Editor’s Note: Watches & Wonders (formerly SIHH) and Baselworld 2020 are canceled but that hasn’t stopped watch brands large and small from debuting their new wares. To stay on top of this year’s best new watch releases, visit our tag page.
French watchmaker Yema has designed legitimate “space watches” in the Spationaute I and II, previously used by French astronauts. Rather than creating an homage to these vintage pieces, the brand took the arguably more interesting route of introducing completely new versions of its “space watch” in collaboration with the French Space Agency (CNES). Dubbed the Spacegraf Zero-G, the new watch is official space agency-approved, affordable, and best of all — you don’t need to be an astronaut to get one.
The Spacegraf Zero-G, as its name suggests, is designed specifically for zero-gravity, or parabolic, flights, which is where an aircraft ascends and then descends quickly, simulating weightlessness for the occupants for around 20-30 seconds. It’s used for research purposes, but you can also buy a several-thousand-dollar ticket simply for a fun experience.
Yema says that the chronograph function of the Spacegraf Zero-G, which also features a 39mm case and domed mineral crystal, is particularly useful during these flights for anticipating the next zero-G phase. Using a Japanese quartz movement, this particular chronograph measures up to an hour via a central seconds hand and a 60-minute subdial. With black and blue dial options, it has a price of $399 in steel, and a black-coated steel model with a black dial is a little more at $449. They’re available now for preorder directly from the brand.
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