I’m always looking up.
Since I was young, I’ve had a fascination with flying. Airplanes, helicopters, and yes, spaceships, the allure of defying gravity’s pull has always been there. My father flew small planes, so that seed was planted early. The feeling of floating weightless above the Earth in a single-engine Cessna is like nothing else I’ve ever experienced. I even took flight lessons in my youth. And still, I kept looking up.
When the original Star Wars hit theaters, my brain just exploded. I couldn’t get enough of all things space. Now, I was too young to really remember the NASA Apollo missions, but the Space Shuttle missions are etched into my memory. And at some point, I devoured all the information I could about NASA’s programs throughout its history, but especially the Apollo missions, and the goal of landing on the moon.
Cool story, bro, but what does any of this have to do with watches?
Well, I’ve just recently realized that over the years, without intending, I’ve put together a small collection of pieces among my watches that have a connection to NASA and space exploration.
Besides my Omega Speedmaster Professional, the first watch on the moon, the list includes a Breitling Navitimer, the 24-hour version of which (the Cosmonaute) went into space in 1962 with Scott Carpenter aboard the second US manned orbital space flight. I also have a Timex Electric Model 84, made in Germany, which is the same model owned by Apollo 1 astronaut Roger Chaffee, who died alongside Ed White and Gus Grissom in a fire during a training exercise. Additionally, I own a Douglas (Wolbrook) Skindiver with a world time bezel, which is the same model as Neil Armstrong’s personal watch, worn when he wasn’t wearing that, you know, other watch. And finally, I have two different versions of the venerable Casio G-Shock 5600, worn on many space missions, and officially certified by NASA, including the sold-out bright white NASA commemorative G-Shock 5600, released in 2020.
Now comes a new contender for the collection: The new NASA Apollo 15 limited editions from Xeric.
If you’re a fan of visually arresting statement pieces, Xeric has been producing some of the boldest, most unique designs you’ll ever see, including their 2019 50th anniversary Moon landing edition, which coincidentally, holds the distinction of being the single most-funded timepiece in the history of Kickstarter, with nearly 18,000 backers.
The Apollo 15 edition further refines that original design, with some compelling new elements added to the formula.
Xeric is releasing two models for their Apollo 15 edition, live now on Kickstarter: the American Moonphase and the American Automatic. And the ‘American’ part is the big story here. Both models, quartz and automatic, feature American-made movements. Xeric has partnered with Fine Timepiece Solutions, an Arizona-based movement manufacture, which recently became the first American watch movement maker in more than 50 years. This is a big deal. Most microbrands have relied on Asian movements for years, so one can’t help but feel a slight twinge of pride seeing this vital part of watchmaking come back home.
So now that we’ve had a look at the engines, it’s time to explore the bold visual style of the Apollo 15. And there’s a lot to explore. The watches come in several attractive colorways, including cases in stainless, rose gold, and even blue, but if I had to choose, I would either go for the bold all-white Cerakoted Lunar Rover version, or the subtly restrained Black Hole Meteorite version, which yes, features a dial made from an actual meteorite from actual space. You’re truly spoiled for choice, though. If my math is correct, I count no fewer than twenty-nine different colorway versions on offer, including automatic and quartz models.
The dials on the Apollo 15 models are truly special. Firstly, you’ll notice the grille beneath the curved anti-reflective sapphire crystal. Xeric sees it as a window, framing your view into the vast reaches of space, with the galactic elements of the dial and handset on display, and I agree. Personally, I see the cockpit window of the Millennium Falcon, but I’m admittedly biased. The dial itself is a visual feast of Swiss Super-LumiNova, the planets and stars glowing brightly as they revolve to tell the time. The AmeriQuartz Moonphase adds a display that, oddly enough, shows the phases of the moon. The overall effect is stunning.
Moving around the back of the trimmed-down 40mm case, you’ll find a coin-engraved caseback with a tribute to the Moon Buggy that Apollo 15 brought during their mission, a cool touch. The Buggy also inspired the crown’s tire-tread texture.
Finally, the American-made Horween leather straps feature stitched ribbing, inspired by the articulated fingers on the astronauts’ gloves, another cool little Easter egg in a very thoughtfully designed package.
The full specs:
American Automatic Model
Movement: Xeric AmeriChron Caliber X3.1 Automatic. Assembled in the USA, 40+ Hour Power
Reserve, 28800 BPH, 23 Jewels, Accuracy: +/-20 sec per day
Functions: Super-LumiNova Planetary Hours / Minutes / Star Seconds
Case Material: Hand-finished 316L Stainless Steel
Case Dimensions: 40mm wide by 13.6mm thick (includes domed crystal)
Case Lug to Lug: 47mm
Water Resistance: 5 ATM
Crystal Material: Anti-reflective coated, double-curved sapphire glass
Strap Material: American Horween leather with tool-free, quick-release springbars
Clasp Material: Solid stainless steel
Wrist Circumference: 6.5″-8.75″ (165mm/222mm)
Weight: 3.2oz (90 grams)
Weight: 3.7oz (105 grams)
American Moonphase Model
Movement: FTS AmeriQuartz Caliber 7129 Moonphase. Assembled in the USA, 1 Jewel,
Accuracy: +/-20 sec per month
Functions: Super-LumiNova Planetary Hours / Minutes / Star Seconds
Case Material: Hand-finished 316L Stainless Steel
Case Dimensions: 40mm wide by 11.7mm thick (includes domed crystal)
Case Lug to Lug: 47mm
Water Resistance: 5 ATM
Crystal Material: Anti-reflective coated, double-curved sapphire glass
Strap Material: American Horween leather with tool-free, quick-release springbars
Clasp Material: Solid stainless steel
Wrist Circumference: 6.5″-8.75″ (165mm/222mm)
Weight: 2.7oz (76 grams)
USA AUTOMATIC PRICING
KS Super Early Bird Pricing: $479 / Cerakote model $529
KS Early Bird Pricing: $499 / Cerakote model $549
Normal Kickstarter Pricing: $519 / Cerakote model $569
MSRP $750 / Cerakote model $825
USA MOONPHASE PRICING
KS Super Early Bird Pricing: $259 / Cerakote model $309
KS Early Bird Pricing: $279 / Cerakote model $329
KS Kickstarter Pricing: $289 / Cerakote model $339
MSRP $375 / Cerakote model $450
Watches are expected to be shipped in Spring 2022.
Read the full story here.
D.C. Hannay is a writer, commercial producer, voiceover artist, musician, and advertising copywriter from New York, writing professionally for over 20 years. He’s been fascinated with watches his whole life, beginning with his father’s 1970 Breitling Navitimer, and will always have a soft spot for anything Casio.
https://www.instagram.com/dchannay/
