Astronomia Everest Black Gold

STORY

There’s no arguing that the Astronomia Tourbillon revolutionized watchmaking when it was introduced in 2014. But it’s not exactly considered an outdoorsman’s watch.

That didn’t stop renowned Swedish explorer and adventure activist Johan Ernst Nilson from taking an Astronomia Tourbillon with him on one of his expeditions to the Himalayas.

“I wore the regular Astronomia Tourbillon on a climb to the Himalayas, where I went up to 6,200 meters (almost 20,000 feet), in -30 degrees C, extreme conditions,” Nilson says. “I used the Astronomia on the climb in order to test it. You would think that such a complicated watch would be delicate and fragile, but it isn’t, and it performed perfectly in all conditions. I used it climbing up ice walls, with my ice ax, banging it against rock and ice and it held up extremely well.”

Nilson has climbed the Seven Summits (and many other peaks), visited 172 countries and some of the most remote places on Earth, and he is in the Guinness Book of World Records for his Three Poles Challenge Expedition. His travels and experiences have allowed him to see climate change and its consequences first hand, and now Nilson is an activist for change, leading people on expeditions and giving talks and making films about the environment.

PARTNERSHIP

Jacob & Co. is pleased to partner with Nilson, creating a new, exciting version of the brand’s iconic Astronomia, but this one with key elements celebrating the beauty of and highlighting the risks facing Planet Earth.

“Raising awareness about the dangers facing our planet is important,” says Jacob Arabo, founder of Jacob & Co. “Working with well-known explorer and activist Johan Ernst is a great way for our brand to get involved, and the new limited edition of the Astronomia Everest is really special.”

Based on the Astronomia Sky, the Astronomia Tourbillon Everest features Jacob & Co.’s iconic double axis gravitational tourbillon on one of four satellites, the others holding a turning, one-carat 288-facet Jacob-cut diamond, the time display, and a spinning magnesium globe.

The partnership with Nilson joins the stable of collaborations that Jacob & Co. has with hyper sports car manufacturer Bugatti, Universal Pictures, world football star Lionel Messi, Paramount Pictures, streetwear icon Supreme, design icon Virgil Abloh and Off White, and more.

EXCLUSIVE ASTRONOMIA CALIBER

The Astronomia movement, designed by and exclusive to Jacob & Co., revolutionized watchmaking. Until 2014, tourbillons were all flat, but the Astronomia changed the way people perceived high watchmaking forever. For the first time ever, Jacob & Co. turned the tourbillon into a multiple-axis, vertical marvel, constantly in motion. Captivating and mesmerizing, the Astronomia movement is an icon in the world of horology.

THE DOUBLE-AXIS TOURBILLON

Powering this remarkable timepiece is the iconic Jacob & Co. double-axis tourbillon movement, featuring four satellite arms. The tourbillon is on one arm, turning on two axes, one in 60 seconds and the second in five minutes.

On the second satellite is the 288-facet Jacob-cut diamond, rotating on itself in 60 seconds. On the third satellite, directly across from the tourbillon, is the time display, while on the fourth satellite is the magnesium lacquered globe, which rotates on itself in 60 seconds.

MOUNT EVEREST ROCK

Mounted in the center of the timepiece is a stunning piece of rock from Mt. Everest itself, which Nilson found with his own two hands.

NORTH & SOUTH POLE WATER

To celebrate the earth and underscore its fragility, the Astronomia Everest features miniature, transparent buckets of actual water collected by Nilson at both the North and South Poles. You can actually see the water sloshing inside the buckets, clearly indicated “North Pole” and “South Pole,” when you move your watch.

SUPER-LUMINOVA OCEANS GLOBE

The oceans on the magnesium globe are coated with Super-LumiNova so the continents stand out at night. This globe rotates on itself in 10 minutes.

UNIQUE STRAP

The Astronomia Everest is fitted with a special rubber strap that has luminous material within, so it too glows in the dark.

ADVENTURE INCLUDED

Each purchase includes an expedition with Nilson, by helicopter, to the place on Mount Everest where the rock was found. In this way, the buyer and a plus one can feel first-hand what Nilson experiences, and will see the need for further action.

THE BOX

The box for this special timepiece matches its complexity, as it is shaped like Mount Everest itself, complete with a line indicating the ascent. Open the box and the Astronomia Everest appears to be imbedded in ice, and a speaker plays the sound of the Everest wind, recorded live on the mountain.

GIVING BACK

Included in the purchase of the watch is a key charity element — 10% of the purchase price will be donated to charity, helping to make a difference immediately.

“I want this special timepiece to help make a change in the world,” says Nilson. “The Astronomia is the only watch I’ve ever had people ask me about while I am wearing it, so we will be starting conversations that hopefully will lead to change. This special edition will spread the word about the fragility of our planet.”

“Having a portion of the proceeds of the sale go to charity was vital for us — we all have to take action if we are going to make a difference,” adds Arabo.

The Astronomia Everest is limited to 24 pieces to match the 24 time zones of the Earth — 12 pieces in 18K Black Gold with a black Celestial Vault and 12 pieces in 18K White Gold with a blue Celestial Vault. Both Arabo and Nilson expect its reach to be much greater than the lucky few who can own it.

“Everyone is attracted to the Astronomia, it’s so unique,” Nilson emphasizes. “If you add to that the story of the two poles and Mt. Everest, people will be really drawn to it, and they will help spread the word.”

The price of this special timepiece-expedition-donation package is $884,800, to match the height of Mount Everest, 8,848 meters.

CELESTIAL PANORAMA BASE DIAL

The base dial of the Astronomia Everest is inspired by the Celestial Vault of the Astronomia Sky, with delicately patterned constellations, filled with Super-LumiNova, on the blackness of the dial.

288-FACET JACOB-CUT DIAMOND

Jacob & Co. has been on the forefront of using precious stones since its founding in 1986, and has developed a number of special cuts and setting techniques. For the Astronomia Tourbillon, the brand developed the 288-facet Jacob-cut diamond. This special cut can be accomplished by only a select few gem cutters, and the rough stone typically starts out double the size of the finished diamond. The facets have to be incredibly precise, so the diamond is perfectly symmetrical and round. In the Astronomia Everest Black Gold, the one carat Jacob-cut diamond rotates on itself in 60 seconds.

CASE & CRYSTAL

All of this complicated high watchmaking is visible thanks to the iconic Astronomia sapphire crystal and 18K gold 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 everything is crystal clear.

DIAL & HANDS

The skeletonized dial replaces the hour markers with the words “Everest,” “North” and “South,” while the hand-finished hands are coated in Super-LumiNova.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Item Number: AT112.31.AA.AA.A

Movement:

Caliber: Manufacture Jacob&Co. Manual Winding JCAM25

Diameter: 41.65mm

Height: 17.15mm

Material: Titanium

Components: 384

Functions: Hours and Minutes

Power Reserve: 60-Hours

Frequency: 21’600 vib/h (3 Hz)

Jewels: 42

System: Vertical Movement with 4 Arms

• Double Axis Tourbillon, 1st Cage rotating in 60 sec and 2nd Cage in 5 min

• Piece of Mount Everest Rock on top of the movement

• 2 containers with water from North Pole and South Pole

• Magnesium Earth Globe with Superluminova oceans, rotating on itself in 60 sec

• 1. Black Sapphire 2. White Diamond; (1 carat Exclusive Jacob cut®, 288 Facets), rotating on itself in 60 sec.

Case:

Diameter: 47mm

Height: 25mm

Material: 18K Black Gold;

Sapphire Apertures on Sides

Case Back: 18K Black Gold; with Special “Johan Ernst 3 Poles” engraving

Bows: lift-out Rotating “bows” for Winding and Time-Setting;

Crystal: Unique Domed Sapphire with Anti-Reflective Treatment

Water resistance: 30m (3atm)

Dial & Hands:

Dial: Black Grade 5 Titanium; with Superluminova constellations

Hour and Minute Subdial: Titanium, Hand Angled and Polished “Everest North South” Dial; Differential Gear System;

Hands: Jacob&Co designed hands with Superluminova

Strap & Clasp:

Strap: Black Rubber or Glow-in-the-dark Rubber

Clasp: 18K Black Gold Deployment Buckle

Limited Edition:

12 pieces