Art In Motion
In the world of haute horlogerie there are a few brands that create art in motion, designing miniature sculptures that truly are functional timepieces. Jacob & Co is one of the best brands that embraces three-dimensional designs and the Astronomia series is one of the best. This new limited edition Astronomia Maestro Worldtime Watch. Incorporating multi-axis tourbillons in the creations through the years, and now adding a world timer, coupled with a intricate carillon chime minute repeater, this version is spectacular in both auditory design and visual beauty. The brand is always evolving and introducing new techniques, new finishes and keeping art in motion with every timepiece.
Windows Of Movement
Jacob & Co. always design their timepieces to showcase the intricate inner workings of the movement. The limited edition Astornomia Maestro Worldtime is no exception to that brand philosophy. This timepiece is massive at 50mm wide, 26mm thick and designed as a cylindrical sapphire box with a gold structural chassis. The case itself is a visual masterpiece with the focus truly on the movement and dial images. While one might think the proportions make it very large, the case is actually pretty simply and presents clean vertical sides and sharp sloping curved skeleton lugs. In order to maintain the clean but highly visible look the timepiece does not have a traditional crown. The skeleton dial on this beauty is front and center sitting at the top of the central stack making it easier to read. The style is a nice mix of classical and futuristic, contrasting a traditional blued and blunted alpha hands, with the matching engraved chemin-de-fer minutes track which sports the engraved Arabic numerals sitting on the blocky applied blued indices, allowing the intricate enameled globe motif to bring emphasis to the domed form of the design. The elements the brand has used in the design bring signature statements, like the Jacob cut 1 -carat spherical diamond on the rotating axis to the triple-axis tourbillon and stylized cage to incorporate the Jacob & Co. emblem in rose gold. The brand claims that these two elements sitting across from each other are perfect counterweights to each other. While certainly these points are exquisite, the real focal point is the new orbiting world timer complication. This oversized painted rose gold globe rotating on its axis every 24 hours is just spectacular. The counterweight of this new complication the brand has fitted a highly detailed orbiting astronaut figure in hand-painted German silver. This very artistic figure in addition to orbiting the dial also spins on its own axis every 90 seconds to provide even more dynamic motion. To finish this excellent scene a hand-painted aventurine plate sits atop the movement bridges to depict the Milky Way and is completed with multiple ornately decorated planets on a glittered black blackdrop. It is perfection.
Limited Luxury
The JCFM11A handwound minute repeater tourbillon movement that sits inside the limited edition Astronomia Maestro Worldtime is certainly as much a piece of sculpture art as it is a functional mechanism, but in addition it provides a very impressive level of performance. Jacob & Co. work so hard to bring highly decorative complication work to every timepiece they create. This beast has a power reserve of 50 hours and beats at 21,600 bph. Finishing off this elegant timepiece is a classic navy blue alligator leather strap and an 18k rose gold clasp. While this timepiece might not be for everyone, it is a masterpiece for the brand, and collectors as only 18 pieces will be crafted.
