Round-UpThe Appeal Of Astronomical Complications: Presenting Christiaan Van Der Klaauw And Their Top Watches

The undeniable romance of celestial bodies far trumps the usefulness debate of a moon phase indicator on a wristwatch. This romance is what the Netherlands-based watchmakers Christiaan van Der Klaauw celebrate through their astronomical timepieces. From extremely accurate moon phase indicators to night-and-day indicators and even tracking sea tides, the brand embrace astronomy and its effect on our lives. And a stylised sun with 12 claws serves as the brand’s logo. This tribute to our closest star is also a play on the word claw (which translates to klaauw in Dutch). Known for recreating the oldest functioning planetarium in the world as the smallest one on a wristwatch, Christiaan van der Klaauw have since gone on to win the topmost honour in high watchmaking. Here we explores the astronomical brand and some of their top celestial-inspired timepieces.

Christiaan Van Der Klaauw And Their Star-Studded Beginnings

The brand was established in 1974, when eponymous founder Christiaan van der Klaauw presented a wall clock with astronomical complications. In 1999, he created the CVDK Planetarium, a watch featuring the oldest working planetarium in the world, created by amateur Dutch astronomer Eise Eisinga on the ceiling of his living room in Franeker, The Netherlands. In 2009, van der Klaauw handed control of the brand to friends and long-time collaborators Daniël Reintjes and Maria Reintjes. Playing up the brand’s strengths, the Reintjeses repositioned the brand with the spotlight now on astronomical watches. And, for inspiration, The Netherlands has a number of stars in the world of science to bank on. In 2022, watchmaker Pim Koeslag joined the team at Christiaan van der Klaauw, and took over as CEO in 2023. This year, on the brand’s 50th anniversary, they released the CVDK Grand Planetarium, a watch that unites all three generations of Christiaan van der Klaauw’s watchmakers.

Brand founder Christiaan van der Klaauw (centre) with creative director Daniël Reintjes (left) and managing director Maria Reintjes

The CVDK Planetarium, which is a functional scale replica of Eise Eisinga's model on the ceiling of his Franeker living room, right down to the colours

The CVDK Planetarium Sagittarius is a version of the CVDK Planetarium

Christian van der Klaauw Real Moon Tides timepiece displays an accurate moon phase at six, connected with the flow of sea tides at 12 o'clock

The limited edition CVDK Real Moon Joure Zodiac Sign Scorpio timepiece

Current CEO of Christiaan van der Klaauw and master watchmaker Pim Koeslag

CVDK Grand Planetarium, released to mark 50 years of the brand, unites all three generations of leaders, Christiaan van der Klaauw, Daniël and Maria Reintjes, and Pim Koeslag

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Shooting Star And The Rising Sun

Christiaan Van Der Klaauw Real Moon Joure Green Meteorite

A star in Christiaan van der Klaauw’s astronomical arsenal, the Real Moon Joure collection is fascinating for its astounding accuracy. The moon phase indicator accurately mimics movements of the earth’s satellite every 29.53 days and will require a correction after 11,000 years. Powered by the automatic CVDK7382 calibre, the watch also offers a stunning reserve of 96 hours, owing to twin barrels. An engraved gold rotor, visible through the exhibition caseback, features the 12-clawed sun logo, with etchings of six planets, stars and moons. This extremely accurate calibre is housed in a 40mm case crafted from steel and featuring a thickness of 13.9mm. And an oversized onion crown enhances the elegance of the polished steel case.

The moonphase indicator on the Real Moon Joure Green Meteorite accurately mimics the earth’s satellite every 29.53 days and will require a correction after 11,000 years

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Powered by the automatic CVDK7382 calibre, the CVDK Real Moon Joure Green Meteorite offers a stunning reserve of 96 hours, courtesy of twin barrels

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This extremely accurate calibre housed in a 40mm case is also highly decorated

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At six o’clock, framed by a rhodium ring is a concave black ring around a spherical moon. Part black and part rhodium, the rotating sphere behaves almost like the moon

₹48,00,000

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A masterstroke in this collection is the Real Moon Joure Green Meteorite timepiece, first released in 2022. Its emerald dial features the distinct scratched pattern associated with ‘shooting stars’. Roman numerals decorate the upper half of the dial, with a 12-clawed sun logo at 12 o’clock. Breguet hands with a rhodium finish tell the time. Meanwhile, the lower half of the watch face has been completely cleared so as to let the three-dimensional moon shine against the green space debris on the dial. At six o’clock, framed by a polished rhodium ring is a concave black ring around a spherical moon. Despite the gorgeous meteorite dial, this heavily textured, dual-toned moon is the star of the watch. Part matt black and partly hand-polished rhodium, the rotating sphere is what looks and behaves almost exactly like the actual moon. For 11,000 years, at the very least. The watch is paired with a black alligator leather strap that best offsets the textured green on the dial.

Christiaan Van Der Klaauw Real Moon Joure Green Meteorite in a nutshell

• Case: 40mm steel
• Crystal and caseback: Sapphire crystal
• Dial: Green meteorite dial; Roman numerals from nine to three o’clock, 12-clawed sun logo at 12; three dimensional moon phase indicator at six; Breguet hands
• Functions: Hours, minutes, moon phase
• Movement: CVDK7382 automatic calibre; 96-hour power reserve
• Strap: Black alligator leather strap

Dutch Legends And Saturn’s Moons

Christiaan Van Der Klaauw Titan Perpetual

The CVDK Titan Perpetual timepiece is the brand’s tribute to Dutch inventor, engineer, mathematician and astronomer Christiaan Huygens. His discoveries include Saturn’s elliptical rings and its largest moon, Titan. He also invented the pendulum clock and established the wave theory of light. Besides a mother-of-pearl and aventurine glass moon phase display, the CVDK Titan Perpetual timepiece features a perpetual calendar with a leap year indication. Sized at 44mm, the steel case of the watch is accompanied by a polished bezel and an onion crown. Sapphire crystal glass protects the dial and exhibition caseback, where an etching of Huygens serves as a reminder of the watch’s inspiration. Behind this engraving, the brand’s automatic CVDK8801 calibre can be viewed. Also visible is the calibre’s micro-rotor, decorated and engraved with stars and Christiaan van der Klaauw’s clawed sun logo.

Besides a mother-of-pearl and aventurine glass moon phase display, the 44mm CVDK Titan Perpetual features a perpetual calendar with a leap year indication

On the caseback is an etching of Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens, behind which the brand’s automatic CVDK8801 calibre and its decorated micro rotor can be seen

Christiaan van der Klaauw Astronomical Masterpieces

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On the textured silver dial, blued Roman numerals are displayed in the upper half, with the sun logo at 12. Matching blue Breguet-style hands mark the hours and minutes. The month is displayed along with the leap year indication in a sub-dial at 12 o’clock. And sub-dials at three and nine o’clock show the date and day of the week respectively. At six o’clock is the circular aventurine glass window that displays the various phases of the mother-of-pearl moon. A snailed finish decorates sub-dials at three and nine, with a snailed and brushed texture at 12, and the aventurine glass window at six. Against the patterned backdrop of the dial, these contrasting textures enhance the elegant appeal of the CVDK Titan Perpetual. A subdued black leather strap lets the dial communicate all the information it needs to.

Christiaan Van Der Klaauw Titan Perpetual in a nutshell

• Case: 44mm steel
• Crystal and caseback: Sapphire crystal; caseback engraved with portrait of Dutch astronomer and inventor Christiaan Huygens
• Dial: Textured silver; blue Roman numerals, Breguet hands; month, leap year indicator housed in sub-dial at 12; date at three; day of the week at nine; mother-of-pearl moon phase indicator against aventurine glass at six
• Functions: Hours, minutes, day, date, month, leap year indicator, moon phase indicator
• Movement: CVDK8801 automatic calibre; 42-hour power reserve
• Strap: Black alligator leather strap

Sporty Elegance

Christiaan Van Der Klaauw Ariadne

Released in 2023, the Ariadne line is the first collection to be presented under new brand CEO Pim Koeslag. Not only does this new line uphold all that made a Christiaan van der Klaauw watch special, it also takes the watch into a new realm where astronomy meets a sports chronograph. The result is remarkable, really, both in concept and execution. A 40mm steel case with a height of 14mm features the brand’s distinctive onion crown, and lugs have the strap screwed in. Sapphire crystal protects the dial and exhibition caseback, offering a view of the automatic CVDK7758 calibre housed within. What makes this view special is the gold-plated rotor. Hand-engraved by German engraver Jochen Benzinger, the rotor displays seven of the 12 claw-shaped rays from the CVDK logo.

The information-heavy dial is pleasing for its symmetry and contrasts. The 30-minute chronograph recorder is housed in a sub-dial at 12 o’clock with windows displaying day of the week and month. CVDK’s clawed sun logo sits at three, and the moon phase display is at six o’clock. Meanwhile, the small seconds and day and night indicator are in a sub-dial at nine o’clock. On the silver and blue dials, blue and rhodium-plated Breguet hands, respectively, and a blue moon phase indicator stand out. Around the periphery of the dial is the pointer date function. Accents in red include the central chronograph hand and the semi-circular pointer on the date hand. On the anthracite dial, the moon phase stands out in blue at six, with a red chronograph hand. And italicised Arabic numerals play peekaboo with the sub-dials. The watches are paired with leather straps in brown, blue and black for the silver, blue and anthracite versions.

This year, the brand released the maroon version of the CVDK Ariadne, with a distinct graining on its richly hued dial. Here, too, the moon phase indicator is in a blue hue and the central chronograph hand stands out in red. A maroon leather strap enhances the almost monochromatic tone of the timepiece. Despite being packed with information, the watch is easy to read with a rather pleasing aesthetic.

Christaan van der Klaauw Ariadne SHOP THE COLLECTION

Christiaan Van Der Klaauw Ariadne In A Nutshell

• Case: 40mm steel
• Crystal and caseback: Sapphire crystal; claw-shaped ray rotor visible through caseback
• Dial: Silver/blue/anthracite/maroon; Arabic numerals; Breguet timekeeping hands, central chronograph hand; pointer date around periphery; 30-minute counter with day and month display at 12 o’clock; day and night indicator and small seconds at nine; moon phase display at six; brand logo at three
• Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, pointer date, day, month, moon phase display, day and night indicator, chronograph with 30-minute recorder
• Movement: CVDK7758 automatic calibre; 48-hour power reserve
• Strap: Alligator leather strap in brown (silver dial), blue (blue dial), black (anthracite dial) or maroon (maroon dial)

While brand founder Christiaan van der Klaauw did create watches that were unrelated to astronomy, since 2009, the brand have only focused on astronomical complications. By playing up their strengths, Christiaan van der Klaauw have created a stellar niche for themselves in the world of haute horlogerie—particularly from a land known for its legendary scientists and astronomers. Today, 50 years since their inception, the Dutch brad’s atelier is the ‘only atelier in the world that is completely devoted to the design and the production of exclusive, hand-made astronomical watches’. Top marks for distinguishing one’s brand in a small yet crowded industry, we’d say.

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