Speed of Time: Introducing the New Jacob & Co. Astronomia Revolution in White and Black Gold

In recent years, Jacob & Co. has produced some of the wildest and most intricate timepieces. Needless to say, Astronomia Revolution is among them. This iconic piece is the basis of an epic story that began in 2014. One revolution every 20 minutes was the starting point for the Jacob & Co. Astronomia. Later, it was enhanced to one every 10 minutes and then to one every 5 minutes! With incredibly quick one-minute rotations, the latest Astronomia Revolution pushes the idea to the limit by shattering all previous records. This year, two new Astronomia Revolution variants are on offer: Ref. AT170.30.AA.AB.AA in 18 ct white gold and Ref. AT170.31.AA.AA.A in 18 ct black gold. Each reference is limited to only six pieces. These are joining the cosmos at the Jacob & Co. Watches and Jewellery Show in Geneva, which will be held on April 8–14.

Compared with its predecessors, the newest Astronomia is an even more remarkable timepiece in terms of design and mechanical intricacy, thanks to its rapid one-minute rotations. A double-axis flying tourbillon, which rotates in 1 minute and 15 seconds, is likewise propelled by the kinetic 3-D movement. A transparent dial with a skeletonised design on it displays the minutes and hours on a second arm. Additionally, a third arm that spins a ruby pointer on itself in 15 seconds "de facto" displays the seconds as the movement revolves in one minute. When the movement rotates every minute, the tourbillon becomes a triple-axis tourbillon. There is a corresponding minute track with 60 angular notches etched onto the bezel.

The first model is a black gold one and has a single-block sapphire caseband. The base of this 47 mm model is made from black spinel, a rare gemstone made of hard vitreous magnesium aluminium oxide or magnesium aluminate. The black off-centred dial gets black Arabic numerals for 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock, and 9 o’clock with red gold dauphine hour and minute hands. This material can also be found on the 60-minute track. Caliber JCAM48B is a vertical, three-dimensional, rotating platform that gets the layout of the Jacob & Co. logo. The caseback is also crafted from 18 ct black gold.

On the other hand, the 18 ct white gold model is housed in a 47 mm case and has an 18 ct white gold caseback. The off-centred subdial is crafted from red polycarbonate with Arabic numerals for 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock, and 9 o’clock, and has rhodium dauphine hands. Both novelties get the arrow made of steel with the pyramid-shaped synthetic ruby tip. The collection is powered by Calibre JCAM48B, a manual winding movement with a 30-hour power reserve. The white gold model is finished on an alligator strap with an 18 ct white gold deployment clasp while the black gold model is completed on an alligator leather strap with an 18 ct black gold deployment clasp.