Jacob & Co. took to Baselworld to reveal its latest Astronomia watches, along with a dazzling masterpiece made with 260 carats of diamonds.
Jacob & Co. Astronomia Tourbillon
This year, Jacob & Co.—masters at haute joaillerie watches—once again surprises and delights with a huge array of timepieces that range from complex tourbillons to stunning emerald delights. Last year, the brand released its Astronomia watch; this year, there are several new renditions—in an updated format that brings the Earth and moon to all new heights.
The new Astronomia watch has been reconfigured with a larger, more open-aired, domed sapphire crystal for viewing the sun, moon, and tourbillon with multi axes. The newest pieces: Astronomia Baguette and Aventurine. Both are powered by the JCEM01 caliber with an orbital display that makes a full cycle around the dial every 20 minutes thanks to four individual satellites. The moon is created using a 288-facet spherical diamond that reflects incoming light in a multitude of directions throughout its 60-second rotation around an independent axis. The handprinted titanium Earth sphere also rotates every 60 seconds. The tourbillon orbits the dial, alongside the other objects, every 20 minutes and a fourth arm offers the hours and minutes display.
Astronomia Tourbillon Baguette
The exclusive JCEM01 caliber, armed with a Phillips-curve balance spring and motor barrel, pushes the boundaries of lightweight watchmaking with its construction in titanium. The watch is housed in a 50 mm case and the entire surface is paved with diamonds.
Jacob & Co. Billionaire
In the realm of diamonds and gemstones, Jacob Arabo, founder of Jacob & Co., never lets us down. Key watches this year include the $18 million Billionaire with 260 carats of emerald-cut diamonds. The one-of-a-kind watch is created in affiliation with Flavio Briatore and his company Billionaire Lifestyle. The incredible 260 carats of diamonds consists of individual GIA-certified diamonds of up to 3 carats each—bead set in inverted pyramid style. The time is depicted via a skeletonized JCAM09 caliber with tourbillon escapement.
Founder and editor-in-chief of ATimelyPerspective.com, Roberta Naas is a veteran award-winning journalist in the watch industry with more than 25 years of experience. She was the first woman watch editor in the US market—breaking in to an “all boys network” with a pioneering spirit that would be her signature to this day. Naas brings responsible, factual—yet always timely and insightful—reporting of the watch industry to the forefront.