Fine Jewellery Techniques (JEW4035)

18/02/2018 - Orrery Research

I'm starting to think big now, for the final piece.  I was obsessed with space as a kid (and ended up studying Astrophysics at university the first time round).
It was always an ambition of mine, to someday build an orrery.

From the Wikipedia entry:
"An orrery is a mechanical model of the solar system that illustrates or predicts the relative positions and motions of the planets and moons, usually according to the heliocentric model. It may also represent the relative sizes of these bodies; but since accurate scaling is often not practical due to the actual large ratio differences, a subdued approximation may be used instead. Though the Greeks had working planetaria, the first orrery that was a planetarium of the modern era was produced in 1704, and one was presented to Charles Boyle, 4th Earl of Orrery – whence came the name. They are typically driven by a clockwork mechanism with a globe representing the Sun at the centre, and with a planet at the end of each of the arms."
A Philosopher Lecturing on the Orrery
by Joseph Wright of Derby
Take a closer look at those fabulous watches here:
Astronomia Tourbillon by Jacob & Co.
Orrery Tourbillon watch by Geo.Graham
Midnight Planetarium watch by Van Cleef & Arpels