The new Astronomia Solar Baguette Tiger & Dragon unites three separate artistic worlds. The high-watchmaking Astronomia flying tourbillon movement, in a static version, puts all its complexity on show within the sapphire crystal and 18K white gold case. High jewelry elements like the invisibly-set, baguette-cut diamonds on the lugs and base dial’s, and the central Jacob-cut, 288-facet, 2.18 ct yellow sapphire dazzle the eye. And finally, the miniature sculptures of the battling Dragon and Tiger, crafted and finished with incredible attention to detail.

High watchmaking art, high jewelry art, and fine art, all in one timepiece.

A world-first both in its unprecedented concept and its mechanical construction, the Astronomia has gone beyond impressive horological achievements to be regarded as an outstanding multidisciplinary engineering achievement. Re-engineered from the ground up, the Astronomia Solar is the most compact in the collection of Astronomia calibers.

The Astronomia Solar Baguette Tiger & Dragon has been integrated into the smaller 44-mm Astronomia Solar case. In this stunning flying tourbillon timepiece, the Earth lies in the balance as hand-sculpted and hand-painted Dragon and Tiger miniature sculptures battle for domination of the rotating globe.

Who do you think will win?

The exclusive JCAM42 caliber of the Astronomia Solar Baguette Dragon and Tiger is the most compact iteration of the original Astronomia movement, allowing for smaller case dimensions as well as redesigned proportions. Composed of 295 components, this movement is finished with a care on par with its complexity.

When the Astronomia Tourbillon was introduced in 2014, the re-invention of the tourbillon in a vertical orientation and the constant turning of the incredible multiple-axis tourbillon movement with its four satellites got most of the attention.

What led to the development of the Astronomia Art Collection, however, is this timepiece’s incredible case, fitted with a wide domed upper crystal and four transparent sapphire side apertures which put everything on display.

Special miniature works of art were created to fit inside the Astronomia sapphire crystal case, using it as a gallery, such as Dragons, Octopi, Spiders, Horses and more. Jacob & Co. has expanded the incredibly successful Astronomia Art Collection ever since.

Since its founding in 1986, Jacob & Co. has been at the forefront of high jewelry, specializing in exceptional gems and incredible setting. This continues today as the brand has unrivaled legitimacy in both high jewelry and high watchmaking, and the Astronomia Solar Baguette Dragon and Tiger is a stunning example.

In the center of this timepiece is a two-carat 288-facet Jacob-cut yellow sapphire, while 286 baguette-cut white diamonds are invisibly set by hand on the sides of the 18K white gold lugs, and the base dial’s outer ring.

The tourbillon was originally invented to be a single-axis, rotating cage to carry the regulating organ of a mechanical watch for improved timekeeping performance. The Astronomia Solar Baguette Dragon and Tiger presents this 224-year-old invention in a yet more spectacular way.

The one-minute flying tourbillon of the Astronomia Solar Baguette Dragon and Tiger features a delicately decorated cage that encapsulates the balance wheel, hairspring and escape wheel. This openworked cage is only secured from underneath, which makes it a flying tourbillon. It is a constellation of superbly finished components that, when assembled and fine-tuned expertly, allows calibre JCAM42 to keep accurate time throughout its 48-hour power reserve.

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The globe the Dragon and the Tiger are fighting over is made of blue-lacquered magnesium with rose gold continents. The globe rotating on itself in 60 seconds is an integral part of the Astronomia movement nature.

The clean, yet powerful lines of the Astronomia Solar Baguette Dragon and Tiger’s case are further amplified by 124 baguette-cut white diamonds, tracing the uniquely complex lugs. The case measures 44 mm in diameter and 21 mm in thickness between the highest point of the sapphire crystal and the lowest point of its case.

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Its 18K white gold case holds a single-piece sapphire crystal window around its periphery, allowing for unhindered viewing of the spectacular caliber and gemstones inside. One’s focus on the universe that lives inside the Astronomia Solar Baguette Dragon and Tiger is further assisted by the diamond-set open-worked lugs – a minute, yet important detail that drives one’s vision towards the center of the timepiece.

The Roman numerals on the skeletonized dial are hand-engraved and filled with black lacquer, while the hand-finished hands appear in gun blue metallic finish.