FUJI NAGOYA SCIENCE MUSEUM

Purpose of Exhibition

The iconic spherical building of the Nagoya City Science Museum served as the design motif for a special timepiece created by Christiaan van der Klaauw (CVDK), a Dutch luxury brand specializing in astronomical watches. On November 2, 2024, one of these exquisite watches was generously donated to our museum.

The watch face features an intricate solar system model and a calendar, displaying the date alongside the real-time positions of the six planets from Mercury to Saturn. It is, in essence, the world’s smallest planetarium. Furthermore, the case back is engraved in English with the words “NAGOYA CITY SCIENCE MUSEUM” and “CENTENNIAL OF THE PLANETARIUM”

Through the use of a mirror, you can appreciate the beauty of the reverse side as well as the front. Please enjoy this "world’s smallest planetarium" while comparing it with the diagrams and enlarged photographs displayed on the adjacent monitor.

Additional Knowledge

Astronomical watches by Christiaan van der Klaauw are handcrafted by skilled artisans. They are typically produced in lots of six, corresponding to the six planets displayed on the dial: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. This specific model for the Nagoya City Science Museum is a special edition of seven pieces, and "No. 0" is currently on display here.

The lower portion of the watch dial indicates the positions of the planets from Mercury through Saturn. The display reflects the planetary alignment as it was on November 2, 2024—the day this timepiece was donated. To keep this self-winding wristwatch running and ensure the planetary positions remain accurate, the watch itself is periodically rotated.

Article by Astronomy Section