Patrik Zdvíhal There are dress watches, diving watches, racing watches, smartwatches, and, last but not least, we mustn’t forget astronaut watches—or, in our case, cosmonaut watches! Space has been a source of fascination since time immemorial; people love to explore the unknown, and for such an adventure, you need a reliable companion to keep track of time on your journeys—perhaps even across the entire galaxy.
Even though Omega isn’t part of the Swiss brand’s portfolio, we know our way around the space sector! Fortis is right at home in this arena, and it would be a mistake to let it remain in the shadow of its more famous counterparts. The Fortis Novonaut N-42 Legacy Edition is, in fact, tailor-made for a space shuttle cockpit.
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The Incredibly Cosmic Fortis
As is often the case with select companies, Fortis doesn’t just talk about space because it’s trendy. The Fortis–space connection has been around for a long time. Fortis has always supplied products designed primarily for these purposes, not just for the office.
To be more precise, it made its space debut as early as 1962, when it had its Spacematic tested by an American crew. It became the official astronaut chronograph in 1994, when it began supplying watches to the Roscosmos agency. And we could go on like this right up to the present.
A Tribute to History
For certain reasons, Fortis no longer collaborates with the Russian corporation Roscosmos, but history cannot be rewritten, so why not honor it with respect? The new Novonaut is a beautiful testament to this and infuses the F2040008 model with a touch of space. And because the future matters too, Fortis continues to collaborate on the development of its watches right at the source. Currently, for example, it supports the Austrian and Swedish space programs.
An “wow” effect right off the bat
It’s clear at first glance that Fortis means business, and this steel block is no joke. Literally. The bezel adds another 2 mm to the 42-mm-wide case, and the massive, screw-down crown feels like the safety catch on a hand grenade.
Thanks to its 15 mm thickness and 51 mm lug-to-lug length, the watch can even be used as a makeshift boxing glove 😁, which has the advantage that it isn’t classified as a weapon. The massive Fortis screws used to secure the bracelet would certainly also come in handy in an intergalactic battle. And the watch’s weight—a solid 247 g, even with the steel bracelet—truly underscores all of the above.
Sleekness Up Close
Finishing of the dial and bezel
When viewed up close, the watch surprises with its clarity and sleekness, which I attribute mainly to the matte finish of the dial and bezel. It’s absolutely exemplary here. There’s also a model with a rocket on the sub-dial in a glossy version. Personally, I prefer the matte finish, which harmonizes perfectly with the space-themed design. Black, white, and orange—that’s all there is to it. Although the dial features plenty of indices and numerals, nothing feels distracting, and everything is in the right place.
The dial features a textured matte finish, and the date ring follows the same style; it does not protrude in any way but simply displays the day of the week and the date. An interesting detail is that every 13th day of the month is highlighted in orange. The number 13 is a significant and auspicious milestone for Fortis.
Upon closer inspection, the veil of mystery is easily lifted. The company was founded on the 13th, and the new owner, Jupp Philipp, took over the company on the 13th as well—at that time, it had 13 employees. On this day, no month goes unnoticed, whether by the Fortis team or their loyal customers. The watch will always remind you of this. Above the date window, the company’s logo with a crown stands out discreetly yet proudly, and below the window is the model name, Novonaut.
By the way, 13 is currently a hot topic in Helvetia as well—we’re expecting the H02 limited edition any day now, which we wrote about here.
The main numerals on the dial are applied and fully luminescent. It is precisely the three-dimensional quality of the numerals that takes the dial’s readability to the next level. X1-Lumicast-type Luminova guarantees the best possible readability in the midst of a desolate, dark universe. The rest of the hour markers and labels are printed and still blend perfectly with the matte, grainy surface. The raised chronograph scale adds depth to the dial.
Sub-dials
Although the sub-dials resemble vinyl records, they serve a different purpose. The one at the 12 o’clock position displays the minutes, while the sub-dial at the 6 o’clock position displays the stopwatch hours. The space-age look is completed by the minimalist “N-42” model designation on this very sub-dial. You can also tell
that this is a stopwatch function by the color-coded hands, which match the chronograph seconds hand. It therefore begins to move only after the stopwatch is started. On the sub-dial at the 9 o’clock position, an off-center seconds hand oscillates. When exposed to a UV lamp, the orange color glows beautifully.
Bezel and case back
The bezel rotates in both directions, features a ceramic insert with luminescent filling, and operates smoothly—as quiet as the universe itself. So you can calmly measure distances, count down, and rest assured that you won’t disturb other forms of life in a neighboring galaxy.
The base is screw-on (yes, Novonaut has opted for 200 m water resistance) and varies depending on the color variant. The black version features an engraved rocket on a steel caseback, while the blue version has a smoked glass caseback, again featuring a rocket. And now we can move on to what’s hidden beneath the caseback!
Space Propulsion
What drives the Novonauts is a name unknown to some, but one already well-established among Fortis connoisseurs: the Werk 17. La Joux-Perret developed this movement specifically for Fortis, and it is the first movement in history designed for use in space. For more detailed information about the test, see the article here.
In addition to its durability, Werk offers:
- 28,800 half-cycles per hour
- 26 stone settings
- Power reserve: 60 hours
- Automatic winding
- Hacking (stopping the second hand)
- Date and Day of the Week Indicator
Back to Earth
Although the watch has a versatile design, its proportions mean it’s not for everyone. Owners with slimmer wrists (like me) are simply out of luck. I’d recommend a wrist circumference of around 17.5 cm. Another potential drawback is the price tag, which approaches 130,000 Kč. At this point, many might start considering Omega and their Speedmasters, which are no longer that much more expensive.
It’s up to each person, of course, but if you’re looking for a “less well-known” watch with beautiful craftsmanship, a great movement, and a rich history and space heritage behind the brand, you definitely won’t go wrong.
Fun fact: You can also spot this model on the wrist of the brand’s new ambassador, Matthias Malmedie. The automotive expert and TV host is a big fan of the brand, which also holds sentimental value for him. After all, Fortis was his first automatic watch! Learn more about Fortis here.
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