The Christiaan van der Klaauw Venus Annual Calendar is a stunning timepiece that showcases the brand's expertise in astronomical complications. With a 38mm case and a choice of steel or 18k rose gold, this watch is both elegant and functional. The star of the show is the CKM-01 movement, a high-end calibre that powers the planetarium module, displaying the Earth, Earth's moon, and Venus. This movement is a work of art, with shooting-star finger bridges and a solar-themed rotor, making it a true masterpiece under the hood.
One of the most intriguing aspects of this watch is its annual calendar function. Unlike traditional annual calendars that require correction every three years, the Venus Annual Calendar only needs intervention once every four years. This is achieved by a fixed hand on the Earth's disk, which naturally produces an annual calendar printed on the chapter ring. This semi-perpetual calendar is a testament to the brand's attention to detail and innovation.
The Venus Annual Calendar is a wrist planetarium, a signature complication for Christiaan van der Klaauw. It accurately depicts the orbits of the Earth, Earth's moon, and Venus around the sun, with the Earth's disk completing a full rotation once each year. However, it's important to note that the watch's two-dimensional representation ignores the slight differences in inclination between the orbits and the actual distances, which can lead to frequent lunar occultations of Venus, a phenomenon that occurs more often on the watch than in real life.
The watch's dial features a miniature representing Earth, with both liquid and frozen water at sea level and abundant green vegetation. In contrast, the moon is depicted as a plain disk, devoid of texture, which is understandable given its size. The moon phase function on the watch only displays the moon's age, leaving the imagination to fill in the rest.
The Venus Annual Calendar is priced at SGD61,000 in steel and SGD87,400 in rose gold, offering excellent value for a high-end watch with a unique and intricate design. This timepiece is a testament to Christiaan van der Klaauw's craftsmanship and innovation, pushing the boundaries of what a watch can be.
