Christiaan van der Klaauw Unveils New Planetarium Skeleton Platinum Watch

A Celestial Symphony on Your Wrist

The Genesis of Astronomical Horology

Since the 1990s, Christiaan van der Klaauw has distinguished itself through its dedication to mechanical astronomical watches. The Planetarium, first launched in 1999, stands as a testament to this commitment, holding the distinction of featuring the world's most compact mechanical planetarium. This foundational design has evolved through various iterations, leading to innovative models such as the Grand Planetarium Eccentric and the exclusive Planetarium Julie. The newest addition, the Planetarium Skeleton Platinum, draws inspiration from the latter's intricate openworked structure, presenting a limited-edition marvel.

Anatomy of Elegance: Case and Dial

This exquisite watch is encased in a 40mm platinum frame, engineered to resist water up to 50 meters, and adorned with sapphire crystals on both its front and back. The case maintains a classic silhouette, highlighted by an onion-shaped crown and sleek, straight lugs. A transparent sapphire dial redefines the Planetarium experience, offering an unobstructed view into the complex mechanical heart of the astronomical module. Blued Roman numerals, gracefully positioned from 9 to 3 o'clock, provide a subtle yet clear time display, while the expansive open architecture dominates the visual landscape.

The Universe in Motion: Planetary Display

At the six o'clock position, the Planetarium meticulously illustrates the real-time orbital paths of six celestial bodies: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, all orbiting a central Sun. Each planet adheres to its precisely calculated period: Mercury completes its cycle in 87.97 days, Venus in 224.70 days, and Earth in 365.24 days. Mars orbits in 686.98 days, Jupiter in 11.86 years, and Saturn in 29.46 years. Complementing this cosmic display, a subdial at 12 o'clock indicates the date and month, alongside central blued hands for hours and minutes.

Structural Artistry: Movement and Design Integration

The intricate framework enveloping the planets is a true marvel. The bespoke bridges are artfully sculpted to echo the Christiaan van der Klaauw emblem, which symbolically depicts the Sun with twelve radiating claws. In this skeletonized iteration, these forms are not merely decorative but serve as integral components of the movement, extending around the Planetarium module to reveal the underlying gear train beneath the sapphire dial. Rhodium plating on the bridges and plate ensures a harmonious metallic finish that complements the transparent dial.

Luminous Depiction: The Graduated Planetary Rings

Mirroring the original 2000 Planetarium, the blue planetary rings exhibit a gradient of color intensity. Starting with a vibrant light blue near the Sun, the hue gradually deepens towards the outer orbits. This artistic choice not only enhances the visual appeal but also symbolically represents the diminishing intensity of sunlight as the distance from the Sun increases, adding a layer of scientific accuracy to the aesthetic.

The Engine of the Cosmos: CKM-01 Calibre

Powering this celestial marvel is the CKM-01 manufacture movement, an automatic calibre developed specifically for Christiaan van der Klaauw. This movement, sharing its lineage with the Grand Planetarium Eccentric and crafted in collaboration with UhrTeil AG (founded by Andreas Strehler), features a free-sprung hairspring and a variable-inertia balance wheel. It operates at 21,600 vibrations per hour and boasts a 60-hour power reserve. The movement's finishing is meticulously executed, showcasing circular decoration on the star-shaped bridges, frosted star patterns, perlage on the main plate, and rhodium plating. The skeletonized rose gold-plated rotor, designed in the shape of the CVDK logo, incorporates a rhodium-plated tungsten weight, embodying both beauty and precision.

Exclusivity and Presentation: Limited Edition

The Planetarium Skeleton Platinum is elegantly paired with an FKM sailcloth strap, secured by a stainless-steel folding clasp adorned with a platinum CVDK logo. This exceptional timepiece is offered as a highly exclusive limited edition of only six individually numbered pieces, priced at EUR 86,000, excluding VAT. Further details are available on the official website