If you've ever wondered what the stars have in store for you, check out Richard Mille's Planetarium-Tellurium. A stunning testament to Mille's passion and determination, this remarkable mechanical astronomical clock took more than eight years to complete.
By way of background, astronomical clocks house complicated mechanisms that display astronomical information such as the relative positions of the sun, moon, zodiac constellations and planets.
The earliest reference to such a device dates back to a text by Cicero that describes an invention by Archimedes (287 – 212 B.C). Tangible evidence was found in 1901, when the Antikythera mechanism, likely to have been created between 80 and 50 B.C., was recovered from a shipwreck off the Greek island of Antikythera. On examination, it was discovered that the mechanism was designed to perform precise astronomical calculations, possibly making it the earliest planetarium in existence.
Planetariums started rising in popularity in the early 14th century, and have adorned the facades of cathedrals and town halls across Europe since then. Most however, no longer work and those that do, have undoubtedly lost their accuracy.
This makes Mille's creation all the more significant as it is based on new calculations determined by an astronomer-physicist. Coupled with the use of a détente chronometer escapement, Richard Mille's Planetarium-Tellurium is quite likely the most precise mechanical astronomical clock ever made. To illustrate this point, the degree of error, resulting mainly from the rotation of the earth on its axis, has been kept below the timing tolerances of +/- 2°.
Despite its complexity however, the Planetarium-Tellurium is easy to use. It features a power reserve of 15 days, which is wound via a lever system. Another highlight is the inclusion of a perpetual calendar in a planetarium for the first time. A rapid corrector allows for easy correction backwards or forwards. The same feature can be used to make adjustments of time across different time zones. The movement also features a Stop-Restart balance to help restart the clock should it fail to do so after winding.
The three planets – Earth, Venus, Mercury – and the Sun have been incorporated as three-dimensional models, but are not drawn to scale. Earth, in particular, has been deliberately enlarged so that the details of continents, and even countries, can be seen.
With such exceptional features showcased in a single mechanical wonder, not only has Richard Mille created a fitting tribute to the scientists and engineers of yore, he has also left behind a legacy of his own. Look out for it at the Tempus watch fair in Singapore this month, or check back for our coverage of the event.