The tie between the watch brand Fortis and space travel has been a tremendous journey. Fortis has had major involvement with the Russian space program for over 17 years and have been their official timepiece for over 15. Their love of space dates back as far as the 1960’s when they 1st released the Spacematic. For 2012, and the 100 year anniversary of Fortis, they have introduced a new limited edition that has become one of the most popular pieces here at AZ Fine Time. The Fortis Spacematic Limited Edition 2012 623.22.42.
The 40mm 2 part stainless steel case is completely micro-sandblasted to give the steel a complete matte finish. The finish is great to hide signs of wear and also complements the watches look completely. The crown is a very uncommon design that when unscrewed, protrudes out pretty far, but when screwed in, recesses in to the case and wears quite comfortably. What is really nice is that the crown is very easy to handle, which of course was designed with that intention.
The dial on this piece is a very unique. The Arabic numerals are very sharp and crisp on the white dial and the indexes at 6, 9, and 12 o’clock add extra detail. The dots above the each hour marker as well as next to the twelve o’clock index, also add to its uniqueness. The day/date at 3 o’clock is also aligned to look just like the indexes to help give the piece symmetry. The orange second hand is also an eye catcher, but most aspects of this watch make it hard not to notice.
The lume is what really makes this dial stand out. All the white found on the dial is actually a blue super luminova that glows incredibly bright. This makes for an easy read, even in the darkest of conditions.
There are many variations of straps available for the Spacematic, but our favorite is the NATO. There are 3 colors available, black, tan and a dark green, all of which look fantastic. The NATO straps are not only durable and take long times to wear down, but are also quite comfortable and very secure.
The automatic movement is an ETA 2836-2 with day/date feature. It has a rate of 28,800 bph, 25 jewels and an incabloc shock absorber. The case back is closed, so you do not get to see the movement, but if you were wearing it on the NATO strap, you wouldn’t see it anyway. Even so, the watch is sealed tight, just in case you want to take it with on your next space expedition.
The Fortis Spacematic Limited Edition 623.22.42 retails for $1,225 and is one of the most affordable Fortis pieces on the market. It’s a tremendous value on a great timepiece. This piece has been loved by many and even the original Mercury Astronauts were known to have the Spacematic on their wrist.
Fortis has just recently launched a contest where your space inspired artwork can win a free parabolic flight on a Zero-G spacecraft. Please see HERE for more details. Should you have any questions regarding the Spacematic, or any Fortis timepiece, please feel free to call us at 1-800-486-3996.
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