For the benefit of Only Watch 2023 Charity Auction, Jacob & Co. has joined hands with Concepto Watch Factory to create a unique timepiece called Astronomia Revolution 4th Dimension.
This extra-ordinary mechanical watch is equipped with a triple-axis flying tourbillon at the end of a two-arm carousel. It rotates every 60 seconds. This makes it a four-axis tourbillon, the first ever of its kind fitted in a wristwatch. What’s more, the tourbillon carriage contains a high frequency constant force escapement. In compliance with the Only Watch 2023 color theme, this unique timepiece contains 35 colored gems, set culet side up.
Developed, released and signed jointly with Jacob & Co.’s main movement partner Concepto Watch Factory, Astronomia Revolution 4th Dimension features a four-axis flying tourbillon.
Developed jointly with Concepto Watch Factory, caliber 08059 is built on the same structure as all the other Astronomia movements. Only a small part of it is hidden by the decorative plate set with 35 gemstones.
From its center, the rest of the movement emerges, in the shape of a two-arm carousel. This represents most of the movement’s 485 components, spinning to the tune of one rotation every 60 seconds. It acts like a second hand, and as the tourbillon’s first rotation axis.
At the end of the first arm, which is the first rotation axis, lies a flying triple-axis tourbillon. Flying because the tourbillon carriage is held by one end only, a lateral one. Triple-axis because the escapement is put into rotation by three sets of gears.
The first one spins in 60 seconds, the second one in 18 seconds and the last one in 15 seconds. This is not just a high number of axes, but very high speeds as well. The principle of a tourbillon is to multiply the number of positions the escapement occupies in space. The more positions, the fastest the speed, the better the tourbillon evens out the negative effects gravity has on its accurate measurement of time.
These rotation speeds require a lot of energy and the rotation of the carousel even more so. Such a powerful flow, if delivered directly to the escapement, would simply break it. In order to harness that massive influx, Jacob & Co. and Concepto Watch Factory devised a way to protect the escapement, a constant force device for which a patent is pending. Every 1/6th of a second, which is the frequency of the balance wheel, the gear train activates a whip. It acts as a buffer between the energy flow from the barrel and the tourbillon.
Each time the whip is activated, it transmits the amount of energy needed by the escapement for the next 1/6th of a second. No less, as this would underfeed the balance wheel, and No more, which would over-feed the tourbillons and the entire rotating platform. Beyond the obvious benefit of preserving the escapement, this presents a major chronometric advantage.
The rose gold case measures 47 mm in diameter for a total height of 27 mm. The wide, domed sapphire crystal glass opens up the view on caliber 08059, and what lies beneath it.
The movement back-plate that lies underneath the spinning carousel is a rose gold structure crafted like a large piece of high jewellery. This hollowed-out structure is set with 35 gemstones, chosen among 7 types of gems, each providing a different color.
The gem-stones used to light up this work of art are: Hessonite Garnet (orange), Citrine (yellow), Sapphire (blue), Tsavorite (green), Rhodolite Garnet ( purple), Topaz (light blue), and Pyrope Garnet (red).
Astronomia Revolution 4th Dimension is a unique piece, which will be put up for auction on November 5th and will benefit Only Watch’s fight against Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
Technical details
Model: Jacob & Co. x Concepto Watch Factory Astronomia Revolution 4th Dimension for Only Watch 2023
Movement
Caliber hand-wound cal.08059
Diameter: 42.30 mm
Height: 19.30 mm
Power Reserve: 36 hours
Frequency: 21’600 vib/h (3 Hz)
Number of Components: 485
Functions
Rotating satellite carriage: 1 rotation in 60 seconds
Triple-axis flying tourbillon:
1st axis: 1 rotation in 60 seconds
2nd axis: 1 rotation in 18 seconds
3rd axis: 1 rotation in 15 seconds
Constant force with 1/6th sec. frequency (patent pending)
Hours and minutes rotating dial with differential
Winding and time-setting on caseback
Case
Diameter: 47 mm
Height: 27 mm
Material: 18K rose gold, sapphire caseband
Caseback: Engraved 18K rose gold
Crystal: Domed sapphire with anti-reflective treatment
Water resistance: 30 m (3 bar – 3atm)
Dial
Subdial: Skeleton, blue polycarbonate with 5N applied indices
Hands: 5N red gold Dauphine
Movement back-plate
Rose gold structure set with 35 bespoke-cut gemstones: hessonite garnet, yellow citrine, blue sapphire, tsavorite, rhodolite garnet, topaz, pyrope garnet
Strap
Blue alligator leather
18K rose gold buckle
Edition
Unique piece
Estimate
CHF 700,000 – 750,000
USD 770,000 – 825,000
EUR 721,000 – 772,500
