astronomical information into its Astronomia collection, and I think they did an excellent job with the Jacob & Co. Astronomia Sky, while also reducing the watch's size. Of course, this watch remains a highly collectible "display piece," its value lying largely in its exquisite design and dazzling mechanical structure.

Compared to the original Astronomia, the Jacob & Co. Astronomia Sky Celestial Panorama Gravitational Triple Axis Tourbillon features a slightly modified movement design. The original's "Jacob-cut" diamonds have been replaced by a Jacobb-cut orange sapphire, which rotates once per minute, is spherical, and has 288 facets. Opposite this Jacobb-cut sapphire is the seconds hand, decorated with a wave-like pattern, together symbolizing a satellite orbiting the Earth.

This timepiece is powered by Jacob & Co.'s exclusive JCAM11 movement (also made by Studio7h38). This manual-winding movement consists of 395 parts, vibrates at 3 Hz (21,600 vibrations per hour), and has a 60-hour power reserve. The movement's complex and intricate structure makes its operation a truly breathtaking and visually stunning experience.

The Jacob & Co. Astronomia Sky watch, crafted in 18K rose gold with a blue dial (paired with a matching blue alligator leather strap), exudes an air of prestige. This time, Jacob & Co. has opted not to set diamonds on the dial, but if I know Mr. Arabo's style, future versions of the Astronomia Sky will certainly feature them. Like most of the brand's watches, the Astronomia Sky is a limited edition, with only 18 pieces produced. I can't wait to see the final version with a sapphire crystal, as I believe this watch, and the entire Astronomia collection, represents one of the most distinctive and eye-catching timepieces—clearly luxurious, but not the kind we typically associate with oligarchs. I envision a successful, benevolent ruler wearing the Jacob & Co. Astronomia Sky!