Jacob & Co.’s Astronomia Sky takes the triple axis tourbillon even farther.

For Jacob & Co, which has a history of creating amazing complications that the watch industry has never seen before (think of the Epic SF24, the Quentin Tourbillon and the Palatial Flying Tourbillon Jumping Hours and Minute Repeater), the Astronomia Triple Axis Gravitational Tourbillon, introduced in 2014, was a game changer. Not only is it a unique complication, it is a stunningly beautiful watch.

This year, Jacob & Co. has taken the Astronomia Gravitational Triple Axis Tourbillon to another level completely by adding a world-premiere astronomical complication.

Jacob & Co. Astronomia Triple Axis Gravitational Tourbillon

The new Astronomia Sky introduces a three-dimensional sidereal display, a unique day/night indication, an orbital second hand, the gravitational triple axis tourbillon-of course-and a spherical orange sapphire moon.

This timepiece’s Celestial Dial is a blued grade 5 titanium dial with 18-karat gold stars and applied, hand-engraved zodiac signs, which makes one full rotation in one sidereal year –the actual time it takes the Earth to rotate once around the sun with respect to the fixed stars.

Above this celestial dial is the Oval Sky Indicator, which shows the portion of the stars visible from the Northern Hemisphere (don’t worry, Jacob & Co. will make one showing the Southern Hemisphere sky upon demand). This indicator makes one full rotation in one sidereal day (23.5640916 hours).

Visible through the sapphire case openings, the 12 months are displayed on the side of the sidereal dial. A perpetual calendar hand points out the current date.

In the center of the satellite axis, a lacquered hand-engraved titanium globe rotates on itself inside a tinted half-domed sapphire crystal, symbolizing night and day. A full rotation of this globe occurs during one 24 hour day thanks to a differential system.

In perpetual motion are the four satellites, all of which rotate around the dial every 20 minutes. Rotating on one of the satellites is the amazing triple axis gravitational tourbillon, which rotates on one axis in 60 seconds; it rotates on the second axis every five minutes and around the dial every 20 minutes.

On another satellite is the time (hours and minutes) subdial. Thanks to a clever differential gear system, the time display is always in the correct position-in other words, the 12 is always up!

On the third satellite is the Orbital Second Hand, an open-worked titanium wheel with a second hand that rotates in 60 seconds, and it also rotates around the dial every 20 minutes.

On the fourth and final satellite is the “Jacob Cut Red Moon”, a spherical orange sapphire with 288 facets. This gem cut, the first of its kind in the modern jewelry industry, rotates on its axis every 60 seconds and turns around the dial every 20 minutes.

Whew! Just describing the watch is challenging enough, imagine designing and producing it!

Jacob & Co. Astronomia Triple Axis Gravitational Tourbillon

movement

Exclusive Jacob & Co. Manual Winding JCAM11; 60-hour power reserve

case

47mm 18-karat rose gold; water resistant to 30m

strap

Alligator leather