Astronomy Watches Are a Feast for the Eyes and a Testimony to the Craftsmanship of a Watchmaker

Astronomical watches celebrate both the science of time and the wonders of the cosmos. They combine horological history with cutting edge technology, creating stunning watches that are not only a feast for the eyes but also a testament to the audacious spirit of a watchmaker. The most spectacular astronomy watches are those that take the watchmaker’s craft to a whole new level, with intricate movements that showcase the interplay between the earth below and the stars above.

Many astronomical complications were first developed as part of clocks and then later adapted to pocket watches. By the time wristwatches came into the picture, it was only a matter of time that the most skilled movement makers attempted to shrink these complex mechanisms to smaller sizes. While this was possible for some — like the tourbillon — others required an incredible amount of skill and ingenuity. It wasn’t until the advent of digital watches that astronomical complications were finally able to make their way into wristwatches, thanks to the advances in miniaturization and micro engineering.

One such example is the astronomical complication found on the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Geometrie Cosmos Grande Réplica, which displays a detailed star map based on the position of the sun and moon, as well as the wearer’s location. It is a true work of art, displaying both a globe depicting the planets and another that elegantly illustrates some of the most prominent constellations in our night sky. The watch is powered by a sophisticated automatic winding mechanism and showcases two fully realized globes in an intricately designed case, creating a perfect balance between the celestial and terrestrial realms.

Another astronomical masterpiece is the Midnight Planetarium by Van Cleef & Arpels, which is a luxurius timepiece that captures our planet along with five of its neighbors in the solar system, each represented by an exquisitely crafted semi-precious stone. Each of the six gems rotate at their own pace, with Mercury taking 88 days to make a complete rotation around the dial, Venus taking 224 days, Mars 1 year, Jupiter almost 29 years, and Saturn more than 84 years — a feat that took the watchmakers three years to achieve.

Perhaps the most breathtaking astronomy watch of all is Girard-Perregaux’s Bridges Cosmos, which debuted at SIHH 2019. The pinnacle of a Manufacture’s expertise in horological astronomy, this timepiece features a pair of elaborately rendered planets on its dial that beautifully connect our earth to the cosmos above. Its 9 o’clock globe presents a captivating view of the most prominent zodiac constellations, while a second globe at 3 o’clock shows your local time zone based on the position of the sun and the moon.

For those who prefer to go hands-free, the latest version of Apple’s watchOS 9, which is available now, includes a built-in astronomical watch face that displays Earth with your current location and live cloud coverage. The watch also offers Solar System and Moon views for more in-depth information.