Christiaan van der Klaauw - Astronomically Speaking

I've always heard about the brand Christiaan Van Der Klaauw and their astronomy timepieces. Recently, I was lucky enough to be able to photograph some of the timepieces and to get to know the brand better, thanks to Sincere Fine Watches.

First up, the CVDK Planetarium - featuring a revolving planetarium showing the orbits of Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn around the Sun.

This example has an aventurine dial. Located below the 12 Claws Sun logo is the month, date wheel. Recently, CVDK did a limited edition with Sincere Fine Watch. The blog featuring the special blue dial is found here.

While the planetarium might be the pièce de résistance in the CVDK stable, an equally compelling proposition is the CVDK Ariadne. A full calendar timepiece that displays the Hours, minutes, small seconds, 24-hour indication, day, date, month, super luminova moon phase, chronograph; 12-hour counter, 30-minute counter, seconds counter, all in one timepiece.

As one could imagine, the blue dial version is probably the most charming of the trio.

But the grey dial is not bad either. To cramp all that indication into one dial? Well, it is quite legible actually.

Then there is the Real Moon Joure - dubbed "most accurate 3D moon phase in the world ever incorporated in a mechanical watch" by the brand.

The 3D moon sits at the 6 o'clock position.

The one I like the most is the Mother-of-Pearl dial version.

While most might think an MOP dial is more feminine, this CVDK Joure does not give me that feeling.

A close up shot of the 3D moon.

All the timepieces by CVDK comes with an automatic movement. And the rotor features the brands logo of the sun with 12 claws (Klaauws... get it?). And to top it up, each astronomical timepiece comes with a watch winder too. Now, how is that for an incentive?

For me, the Real Moon Joure with the MOP dial is my favourite. What is yours?

Solar System On Your Wrist - Christiaan van der Klaauw Planetarium

In-house gears cut by hand and the most accurate 3D moonphase, Christiaan van der Klaauw, also known as CVDK is making their mark on the astronomical stage. I was recently invited to the Sincere Haute Horlogerie unveiling of the Planetarium Eise Eisinga Black DLC SHH Edition.

An 8 pieces Limited Edition made specially for Sincere Fine Watches.

As you might guess from the name, CVDK is a Dutch watchmaker who started real young. This mathematical genius started his astronomical journey at the age of 13 and was already learning and understanding the ways of the universe. His first creation was the astronomical clock in 1974 and by 1989, was honoured with a membership to the Swiss Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI).

The "regular" Planetarium series comes with an aventurine dial (see above). Handsome but the Black DLC SHH Edition gives more contrast and uniqueness.

Located at the 6 o'clock position is the Planetarium featuring the planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn...

Right at the centre is the shiny planet representing the Sun and the closest red ball, Mercury. As we all know, it takes earth to rotate around the sun in 365 days - 365.24 days to be exact. For those who might want to know, Mercury takes 87.97 (earth) days, Venus 224.70 days and Mars 686.98 days to orbit the sun.

Above shows the Planetarium disc on the aventurine version of the timepiece.

Located at the 12 o'clock is the date/month complication.

The timepiece comes in a Black DLC case measuring 40mm - nice size given the complication.

The automatic movement is the calibre CVDK7386 featuring twin barrels providing up to 96 hours of power reserve.

The Planetarium module adds a little height to the timepiece coming in at 14mm height.

This SHH Edition was launched to commemorate the grand opening of SHH Pendulum in Thailand (Pendulum is a subsidiary of the Sincere Watch Group).

If you are an astronomy buff, this would be the timepiece for you. You may go to their website for more details of the Planetarium. And to keep the timepiece showing the complication, any purchase comes with a winding box to keep the timepiece running at its optimal - to always be showing the correct position of the planets. Impressive I tell you...

Tutima Blues - The Patria Admiral

As I did research on the Tutima brand, it is said that the brand name is derived from the Latin word for “safe, secure.” Based in Glashütte as with many other watch manufacturing companies, the brand re-established themselves in 2011 when they released the Tutima Hommage Minute Repeater.

And they have gone from strength to strength. Not only did they designed their own Calibre 617 movement, they also produce their own spring barrel and oscillating system which is used in the minute repeater.

Encased in a 43mm stainless steel case, this beautifully proportioned Patria Admiral Blue

ABC

DEF (macro of hands and marker) below

Small Seconds below

Turn the timepiece around and that beautiful view of the Calibre 617

In-house designed and manufactured Calibre 617 is a manual winding movement with 65 hours of power reserve when fully wound.

The movement is made of German Silver plated copper?

More than decent finishing on the movement.

Polishing on the balance cock

Finishing

Tutima engraving

Closing

Movement details: Manual winding movement; Diameter 31 mm, height 4.78 mm, 20 jewels, 3 of which are set in screw-mounted gold chatons. Screw balance with weighted screws and 4 regulating screws in slotted, threaded holes. Index-free oscillating system with Breguet hairspring, openworked balance cock, Glashütte three-quarter-plate; 21,600 vph. Power reserve when fully wound 65 hours. Functions: Hour, minute, small seconds. Case details: Water-resistant 5 atm. Domed sapphire crystal anti-reflective. See-through back with sapphire crystal. Movement Calibre Tutima 617 Today, we design and develop our own watch movements, like caliber 617. This classic movement comprises 166 individual components of the highest quality, produced on CNC tooling machines and traditionally finished by hand. The self-produced spring barrel, gear train, and oscillating system are also utilized in the minute repeater.