SimplyAbuDhabi XIV

W ith founder Jacob Arabo at the helm, Jacob & Co. have created a magnificent new timepiece that combines the highest level of watchmaking craftsmanship with the most innovative horological decorative arts. A treat for the eyes, the new Astronomia Tourbillon’s orbiting display is mesmerising, taking horology fans on a new and unique astronomical journey. The Astronomia Tourbillon is a striking and boldly designed watch boasting a captivating and almost invisible façade. The result is a poetic visual rendering of the celestial world, with every element in constant, visible motion, all under the precise control of the oscillator at the heart of the tourbillion, which aims to capture the very essence of the wonder with which we gaze upwards towards the heavens. At the heart of the Astronomia is a four-armed carrier, which rotates once every twenty minutes. On one arm is the tourbillon, which in addition to rotating once around the dial every twenty minutes, also rotates around the axis of the arm that carries it once every five minutes, and around its own axis once every sixty seconds. The tourbillon cage is constructed with a large, screw-poised balance beating at 18,000 vibrations per hour, with an over-coil balance spring that also features a mathematically-accurate Phillips terminal curve. Opposite the balance is the dial showing the hours and minutes. The open worked dial makes for a beautifully balanced visual counterpoint to the revolving tourbillon carriage, and its Roman numerals lend a touch of classicism and formal beauty to the overall design. The dial is mounted on a unique and specially designed differential system, which allows it to rotate as the central carrier turns. This ensures that the midday/midnight marker is permanently uppermost and that the time can always be easily read at any point. Two celestial objects complete the composition: the Earth, and the Moon. The Moon is represented by a spherical, briolette-cut diamond which, in addition to rotating around the dial once every twenty minutes on the carrier, also rotates on its own axis once every sixty seconds, with each of its fifty-six facets constantly catching and refracting the light to produce a spectacular kinetic display. The Earth is represented by a globe made of white gold, with the oceans represented by the deep blue, translucent grand feu fired enamel, created using an extremely demanding and complex technique of applying and firing enamel on a spherical surface. The orbiting display floats above a dial of deep blue aventurine, a precious stone that gives an incredible three-dimensional depth and the appearance of a midnight sky dusted with stars. With all these elements revolving, turning and spinning, the display of the watch will never be the same. Each time you admire its elegance on your wrist it will have evolved into a new composition. The entire dazzling mechanical display takes place under a complex, highly domed sapphire crystal, almost hemispherical in shape, which emphasises the universe-in- miniature flavour of the watch by providing a heavenly orbit above the main features of the movement itself. The 47mm case is kept both light and strong, through the use of a sophisticated polycarbonate composite strengthened with diamond dust that results in a material as hard and as resistant as steel, yet four times lighter. The case is enhanced with 18k rose gold. The watch is wound and set via its 18k rose gold case-back, which features lift-out rotating bows that allow the owner to set the watch, and comfortably and easily wind the large main spring, which fills the entire diameter of the case. Behind the overwhelming visual impact of the Astronomia Tourbillon is a tremendous horological sophistication. Watchmaking connoisseurs know that even a simple tourbillon must be made to very high precision to work correctly. The triple-axis tourbillon, carrier, dial, and two celestial bodies in constant motion place enormous demands both on the watchmaker’s craft, each watch requiring a master’s touch in assembly and adjustment, and on the mechanism itself. The entire construction must, despite its size, be perfectly poised and as light as possible, both to avoid damage due to shock and to maintain a stable rate of timekeeping. The Astronomia Tourbillon is a truly unique watch that proudly follows the tradition of over twenty-five years of extremely high quality timepieces from the house of Jacob Arabo. As singular as it is captivating, the Astronomia Tourbillon is an exploration of wild and creative imagination grounded with superb engineering. 1 1 5 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I