Two Fan-Favorite Affordable Brands Join Forces for a Watch Unlike Any Other

Baltic and SpaceOne are two of the coolest and most beloved affordable independent brands in the watch space today, but in many ways, they couldn’t be more different.

Baltic is known for its mastery in reinterpreting mid-century styles, with its catalog mining watchmaking from the 1930s — 1970s and reinterpreting those classic designs for today’s tastes. SpaceOne, by contrast, has a far more forward-looking view, taking high-horology complications and democratizing them in futuristic spaceships for the wrist.

Despite their divergent aesthetic philosophies, the two brands still have some things in common. Both brands are based in France, for one. What’s more, both prioritize value, giving their customers a whole lot of bang for their buck.

Going off of those shared sensibilities, along with a friendship between their respective owners, Baltic and SpaceOne have collaborated on a new watch that somehow is able to masterfully blend contrasting elements from both brands.

And it looks great.

Baltic

Days of future past

The Baltic x SpaceOne Seconde Majeure combines Baltic’s vintage aesthetic with a custom, futuristic jump-hour module from SpaceOne’s co-founder and lead watchmaker, Théo Auffret.

The stainless steel case is compact and vintage-inspired like other Baltics, but it’s actually a brand-new design created specifically for this watch. It measures 38.5mm across, 47.5mm long and 12.3mm thick, which includes the domed sapphire crystal. The case sides and lug tops are brushed, while the bezel and lug chamfers are mirror-polished. The push-pull crown is mounted at 12:00.

Baltic

The dial also brings to mind some of Baltic’s 1930s-inspired creations thanks to its traditional copper color. Cut from a solid piece of maillechort, the dial is available in two distinct finishes: vertically brushed, or “Charbonné.” The latter is done by hand with a piece of charcoal in a laborious process requiring several hours, and the end result looks similar to perlage.

The movement is where SpaceOne’s futuristic vision comes into view. Although the watch’s main engine is a Swiss-made Soprod Cal. P024 automatic, the real star is Auffret’s in-house jump-hour module. It’s fully exposed on the dial and consists of two rotating sapphire discs and a series of gears.

The smaller top disc instantly “jumps” at the top of each hour to display the current hour at noon. Overlapping the lower half of this disc is a constantly rotating, larger sapphire disc for the minutes. It takes up much of the dial’s real estate and displays the current minute at 6:00. Mounted in the center of this disc is a thin blue seconds hand providing constant motion on the dial.

The watch is mounted on a Delugs strap that is equal parts Baltic and SpaceOne. Its tan color feels decidedly old-school, while its Alcantara material and curved, quick-release spring bars add a more contemporary edge.

Baltic

Availability and pricing

This watch is as cool as it is unexpected. It’s also quite rare. While the Seconde Majeure isn’t limited by number, it is limited by time (how appropriate).

The watch is only available to order during a six-day period between May 12 and May 17, with the number produced limited to the number ordered during that window. The brushed version is priced at €2,500 (~$2,944), while the labor-intensive Charbonné dial is considerably pricier at €3,500 (~$4,122).

Both are available to order online at a special joint Baltic-SpaceOne product page, with deliveries expected to take place around the end of this year.

Baltic

Baltic x SpaceOne Seconde Majeure

Specs

Case Size	38.5mm
Movement	Soprod Cal. P024 automatic with in-house jumping hour module
Water Resistance	50m

• $2,944 at Baltic/SpaceOne

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