Isetan Shinjuku will once again host "WATCH COLLECTOR'S WEEK," the largest watch event in the world. This year's theme is "The Synchronization of Astronomy and Watches," focusing on the deep connection between human endeavors to track the movements of celestial bodies and the mechanical watches that arose from that pursuit.

[Starting July 2nd (Wed)] Click here for details on the Isetan Shinjuku "Watch Collectors Week" event.

Some of you may already be familiar with it from this season's "Jewelry & Watch Catalog." The cover features an original illustration by Uotoyo, the author of the popular manga "Chi. - About the Movement of the Earth." This work is set in 15th-century Europe and depicts the story of people who risked their lives to challenge the heliocentric theory, which was taboo at the time. It is a story of people's desire to know the "truth of the world," which is passed down through the ages despite being hindered by various walls such as religion, politics, and common sense.

During "Watch Collectors Week," held from July 2nd (Wed) to July 22nd (Tue), the Watch Department on the 5th floor of the main building will host a collaboration that introduces the charm of astronomical clocks in a storytelling format, interwoven with the world of manga. The venue will also feature manga panels depicting the grand history of the beliefs, passions, and challenges of the people surrounding the heliocentric theory at the time. It will be a special place where visitors can experience the world of clocks that delves into the essence of space, nature, and time, along with the story of the people who risked their lives to establish the heliocentric theory.

The culmination of a great achievement and romance: mechanically representing the heliocentric theory.

The courageous spirit of those who recognized the movements of celestial bodies as a science and believed in and passed down the heliocentric theory. The knowledge and technology of humankind that translated the movements of stars into mathematical formulas and mechanisms can be said to be not only scientific progress but also an artistic act that pursues boundless beauty. The astronomical clock, the star of this exhibition, is a beautiful work that condenses all of that.

It was Eise Eisinger, an 18th-century Dutch amateur astronomer, who ingeniously and complexly combined gears and pendulums to embody the magnificent order of the universe. Although his main occupation was said to be wool production, he built a machine that faithfully reproduced the orbits of the six planets of the solar system in order to show the public that the orbits of celestial bodies could be explained by theory.

That is the Eisinger Planetarium, which still exists today. It was registered as a World Cultural Heritage site in 2023 as the world's oldest working mechanical astronomical model.

Inspired by the Eisinger Planetarium, Christian van der Krau, the founder of a now-popular astronomical clock brand, aspired to create his own mechanical astronomical clocks.

The world of astronomical clocks that fulfill the desire to "hold the universe in your hands."

Christian van der Krau of the Netherlands is a rare brand specializing in astronomical clocks. They continue to create exquisite timepieces that meticulously depict the movements of the sun, moon, and constellations on the dial, giving you the feeling of holding the intricacies of the universe in your hands.

The "Planetarium Eise Eisinger," unveiled in 2020, is an astronomical clock that recreates the orbits of the six planets—Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn—as seen in the Eisinger Planetarium, within a space just 12 millimeters in diameter. The clock face is also painted in oil, using the ceiling panel of the same planetarium as a motif, thus reconstructing the "world's oldest" in the "world's smallest." It is a masterpiece that embodies the founder's passion and vision.

Last year, the "Grand Planetarium Eccentric Manufacture," commemorating the company's 50th anniversary, is a masterpiece featuring the most complex mechanism in the company's history. The design was handled by the founder, Christian van der Krau, the design by the second CEO, and the current third CEO in charge of production. It faithfully reproduces the orbits of the eight planets in the solar system in elliptical orbits according to Kepler's laws.

Furthermore, the "Grand Planetarium Eccentric Meteorite," announced this year, uses meteorite—a material typically found only in some high-end watches—for its entire case. The asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter in the planetarium on the dial features a ring-shaped inlay of fragments from a Martian meteorite approximately 50,000 years old, specially obtained from NASA. It evokes a sense of the vastness of space not only through its mechanism but also through its exterior design.

A diverse range of astronomical clocks showcase their brilliance.

Christian van der Krau's collections are diverse.

The "Ariadne" is a popular reissue model from recent years. Inheriting the brand's philosophy, it's an astronomical watch designed for everyday wear. It boasts multiple functions including a chronograph, moon phase, and pointer date, and its stainless steel case makes it more accessible at an affordable price point.


The "Planetarium Nagoya City Science Museum Model," inspired by the world's largest planetarium, recreates the museum's spherical dome on the watch face, achieving a fusion of a scientific institution and an astronomical clock. The "Real Moon 1980" astronomical complication, which displays both the sun and moon, is equipped with a high-precision 3D moon phase. The sub-dials indicate the timing of solar and lunar eclipses, and the logo at the 12 o'clock position moves up and down to reproduce the sun's altitude in each season.

In addition, Hermle, a long-established German watch manufacturer, will be exhibiting its flagship astronomical watch series.


The "Tellilium" and "Astrolabium" models feature an intricate astronomical mechanism at the top that visually captures the movements of the sun, earth, and moon. Like the aforementioned wristwatches, these table clocks, designed as interior decor, beautifully visualize the passage of time, as if aligning the rhythms of the universe with human activity.

A precious opportunity to experience the trajectory of human knowledge.

"Watch Collectors Week" aims to explore the history of human wisdom, technology, and the passion that has been passed down through the microcosm of a watch. It represents humanity's desire to look up to the heavens and understand the flow of time, and the insatiable spirit of inquiry that sought to elevate that endeavor into art.


The act of keeping time transcends mere practicality; it is an intellectual and poetic pursuit of the "truth" and "beauty" of the universe. This resonates with the very "shape of the world" that the characters in "Chi. -On the Motion of the Earth-" have risked their lives for. Astronomical clocks, which have attempted to fuse science and art, function and aesthetics, quietly resonate with the beliefs that breathe life into the story. This year's "Watch Collectors Week" will undoubtedly be a special time for us living in the modern age to rediscover the wisdom and passion of humans who have lived while gazing up at the universe.