Jacob & Co. Astronomia Black Ceramic

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Presented at Baselworld 2018, this new variation of its iconic Astronomia Tourbillon watch from Jacob & Co. offers a sleek and sophisticated take on the original design, housing its signature high-tech movements in case composed entirely of black ceramic. The pared-down setting immediately draws the eye to the watch’s four-armed vertical movements and further emphasizes the dramatic allure of the triple-axis gravitational tourbillon.

A spherical sculpture depicting Mars (rather than the Astronomia Tourbillon’s staple sculpture of the Earth) dances around the watch’s dial, which displays the hours and minutes. Accompanying the sculpture of Mars is a Jacob-cut rubellite, whose 288 facets sparkle like a fiery sun against the deep blue, star-studded aventurine background. Between the sculpture of mars, the Jacob-cut rubellite, and the red movement finishing, red accents reign supreme in the penumbra of the black ceramic case.

As with all the models within the Astronomia collection, the Astronomia Black Ceramic’s sapphire dome case protects the dial as though it were a precious jewel, while the transparent sides offer a clear view of the timepiece’s complex movements.

The Astronomia Black Ceramic’s refined aesthetic sheds new light on the artistry of its gravitational triple axis tourbillon. Although initially designed to counteract the effects of terrestrial gravitation on the caliber’s mobile components, the system gains in effectiveness by rotating on three axes: the cage housing the escapement goes around the balance wheel axis in 60 seconds and completes a revolution over itself in 2.5 minutes while the entire tourbillon covers a full cycle around the watch’s central axis in 10 minutes. The triple rotation ensures the extreme precision of the highly complicated timepiece.

Like a satellite following its trajectory in infinite space, the Astronomia Black Ceramic’s off-center dial, indicating the hours and minutes, rotates around the watch’s center axis in 10 minutes. Jacob & Co.’s exclusive JCAM24 caliber design, with its patented differential system, allows the dial to remain vertical throughout its revolution. The vertical positioning offers clear legibility of the time, which is further enhanced by the contrast of the watch’s rhodium-plated hands and red-accented Roman numerals.

The Astronomia Black Ceramic uses the capabilities of its exclusive movement to set a lacquered magnesium terrestrial planet and an exceptional 288-facet Jacob-cut rubellite in motion under its glass dome. The lacquered magnesium sculpture of Mars and Jacob-cut rubellite revolve around the tourbillon’s cage. The dial, indicating the hours and minutes, is also in perpetual motion, circling the watch’s face like a space station orbiting in a sidereal void.

Technical details
Model: Astronomia Black Ceramic
Reference: AT100.95.KR.SR.B
Limited Edition: 18 Pieces; Individually Numbered Pieces

Movement
Caliber: Manufacture Jacob & Co. Manual Winding JCAM24
Diameter: 40mm; Height: 17.15mm; Components: 365
Material: Titanium
Functions: Hours and Minutes
System: Vertical Movement with 4 Arms, Full Revolution in 10 min around a Central Axis
• Gravitational Triple Axis Tourbillon, 1st Cage rotating in 60 sec and 2nd Cage in 2.5min
• 1 Carat Exclusive Jacob cut® Rubellite: 288 Facets, rotating on itself in 30 sec
• Magnesium Red Lacquered Globe, rotating on itself in 30 sec
• Hours and Minutes Dial, Patented Differential Gears System℗ allows to keep the 12/6 O’clock position
Power Reserve: 60-Hours
Frequency: 21’600 vib/h (3 Hz)
Jewels: 42
Finishing: Plate and Bridges: Hand Angled and Polished, Flank Draw, Circular Graining, Polished Sink; Hand Polished Screws; Barrel: Circular Graining; Pinions: Conical Pinions, 4 Mechanical Ball Bearing Devices; Flat
Balance Spring

Case
Diameter: 50mm; Height: 25mm
Material: Black Ceramic
Sapphire Apertures on Sides
Case Back: Black Ceramic
Bows: Winding and Time-Setting via Black DLC Grade 5 Titanium lift-out rotating “bows” at case back
Skylayer Front Case: Aventurine
Crystal: Unique Domed Sapphire with Anti-Reflective Treatment
Water resistance: 30m

Dial
Black PVD Titanium, Hand- Engraved, Lacquered Indexes, Diamond Finish
Hands: Rhodium Plated

Strap
Alligator
Clasp: Black DLC Grade 5 Titanium Folding Buckle