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The last time human beings landed on the surface of the Moon was December 11, 1972. But for the first time in over half a century humans are set to land on the lunar surface as part of the Artemis missions in 2026. While the astronauts no doubt be wearing their trusty NASA-issued Speedmasters, Massena Lab and Unimatic are envisioning a different future with their new watch.
Massena Laab and Unimatic, two of our favorite small-but-mighty watch brands, came together to create the new U1-SPG. The collaboration is a direct celebration of the Artemis missions and the aura of possibility that surrounded the Apollo program during the childhood of brand founder and noted collector William Massena. “When I was growing up, there was an intense obsession with NASA, the launch of its Space Shuttle program, and with the future of space travel,” he said in a press release. “For me, the U1-SPG pays tribute to that feeling we all had as kids; that the future was full of possibilities and that the promise of technological advancement was almost limitless. To me, that is what NASA is all about.”
Simone Nunziato
Indeed, all eyes are on NASA following over 50 years since the last Moonwalk. Luckily the U1-SPG will help tide us over until then. The watch hits you straight away with a spectacularly fun shade of burn orange inspired by the SLS rockets. The watch is made of stainless steel withan anti-corrosive, ceramic-based Cerakote coating in burnt orange. It measures 41.5 mm.
The most important detail on the watch is the unmissable NASA logo at 6 o’clock—putting the piece in great company with other brands who have found inspiration among the stars. G-Shock has created many versions of its hard-wearing watches with the space program’s logo on it, including a fan favorite that comes in a bright orange to match the astronauts’ suits. There’s the Speedmaster, of course, but did you know that in the ‘90s Timex’s Datalink, a proto-smartwatch, was approved for space travel? There is a long history of watches born for or inspired by outer-atmosphere exploration and the new U1-SPG is a more than solid addition to that lineage.
