Watches from Christiaan van der Klaauw hold a special place in the world of horology, especially those with planetarium complications. Since the 1990s, these intricate designs have become the brand’s hallmark, crafted by the meticulous hands of Christiaan van der Klaauw. Recently, the brand released the Grand Planetarium Eccentric, a marvel that displays all eight planets of our solar system. Yet, the classic Planetarium, known as the world’s smallest mechanical planetarium, has its own charm. A unique version, the Christiaan van der Klaauw Planetarium Julie, shines with a fully skeletonized dial, making it truly one-of-a-kind.
Christiaan van der Klaauw is heralded as a master watchmaker, particularly renowned for astronomical complications. His creation of the planetarium wristwatch in the 1990s was groundbreaking. A planetarium illustrates the movement of celestial bodies around the sun, and the recent Grand Planetarium Eccentric took this innovation to new heights by fitting it into a wristwatch. However, CVDK’s journey began with the Kepler’s Planetarium Clock, which showcased a miniaturized version of this extraordinary concept.
Today, we delve into the latest iteration of the Christiaan van der Klaauw Planetarium, known as Julie. Crafted with the wishes of a devoted collector in mind, this piece pays tribute to the owner’s young daughter, reflecting a personal touch that is rare in luxury watches.
In terms of design, this watch embodies evolution. It features a 40mm case made from lightweight grade 5 titanium. The classic design is maintained, paired with a unique meteorite bezel that showcases stunning Widmanstätten patterns. The sapphire crystal dial allows for a clear view of the intricate movement beneath. It includes hand-applied Hindu/Arabic indexes and continues to display the date and month as previous models do, alongside six planets revolving in real time.
The skeleton movement is where the magic truly lies. Every piece was redesigned to fit an openworked theme, showcasing the watchmaker’s craftsmanship. Intricate hand-engraving adds a personal touch, elevating the piece further. Interestingly, the total number of angles polished during the anglage process reaches a dazzling 70, demonstrating the level of detail involved.
The back of the movement is equally impressive. It shows off a skeletonized and hand-beveled design, using the calibre CKM-01—identical to that of the Grand Planetarium Eccentric. This base caliber was developed in collaboration with UhrTeil AG, led by renowned watchmaker Andreas Strehler, featuring a rose gold-plated brass rotor shaped like the CVDK logo.
This exclusive Christiaan van der Klaauw Planetarium Julie has already found a home, but it serves as an illustration of the brand’s customization capabilities. The Collection of the Atelier allows clients to curate their watches down to materials, complications, and finishes. As the brand states, “your personal wishes guide our watchmakers in crafting your unique timepiece.”
For more insights into their creations, you can visit Christiaan van der Klaauw’s official website.
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2025,Astronomical watches,High-end Watches,Independent Watchmaking,Novelty,Skeleton Watches
