Jacob & Co. has taken its ­action-packed Astronomia watch to ­mind-blowing new levels of complexity (and fun!) with the Astronomia Casino: a limited edition featuring a miniature, fully functioning roulette wheel, complete with an actual bouncing ball. “I think people will be surprised by how real the experience is,” says chief content officer Keith W. Strandberg. “You push the button and it feels like you’re in a casino.”

Up the Ante

The hero elements in this extraordinary 18k rose gold watch include a 1 ct. Jacob-cut diamond (a proprietary cut that features 288 distinct facets), a magnesium lacquered blue globe that fully rotates every 30 seconds, and on-demand animation of the roulette wheel via a pusher located at the 8 o’clock position.

House Edge

Jacob & Co. made only 88 Casino timepieces and is offering to add each buyer’s lucky number to personalize the roulette wheel, which is crafted in rose gold and lacquer with an aventurine center. A sapphire crystal above the wheel keeps the ceramic ball from bouncing into the movement.

Spin Cycle

Creating each element took time: The roulette animation took over a year to develop, the Jacob-cut diamond required roughly two weeks to cut, and the sapphire crystal that surrounds the watch “is also highly specialized,” Strandberg notes. “Only one manufacturer can do it, and it takes upwards of 60 hours of machining, polishing, and finishing.”