Christiaan van der Klaauw: A planetarium on an arm that contains the solar system

The workings of the celestial bodies have fascinated people throughout the ages. In an attempt to unravel their mysteries, humankind has created tools such as celestial globes. The astronomical clock continues to evolve as an extension of this same pursuit.

Astronomical Complications by Christian van der Klaauw

　In the Netherlands, there is a unique watch workshop called Christiaan van der Klaauw that specializes in astronomical complications. Their astronomical clocks remind us that the units of time we measure are based on the movement of celestial bodies. A common design feature in all of their watches is the sun at 12 o'clock and the indices that arc through the sun. A straight line connecting 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock represents the earth, and the upper half represents the sky.

　The Planetarium Eise Eisinga Limited Edition, winner of the Calendar & Astronomy Award at the 2021 Geneva Watchmaking Grand Prix, recreates the world's oldest surviving mechanical planetarium, which Dutch astronomer Eise Eisinga created on the ceiling of his home. The dial, which recreates the ceiling, evokes a nostalgic impression. Located at the 6 o'clock position is the world's smallest mechanical planetarium, modeled after the solar system, showing the orbital periods of Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.

　For those of us living on Earth, the moon is our closest satellite. The Real Moon Yaure Green Meteorite displays the waxing and waning of the moon in three dimensions. Shining at the 6 o'clock position is a mechanical 3D moon phase display, reputed to be the most accurate in the world, with a deviation of only one day every 11,000 years. The green meteorite dial adds to its mystique.

　The stars in these works move at such a slow pace that even the movement of the hour hand seems sluggish. The eternal flow of time they embody will transport the viewer's mind away from their body, transporting them to a small room in the Netherlands or the moon floating in the night sky.