Jacob & Co. blends the intricate world of high jewelry with that of haute horlogerie to introduce the latest addition to the brand’s signature Astronomia collection, the Astronomia Flawless.
While the timepiece offers an exquisite display of immaculate aesthetics, there is multifaceted meaning behind the new Astronomia’s name. “Flawless” not only refers to the watch’s impeccable appearance, but it is also the term for the highest grade of diamond clarity according to the Gemological Institute of America’s diamond grading scale. For a diamond to be declared flawless, no inclusions or blemishes should be visible under 10x magnification. Flawless is therefore a fitting benchmark for Jacob & Co.’s evolutionary interpretation of the Astronomia collection’s signature sapphire case.
The large sapphire crystal has been a consistent design element of Jacob & Co. Astronomia Flawless watch collection since the introduction of the first Astronomia Tourbillon in 2014. The transparency of the case allows the movement of the gravitational triple axis tourbillon be clearly visible from multiple angles. Last year, Jacob & Co. increased the transparency of the case and the visibility of the Astronomia’s complications with the 2016 Baseworld novelty, the Astronomia Clarity. Nonetheless, in the spirit of constant improvement, the Astronomia Flawless again elevates the level of transparency offered by the Astronomia Clarity, with the introduction of the Astronomia Flawless’s monoblock sapphire crystal case. The sophisticated craftsmanship of the monoblock sapphire crystal creates the illusion that the complications within the case are floating effortlessly in midair.
To achieve this appearance, a number of the collection’s components that were previously produced in precious metal are instead made in sapphire crystal: the one-piece case middle and lugs, the dial (a blue-coloured sapphire) and even the buckle.
These changes have added a considerable layer of complexity to the new watch, as the production of the case middle alone requires 15 individual steps that account for around 326 hours of work, the case back requires around 297 hours of work, the dial 280 hours and the buckle 295 hours. Due to long hours of work required in the production of each parts of this highly complex watch, for example its requires 37 weeks of production for just the sapphire components, only nine individually numbered pieces of the Astronomia Flawless will be made.
The manually wound JCAM16 caliber with its triple axis tourbillon, rotating earth and sun and subsidiary hour and minute dial has also evolved in the Astronomia Flawless. A rose-gold finish has been applied to the titanium bridges and the central axis is adorned with a 2.23-carat Jacob Cut yellow diamonds representing the sun, in addition to the 1-carat diamond, which also has the 288 facets of the Jacob Cut. Although the dial appears the same as on other Astronomia models, the dial on the Jacob & Co. Astronomia Flawless watch is actually made out of sapphire crystal and has been given a blue coating.
The Jacob & Co. Astronomia Flawless watch by Jacob & Co. continues to impress with its multifaceted meaning behind the new Astronomia’s name.
“Flawless” not only refers to the watch’s impeccable appearance, but it is also the term for the highest grade of diamond clarity according to the Gemological Institute of America’s diamond grading scale. For a diamond to be declared flawless, no inclusions or blemishes should be visible under 10x magnification. Flawless is therefore a fitting benchmark for Jacob & Co.’s evolutionary interpretation of the Astronomia collection’s signature sapphire case.
Jacob Arabo, the founder of Jacob & Co. masterfully blends the intricate worlds of high jewelry and high watchmaking in the Astronomia Flawless. In its new avatar in 2019, this horological masterpiece boasts a flawless 2.88 ct. diamond on top of the amazing Astronomia movement.