====== Christiaan van der Klaauw ======

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**Christiaan van der Klaauw** is an independent Dutch watchmaker active since [[1974]]. His eponymous brand is known as **Christiaan van der Klaauw Astronomical Watches** since [[2009]] to reflect his historic focus on [[astronomical]] [[complication]]s. The brand is often abbreviated as **CVDK** or just **Klaauw**.

===== Christiaan van der Klaauw =====
Christiaan van der Klaauw was born in Leiden in the Netherlands in [[1944]]. He attended the School for Instrument Makers (LiS), which was established in [[1901]] to support "handymen, puzzle solvers and inventors" like van der Klaauw himself. He later studied clock making and moved to Joure in [[1967]] to work for a producer of [[grandfather clock]]s.

In [[1974]], van der Klaauw established his own company and produced his first clock. He opened his own atelier in Joure in [[1978]]. From the start, he focused on [[astronomical]] [[complication]]s, including his "Real Moon" in [[1980]], and these earned him a measure of fame and respect from the watchmaking industry. He was admitted to the [[AHCI]] in [[1989]] and remained active until [[2014]]. The brand remains recognized as an independent maker of [[haute horology]] to this day. His [[1992]] Pendule Variable featured a rotating sun and moon track and astrolabe and won a gold medal in Basel.

van der Klaauw produced his first wristwatch in [[1994]], presenting a pair of [[Christiaan van der Klaauw Satellite du Monde|Satellite du Monde]] watches at [[Basel Fair|BASEL 95]]. Both feature his signature complication A track on the dial which shows the [[moon phase indicator|motion of the moon (synodic time)]] and sun against a list of world cities around the 12 hour dial. The sun can be used as a [[world time]] indication, along with [[day/night indicator]]. Klaauw used the simple [[ETA 2824-2]] and [[Valjoux 7750]] movements and focused on the design and finishing rather than the basic movement. Sales appear to have started in [[1996]], though very few were ever produced.

In [[1997]], van der Klaauw designed a pair of astrological watches for [[LaFleur Biancardi]] of Maui, Hawaii. Like his other pieces, these used the ETA 2824-2 but include Eastern and Western astrological signs rather than planets in the Star and Yin Yang, respectively. Some later [[Christiaan van der Klaauw Satellite du Monde Chronograph|Satellite du Monde Chronograph]]s used a historic [[Venus]] [[Venus 175|Cal. 175]] movement, and Klaauw also produced a smaller ladies model.

In [[1999]] Christiaan van der Klaauw presented the [[Christiaan van der Klaauw Planetarium|Planetarium]], which featured a subdial at 12:00 with the course of the planets rotating around the sun. This would become his second signature complication and is still used on Christiaan van der Klaauw watches today.

The [[2001]] [[Christiaan van der Klaauw Eclips 2001|Eclips 2001]] uses a [[GUB]] [[GUB 39-11|Cal. 39-11]] or [[ETA 2824-2]] to support a [[full calendar]] and complex [[moon phase indicator]]. It was presented at [[Basel Fair]] in the [[AHCI]] booth. The [[2002]] [[Christiaan van der Klaauw Astrolabium|Astrolabium]] features a full [[astrolabe]], indicating the brightest stars, position of the sun and moon in the sky, and the lunar nodes.

Van der Klaauw worked closely with [[Jochen Benzinger]] to offer elaborately-decorated movements starting around [[2001]]. These were called "Klaauw-[[Benzinger]]" or "KB" movements by the brand, reflecting the close cooperation between the brands, though they were based on common [[ETA]] movements, notably the [[ETA 2824-2]] and [[Valjoux 7750]]. Most were modified with [[complication]]s.

===== Christiaan van der Klaauw Astronomical Watches =====
Christiaan van der Klaauw had known Dutch designer Daniël Reintjes since the 1990s and the two had collaborated on watches for his [[Dark Rush]] brand. In [[2009]], Reintjes took over the brand, along with Maurice Doppert and Maria Reintjes van Laar. Now known as **Christiaan van der Klaauw Astronomical Watches**, the brand focused on van der Klaauw's signature astronomical complications. In [[2010]], Thomas van der Kallen, formerly of [[Ebel]], became President of the company. The company also adopted a sun symbol rather than the avian leg used previously.

One of the first products of the new company was the [[Christiaan van der Klaauw Retro Moon|Retro Moon]], with an arched track between 4 00 and 8 00 on the dial showing the phases of the moon, indicated by a pointer at 6 00. Another 2010 model was the [[Christiaan van der Klaauw Orion|Orion]], but the 2011 [[Christiaan van der Klaauw Real Moon 1980|Real Moon 1980]] was the brand's new signature. Named after the 1980 astronomical clock, it featured the 3D moon globe at 6 00 and an indicator for the declination of the sun at 12 00.

[[2012]] saw Christiaan van der Klaauw's signature 3D moon globe improved with the most accurate moon phase mechanics for the [[Christiaan van der Klaauw Real Moon Joure|Real Moon Joure]], one of the brand's most important models today. van der Klaauw's planetarium dial also appeared that year in the [[Christiaan van der Klaauw New Planetarium|New Planetarium]]. The [[2015]] [[Christiaan van der Klaauw Real Moon Tides|Real Moon Tides]] added a novel [[tide indicator]] at 12 00 above the 3D moon globe.

van der Klaauw had created a table clock planetarium with planets raised on tiny rods in [[2012]], and this complication was brought to a wristwatch two years later at [[SIHH]]. In collaboration with [[Van Cleef & Arpels]], the [[Van Cleef & Arpels Midnight Planetarium|Midnight Planetarium]] caused a stir, gaining international press attention and becoming a finalist in the Calendar category at the [[GPHG]] in [[2014]]. A smaller version was created in [[2018]], the [[Van Cleef & Arpels Lady Arpels Planétarium|Lady Arpels Planétarium]]. This watch won the Ladies' Complication Watch Prize at the [[Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève]] in November, [[2018]].

===== Product Introductions =====
  * [[Baselworld]] [[1994]] - [[Christiaan van der Klaauw Satellite du Monde|Satellite du Monde]] prototype
  * [[Baselworld]] [[1995]] - [[Christiaan van der Klaauw Satellite du Monde|Satellite du Monde]] introduction (3 models)
  * [[Baselworld]] [[2000]] - [[Christiaan van der Klaauw Planetarium|Planetarium 2000]]
  * [[Baselworld]] [[2001]] - [[Christiaan van der Klaauw Eclips|Eclips 2001]]
  * [[2003]] - [[Christiaan van der Klaauw Real Moon|Real Moon]]
  * [[2003]] - [[Christiaan van der Klaauw Mondial|Mondial]]
  * [[2005]] - [[Christiaan van der Klaauw Orion|Orion CK 1 and CK 2]]
  * [[2005]] - [[Christiaan van der Klaauw Mondial|Mondial CK 1]]
  * [[2005]] October - [[Christiaan van der Klaauw Pendulum|Pendulum CH 1]]
  * [[Baselworld]] [[2006]] - [[Christiaan van der Klaauw Venus|Venus 2006]]
  * [[Baselworld]] [[2008]] - [[Christiaan van der Klaauw Satellite du Monde|Satellite du Monde 2008]]

===== Weblinks =====
  * [[https://www.klaauw.com/|Christiaan van der Klauuw]], official website
  * [[https://watchismo.blogspot.com/2007/01/astolonomical-watches-by-christiaan-van.html|Astronomic Watches by Christiaan van der Klaauw]], Watchismo blog
  * [[http://www.ninanet.net/watches/others05/Mediums/mklaauw.html|Christiaan van der Klaauw, Satellite du Monde]]

{{tag>Watch_brands Watch_brands_Netherlands AHCI}}