The ability to combine high-end watchmaking with other types of craftsmanship, be it inlay, engraving, hand-painting, music box making or enamel art, is the hallmark of the famous American brand luxury Jacob & Co. Continuing this tradition, the company has added an incredible novelty to its watch collection – the Astronomia Flawless Imperial Dragon model.
In this high-end watch, the unusual Astronomia mechanism is entwined with a flexible dragon pattern hand-coloured and hand-engraved in 18-karat rose gold. A miniature sculpture of a dragon consists of four parts (head, body, tail, and water surrounding the dragon), which must be connected by invisible seams. In view of the fact that the shape of the beast is made of gold, it is very heavy, and the screws connecting the various parts of the dragon are also very small, and the task is arduous. Not to mention that watchmakers need to be very careful not to damage the doll during assembly and bring it safely to the final stage, where the designers hand perfect the smallest details: scales, teeth, tongue and eyes.
Since the introduction of the Astronomia series in 2014, a mandatory attribute of this line of models has included a massive sapphire glass case. Thanks to the transparency of the case, the biaxial tourbillon mechanism can be seen from different sides in its full glory. The complex concept of the monolithic case design creates the illusion that the complications are floating in the air under the sapphire dome.
Replacing the single metal part used in previous models of the series with sapphire glass elements helps to achieve this effect. In particular, we’re talking about case rings and lugs. All in all, the production of the “Mythical” case (50 x 25.45 mm) took over 1000 hours!
Inside this proud representative of the top Jacob & Co. timepieces, there is a mechanism with a hand-wound movement and a 60-hour power reserve that, in addition to the display of the hours and minutes, also supports the operation of the biaxial tourbillon . The rotational speed of the latter is 60 seconds on one axis and 2.5 minutes on the second axis. In this model, the famous manufacturer has retained the concept of a four-axis turntable module, with all functional and purely decorative elements fixed at its ends. In addition to the sub-dial and tourbillon cage, a 1-carat Jacob Cut® diamond and a lacquered magnesium alloy ball symbolizing the earth can be seen below the dragon’s body. Both elements rotate about their axes at two revolutions per minute.
Released in a single copy, the one-of-a-kind chronograph Astronomia perfectly embodies Jacob & Co.’s motto – “Inspired by the Impossible”.
Jacob & Co. is one of the few reliable fake men watches brands that regularly amazes customers with their incredibly beautiful looks.