This mechanical watch shows the moving of the planets around the sun in miniature

Check out this unbelievable watch -- The magnificent Complication Poétique Midnight Planétarium -- which displays a tiny model of the solar system on your wrist. The watch shows representations of Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. The version without the diamonds will set you back $274,613 in U.S. dollars. The one with diamond is about $366,101!

An article on the watch may be viewed here: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2548017/Forget-smartwatches-wear-150-000-PLANETARIUM-wrist.html#ixzz3VsKzrlM3

To learn more about this fascinating craft, I recommend Watchmaking by George Daniels. The book follows the making of the precision timekeeper, step by step, and is illustrated at each stage with line drawings and brief explanatory captions. The text is easy to follow and to not overly technical.

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Mind-bogglingly beautiful and complex custom-made astronomical skeleton clock

Check out this amazing great-wheel skeleton clock commissioned from the Buchanan firm by clock expert Mark Frank. Inspired by a clock featured on the cover of the October 2003 issue of the Horological Journal, Frank set out to have commission made. The goals were to create a clock with an imposing scale, lots of movement, and a lot of complexity. I would say he has succeeded!

From the creator's web site:

This is a four train, quarter striking movement with the fourth train driving the astronomical systems. The escapement is based on Harrison's H1 design and is driven by dual swinging-frame remontoire. The clock's functions include: 400 year perpetual calendar, equation of time, sidereal time, sun/moon rise and set, moon's phase and age, tides, solar/lunar eclipses, planisphere, tellurium, and full-featured orrery to Saturn with functional moons. There will be over 20 complications.

The clock measures 25" wide by 29" height and 16" deep. It weights in at an impressive 600-700 pounds! Here is where you can read more and see in-progress photos of this incredible Astronomical Skeleton Clock.

If you are interested in skeleton clocks, try to get you hands on Continental and American Skeleton Clocks and Skeleton Clocks by F. B. Royer-Collard.

[ Thanks Christoph! ]

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New wooden orrery by Dave Goodchild

Dave Goodchild of Norfolk, England designs and makes orreries -- mechanical models of the solar system. What is particularly remarkable is that he uses wood as the primary material. The video above is a close up view of his latest piece. This model, like all of his work, is stunning.

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Interplanetary Gears - automaton by Patrick Bond

Here's a nice metal automaton by Patrick Bond, who has used parts from a bicycle.

You can learn more about Patrick Bond on the Cabaret Mechanical Theatre web site.

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Galileo Gravitator with four different floating planets

This is an attractive magnetic planet levitation device. Well...model planets, anyway. You get the idea.

From the product description

This unique, eye-catching model depicts celestial gravitation and comes complete with four spheres, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars and the Moon. Just place the planet of your choice directly below the gravitational source and watch it float and spin in mid-air. The Gravitator glows beautifully in the dark, creating a radiant nighttime conversation piece or a handsome nightlight, while the Antique Gold frame will embellish any desk, table or bookcase.

Here's a link to the Galileo Gravitator with four floating planets

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Beautiful hand-cranked Wooden Orrery

Dave Goodchild of Norfolk, England has been making automata for well over 10 years. Most recently, he has chosen to focus his considerable talent on the designing and making of orreries -- mechanical models of the solar system. What is particularly remarkable is that he uses wood as the main material.

The artist says he is about to embark on a new 9-planet orrery which will he will blog as it is built. Take a look at the video below to see some of his handiwork in motion.

See more pictures and videos of Dave Goodchild's Orreries at www.woodenorrery.com

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Celestial Mechanical Calendar and Orrery

While I have admired Clayton Boyer's wooden clock designs for a long time, this project places him firmly in my pantheon of heroes. This wooden machine of his design keeps track of everything -- including the retrograde motion of planets and how many days are in a given month! Ingenius -- there is no other word for it.

From his web site:

The Celestial Mechanical Calendar shows the day of the week, day of the month and the month. In addition, she indicates the Zodiac Sun Sign and New Moon Ascension sign, has a MoonPhase Ball that indicates a nearly exact reflection of what the actual moon is doing in the night sky. She also has a Full Moon Ascension Window, and an Orrery showing the synodic rotations of the three closest planets, Mercury, Venus and Mars and indicates when they go into retrograde. The Celestial Mechanical Calendar also knows if the month has 28, 30 or 31 days and advances herself automatically.

Check out all the details or -- if your are feeling ambitious -- order the plans to make the Celestial Mechanical Calendar and Orrery.

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Astrolabium Clock - Time, Earth, Sun and Moon

Here is an impressive reproduction of the an 18th-century wonder known as the "heaven machine" built by the clock-maker Philipp Matthaus Hahn -- creator of the first mechanical calculator.

The top of the clock features a model of the earth, which both rotates around its own axis and revolves around a sun made of brass. A gear train allows the moon to rotate the earth -- always presenting the same face to earth-bound observers. (I know! Think about it.) While it might not be to scale, the various revolutions are in accord with real time.

Among the exotic materials in this astrolabium are cherry wood, crystal, abalone, green agate, jade, and mother of pearl. I'll take two, please.

Here is a link for more information about The Astrolabium Clock.

Beautiful Hand-Cranked Orrery

Take a look at this beautifully made orrery by artist Eugene Sargent.

Here is Eugene Sargent's web site. [via MAKE]