The Splendor of Personalized Timekeeping: A Close Look at the Christiaan van der Klaauw Planetarium “Julie”

Esteemed Dutch watchmaker, Christiaan van der Klaauw, presents the Planetarium ‘Julie’, a masterclass in the art of horological customization. This exquisite timepiece is not only an incredible feat of craftsmanship, but also a deeply personal tribute. The watch was named after a brand devotee’s young daughter, capturing the sentimental value to the owner even as it elevates wristwear to a new level. Triumphant in its mission, the Planetarium ‘Julie’ is the smallest mechanical planetarium in the world, encapsulating six planets — Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn — on its face, each following their real-time orbits around the sun with stunning accuracy. Nemesis to conventional designs, the creation of Planetarium ‘Julie’ entailed a complete redesign. The skeletonized theme demanded the expertise of masterful hand beveling, fashioning 70 inward angles on its bridges. Adding to its allure, the titanium case features a distinctive one-of-a-kind meteorite bezel, an eloquent nod to the timepiece’s astronomical ethos. Every detail of the Planetarium ‘Julie’ resonates with the meticulous signature of Christiaan van der Klaauw, demonstrating that watches should not only tell time, but should also tell a story. A harmonious interplay of technical prowess and artistic vision, the Planetarium ‘Julie’ transcends the mere functionality of time-holding to become an heirloom object, embodying both a familial sentiment and a testament to extraordinary watchmaking.