The idea behind the Jacob & Co. Astronomia collection has always been to highlight, in a playful and spectacular way, the place of the Earth in our solar system. The voyage of the earth around the sun is, after all, the very foundation of our concept of time.

In the Astronomia Tourbillon Zodiac, the famous vertical triple-axis, four-armed movement is on full display, as is a special 18K rose gold dial featuring 12 aventurine sectionswith the Zodiac signs crafted in matching 18K rose gold. The ancient Babylonians were already using 12 star signs, similar to the ones we use today, around 1200 BC, confirming how ingrained and important astrology is to cultures all over the world.

Designed to honor astrology and recreate the movement of the earth through our solar system, this amazing timepiece has four arms that rotate constantly.

The tourbillon was originally invented to be a single-axis, rotating cage to carry the regulating organ of a mechanical pocket watch for improved timekeeping performance. The Astronomia Tourbillon brings this 220+-year-old invention to breathtaking levels of modern refinement and complexity.

The triple-axis tourbillon of the Astronomia Tourbillon is at the forefront of modern watchmaking. The triple-axis tourbillon’s delicately decorated cage encapsulates the balance wheel, hairspring, escape wheel and a number of other crucially important components. Characterized by this open-worked cage, this outstanding tourbillon rotates on three axes simultaneously. It is a constellation of superbly finished components that, when assembled and fine-tuned expertly, allows the JCAM10 to keep accurate time throughout its 60-hour power reserve.

A full rotation on the 1st axis takes exactly 60 seconds, as a nod towards the traditional single-axis tourbillon. The 2nd axis of rotation requires 5 minutes to complete, while the 3rd axis of rotation is made possible by the 10-minute, four-arm rotating platform of the Astronomia Tourbillon. This makes for a bold new look at how tourbillons can function, when engineered with cutting-edge, ultra-modern technologies and timeless horological heritage in mind.

The four arms of the Astronomia Tourbillon carry the triple-axis tourbillon timekeeping organ of the watch, the magnesium globe in blue lacquer for a spectacular representation of Planet Earth, the exclusive Jacob-Cut? 1-carat diamond with 288 facets, and the skeletonized time display. This four-arm assembly completes a rotation around the center of the watch and over a spectacular backdrop in 10 minutes.

Another astounding feature of the Astronomia Tourbillon is how each pair of opposing arms are perfectly calculated counterweights of one another – a testament to peerless materials engineering and watch movement design. By having equal weights on these opposing arms, its axles are relieved from strain and increased pull, as the movement takes up different orientations in space.

The special 288-facet Jacob-Cut Diamond is a feature of the Astronomia collection. There is only one vendor in the world that can produce this patented cut and they are based in Israel. Here are the steps in its creation:

The Jacob-Cut diamond starts out as a rough diamond more than twice the finished stone’s size. First, a rough diamond big enough has to be found, and the purity, clarity, and color has to be of the highest quality both inside and out, and there can be no inclusions. If they start to cut the diamond and find an inclusion, the entire piece will be ruined.

Next, the diamond is cut by machine into a round shape, close in size to the final diamond.

Then, the gem cutter shapes the stone by hand, cutting each individual facet (of 288). This has to be done slowly and carefully, as the stone has to be perfectly round and symmetrical. The danger is that the stone will become oblong and not round. To be used in the Astronomia Collection, the Jacob-cut diamond has to be completely round and weigh exactly as much as the other three satellites (time display, triple-axis tourbillon, magnesium globe).

During the process, if the gem cutter puts slightly too much pressure while adding the facets, too much of the diamond will be cut away, and will end up smaller than the desired diameter. The cutting process takes at least two weeks of dedicated, painstaking work.

To make the final one-carat, Jacob-cut diamond with 288 facets, more than half of the initial rough diamond will be cut away.

The complexity of cutting the 288 facets by hand and making sure everything is symmetrical and the diamond is absolutely round, is what makes the Jacob & Co. diamond used in the Astronomia collection so special.

The Jacob-cut diamond rotates on itself in 30 seconds, while traveling around the dial in 10 minutes.

The globe is made of blue-lacquered magnesium to ensure consistency in weight, as all four satellites have to weigh exactly the same. The globe rotates on itself in 30 seconds, while traveling around the dial in 10 minutes.

All of this complicated high watchmaking is visible thanks to the iconic Astronomia Flawless sapphire crystal case, a triumph of engineering and sapphire crystal finishing expertise. The domed sapphire crystal top and curved sides are all polished by hand, treated with an anti-reflective coating, to make sure the artistry is crystal clear.

The Astronomia Tourbillon Zodiac combines Jacob & Co.’s signature astronomical complication with the appeal of Star Signs. No matter your star sign, the Astronomia Tourbillon Zodiac helps you celebrate it.

All of this complicated high watchmaking is visible thanks to the iconic Astronomia Flawless sapphire crystal case, a triumph of engineering and sapphire crystal finishing expertise. The domed sapphire crystal top and curved sides are all polished by hand, treated with an anti-reflective coating, to make sure the artistry is crystal clear.

The Astronomia Tourbillon Zodiac combines Jacob & Co.’s signature astronomical complication with the appeal of Star Signs. No matter your star sign, the Astronomia Tourbillon Zodiac helps you celebrate it.