A lot of watches have been to space, although few ever look like they’ve been to space. French microbrand SpaceOne has, ironically, never exited our atmosphere but that doesn’t stop them from continuing to make wristwatches that look like they could be at home on a spaceship.
For their latest venture, dubbed the WorldTimer, the brand has taken one of horology’s most practical complications and given it the full SpaceOne treatment. Gone are the traditional hands and city rings you’d expect to find on a GMT or worldtimer. Instead, what we get is something that feels like something from a sci-fi adventure rather than a watch dial.
A New Kind of Worldtimer
Back in 2023, independent watchmaker Théo Auffret and Guillaume Laidet, who was responsible for reviving Nivada Grenchen and Vulcain, launched their brand on Kickstarter under the name Argon. Their debut model was simply called the Spaceone, a futuristic watch with a unique jumping hour complication. Despite getting funded within minutes, Argon was soon faced with legal backlash and forced to change its name.
Now operating under SpaceOne, the WorldTimer is their third release, with a display unlike anything else in the watch world right now. At 3 o’clock, a rotating minutes disc surrounds a central seconds display that ticks away, while the 6 o’clock position houses a 12-hour disc for local time. Lastly, a pair of coaxial discs at 9 o’clock display 24-hour time alongside major cities worldwide. The functions are operated with a three-position crown system: position one for winding, position two for quick city adjustment, and position three for simultaneous time setting across both 12 and 24-hour displays.
Designer Olivier Gamiette, who previously worked his magic on the brand’s Tellurium, has created something that manages to be unorthodox while also serving a very practical purpose, especially for frequent travelers or those who work in an industry with global communications. The automotive influences are subtle, giving the whole thing a cockpit-like look that plays perfectly into SpaceOne’s space-age aesthetic.
The French Connection
Inside, the base movement is a reliable Soprod P024 automatic, but that’s just for the time-telling function. As for the WorldTimer module, it was developed in-house by Auffret and assembled in Paris. But despite the proprietary nature of the module, the WorldTimer keeps in line with SpaceOne’s dedication to accessibility. At just €2,700 (~$3,110), the timepiece is much more affordable than other brands employing a similar ethos, like Urwerk or Ressence.
The Rest of the Specs
Housed in a lightweight grade 5 titanium case that stretches a whopping 52.7mm across due to the nature of the setup, the watch is still wearable with a curved case architecture, a modest 41.9mm lug-to-lug, and a 15.88mm thickness. Meanwhile, the displays are covered with twin sapphire domes.
Available in natural titanium, black PVD, or blue PVD finishes, the WorldTimer is water resistant to 30m and comes with either a black rubber strap or a textile strap in black or blue.
Spec Sheet
Model: SpaceOne WorldTimer
Case Material: Grade 5 titanium (natural, black PVD, or blue PVD)
Case Size: 52.7mm
Lug-to-Lug: 41.9mm
Case Thickness: 15.88mm
Movement: Soprod P024 automatic with in-house WorldTimer module
Power Reserve: 38 hours
Water Resistance: 30m
Strap: Rubber or textile with titanium buckle
Assembly: Paris, France
Limited Edition?: Yes, 100 (black), 200 (blue), 300 (titanium)
Pricing & Availability
The SpaceOne WorldTimer will be available for pre-order starting June 26 at 4:00 PM Paris time exclusively through the brand’s website. Priced at €2,700 (~$3,110), the first batch of 600 pieces is scheduled for delivery before the end of 2025. The edition breaks down to 300 pieces in natural titanium, 200 in blue PVD, and 100 in black PVD.
Recap
SpaceOne Worldtimer
French microbrand SpaceOne put its futuristic spin on the world of worldtimers with this $3,000 timepiece that puts the cities of the world on a rotating disc.
