Latest Review
September 30, 2024 
Space! The Universe! The Great Unknown! When you look up into the night sky, what do you see? A ceiling of stars, or an endless expanse of mystery an intrigue? Does it make you feel exhilarated? Dizzy? Incredibly small or part of something incredibly big?
An endless source of inspiration for humankind, from wide-eyed children to the wisest of academics, simply looking up on a clear night can open the mind to great and terrifying possibilities. It can push us to innovate and create. From technology to design to art, the notion of what, or who, is out there continues to drive us.
Inspired by the mysteries of the universe, the allure of the stars, and the aesthetics of the space age, the Lorier x Worn & Wound Astra Stargazer was born. It is a watch meant to evoke the feeling of staring into the night sky and the wonder it creates—the feeling, almost, of falling upward as your mind ponders the unknown.
The third collaboration between Lorier and Worn & Wound, the Astra Stargazer, is also the most adventurous. Based on Lorier’s 36mm case, chosen for its classic mid-century proportions, the dial has been turned into a portal, dynamically pulling you in while still clearly, and conveniently telling the time.
The dial is an ever-changing surface in cosmic gray. A cool, muted tone, it speaks to the traces of the Milky Way galaxy visible on the clearest of nights. At the center is another surface with mysterious marks—a series of collapsing rings cut by 12 lines. Is it a map? Is it a gateway? Perhaps, perhaps not. Rotating slowly throughout the day, it activates the space, indicating the current hour through the embedded lume triangle.
Cutting through the cosmic gray is a wide band of luminescence that breaks the inner and outer surfaces. During the day, it’s a bold graphic moment, dividing the dial into clear regions. At night, it illuminates, and forms emerge in the dark, creating silhouettes and a view like that of a planet eclipsing the light of a star. At center, a tri-spoke seconds hand hovers about the dial, turning silently, hypnotically, luring you further in. One dot is in green, and two are in blue. A coded signal in light? A message from another world?
Finally, a large circle orbits the dial. A skeletonized form, echoing the motion of a moon, making one pass around the center of the dial per hour. The minute hand by function, it pays respect to some of our favorite mid-century watches that drew inspiration from the race to the stars. A lumed triangle tip along the circle’s edge indicates the current time along the outside of the dial.
The Astra Stargazer is mounted on a gray suede strap with a subtle, warm tone, emphasizing the dial’s more striking colors. On the wrist, it combines the charm of a vintage timepiece with the allure of sci-fi. At 36mm by 44mm and 11mm tall, including a domed acrylic crystal, it will fit a wide range of wrist sizes and comes off quite stylish while maintaining its interstellar intentions.
The Miyota 9015 caliber, beating away at 28,800 bph, keeps time within. Thin and reliable, the 90S5 is a perfect engine for this spacetime observer. The Lorier x Worn & Wound Astra Stargazer is limited to 200 units and priced at $499. It is available to purchase now through the Windup Watch Shop and will begin shipping in December.
For those enjoy the feeling of looking up into space and getting lost in their imagination, for those who hope we’re not alone, and those who like to put on Tangerine Dream and close their eyes to ponder mysteries on a scale beyond what the human mind can manage, the Lorier x Worn & Wound Astra Stargazer is for you. A little, functional reminder that maybe, just maybe, there’s more out there. Who knows, maybe we’ll be hearing from something soon.
To be continued…
