Space travel-themed watches tend to stir up excitement, whether a timepiece has spent actual time in space, or is just inspired by the concept. A new collaboration between Italian watchmakers Unimatic and creative horological studio Massena LAB called the U1-SPG “NASA Artemis” Limited Edition, however, is one of the few space-inspired watches that wears NASA’s signature.
As the hefty name suggests, the U1-SPG “NASA Artemis” pays tribute to the ongoing NASA Artemis campaign; the next launch is the Artemis II mission, scheduled for April 2026. As the first crewed venture to the moon since the Apollo missions of the 1960s and 1970s, the Artemis campaign is understandably drumming up excitement in the scientific community and beyond.
The U1-SPG “NASA Artemis” immediately announces its presence with a 40mm stainless steel case coated in vivid orange Cerakote—an anti-corrosive and durable material used in the aerospace industry.. This particular hue of orange matches that of the SLS rocket to be used in the Artemis missions, adding a touch of authenticity to the palette choice. The mono-directional safety bezel and screw-down crown are additionally coated in charcoal-black Cerakote for a sharp contrast that is furthered by the matte black dial.
Coated with “Old Radium” Super-LumiNova, the beige hour markers, numerals, and hands—along with the old-school NASA logo above the 6 o’clock position—add to a retro-futuristic dial design that UNIMATIC founder Giovanni Moro says is “strongly influenced” by Stanley Kubrick’s seminal 1968 film, 2001: A Space Odyssey. A matching orange strap fits within the 22mm lug width and features a burnt orange Cerakote-coated pin buckle, while an additional black nylon strap is included for swapping in.
Of course, a watch intended for space needs a robust beating heart, and the “NASA Artemis” is powered appropriately by a self-winding Seiko NH34A movement with a GMT complication. Offering 300m of water resistance and a 42-hour power reserve, wearers will have plenty of juice for space-walking (or solid ground-walking) fun. A domed sapphire crystal and stainless steel caseback with a NASA engraving seal the dial and movement in, while an included NASA velcro patch and tough carrying case to complete the kit.
With a ‘60s-’70s design tilt and modern hardiness, the U1-SPG “NASA Artemis” Limited Edition looks to be an exciting tie-in timepiece for fans of space, whether science fiction or the real deal. And with NASA’s official logo and connections to the ongoing Artemis missions, UNIMATIC and Massena LAB have built a legitimately nerdy (in a cool way) tool for aspiring astro-travelers here on boring old Earth.
Launching today and limited to 99 pieces, the UNIMATIC x Massena LAB U1-SPG “NASA Artemis” Limited Edition retails for USD $1,295 and will be available exclusively at the Massena LAB website.
