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Jacob & Co. Astronomia Clarity Spider Tourbillon, a Startling One-Off Timepiece

Jeweler to the stars Jacob & Co. knows a lot about horology, but it knows even more about how to make a powerful impact. The Jacob & Co. Astronomia series is just that: the art of creating a perfect, instantly memorable, exquisite timepiece.
The one-off Jacob & Co. Astronomia Clarity Spider Tourbillon 9 photos
Photo: Jacob & Co.
The one-off Jacob & Co. Astronomia Clarity Spider TourbillonThe one-off Jacob & Co. Astronomia Clarity Spider TourbillonThe one-off Jacob & Co. Astronomia Clarity Spider TourbillonThe one-off Jacob & Co. Astronomia Clarity Spider TourbillonThe one-off Jacob & Co. Astronomia Clarity Spider TourbillonThe one-off Jacob & Co. Astronomia Clarity Spider TourbillonThe one-off Jacob & Co. Astronomia Clarity Spider TourbillonThe one-off Jacob & Co. Astronomia Clarity Spider Tourbillon
Launched in 2015, Astronomia is all about creating a tiny, moving universe that you can wear on the wrist. Each piece in the collection stands out as a canvas for boundless creativity and the most surprising combination of elements. The same elements, whether they’re tiny dragons, colorful octopuses or even life-like tarantulas, show that Jacobs & Co., for all the perfect work it’s doing, isn’t taking itself very seriously.

Enter the Astronomia Spider Tourbillon, a one-off luxury watch that is bound to make anyone stand out. Encased in the glass sapphire dome that doubles for the watchcase is a huge tarantula that seems to have caught every moving element controlled by the triple-axis tourbillon regulator in a deathtrap.

“As incredibly real as it appears, we actually crafted this 8-legged monster from titanium for its structure, white gold for its external framework which we then treated with black physical vapor deposition. Finally, the tarantula’s ‘coat’ we crafted from duck feathers carefully embroidered with silk thread,” Jacob & Co. said of the creation process behind the spider encased in the timepiece, at the time of the launch.

The one\-off Jacob & Co\. Astronomia Clarity Spider Tourbillon
Photo: Jacob & Co.
Indeed, you’d be hard-pressed to find any tell-tale signs that the spider isn’t real even in high-res photos – until you see its eyes, that is. Plenty of attention has gone into building this tarantula and into making it as life-like as possible, and the result is nothing if not startling.

While a giant spider inside a watch could seem like a useless or even silly exercise at haute horology, it’s anything but. Every bit of space inside the case has been utilized. No less than 367 components make up the JCAM24 caliber inside, and placing the spider inside was a challenge in and of its own. “No other exercise in haute horlogerie has to overcome challenges like the Astronomia Spider has, that’s for sure!” the watchmaker said.

As with every other Astronomia timepiece, each element inside is in motion, doing a carefully orchestrated and synchronized dance. There’s a sphere that reflects light at all angles and for the creation of which the 288-facet Jacob-Cut was created; the sphere performs 30-second rotations around its axis, orbiting over the sapphire crystal caseback. There’s also a blue magnesium globe that rotates every 30 seconds but never leaves the deathly embrace of the spider. And then there’s the four-armed platform that makes a full rotation once every 10 minutes.

The one\-off Jacob & Co\. Astronomia Clarity Spider Tourbillon
Photo: Jacob & Co.
Further adding a touch of luxury to an already outstanding piece are the 18-carat white gold lugs in which 80 baguette-cut diamonds are invisibly set. The white gold clasp on the black aligator leather band is also set in baguette-cut diamonds. The 50mm case is large, but the lugs help it sit comfortably even on a slimmer wrist.

There is no crown to the case. However, the watch features two keys on the back, with recessed hinged tabs, which allow the wearer to set the hour and to wind the watch, respectively.

With a power reserve of 60 hours, the Astronomia Spider is water resistant for up to 30 meters. Go any deeper than that, and the tarantula drowns.

Again, like with every other Astronomia piece, legibility of the watch is sacrificed for the sake of storytelling. Jacobs & Co. aims for a poetic rendering of the universe with this series, and in adding so many elements to each piece, it willingly renounces the idea that they will be legible. Clarity Spider is no exception: so much is happening inside the case that one almost forgets that this piece is also meant to tell the time.

Jacobs & Co. Astronomia Clarity Spider Tourbillon is truly a sight to behold. Only one such watch was made, initially selling for $1.18 million, but it’s now listed in Hong Kong for under $500,000.

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About the author: Elena Gorgan
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Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends.
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