WHEN YOU THINK of space exploration and watches, one name immediately comes to mind: Omega. Since its Speedmaster chronograph was selected by NASA half a century ago it has become synonymous with space travel. The timing of a 13-second engine burn to save Apollo 13 cemented its role in space history, and Omega has not missed a single opportunity to deepen the partnership, from officially naming it the Moonwatch to creating endless commemorative limited editions (even if it is by no means the only watch that's left our planet.)
Now, with private spaceflight proliferating and manned missions to the Moon back on NASA’s agenda, a Californian start-up wants to establish a new standard for space watches. Barrelhand, whose watches draw on expertise in 3D printing and materials science, says that its Monolith will be the only watch purpose-built for space exploration.
“Space is the harshest environment we've ever gone to,” says founder Karel Bachand. “When we first did it 50 years ago, there were no tools for it. NASA just tried to find off-the-shelf watches that were the best available. When the Speedmaster was selected it was never designed with space in mind, it just happened to pass the tests better than others. There was still plenty of room for improvement.”
