tom austin
One of the most popular types of stone dials, meteorite dials are more than just a unique finish on the dial. To find out why, check out this quick science history lesson. About 4.5 billion years ago, chunks of iron and nickel slowly began to form protoplanets, or planets in the early stages of formation. For some reason, this particular protoplanet was unreachable, broke up, and its iron and nickel core began drifting through space. As it floated, it began to cool down, and a beautiful crystal structure slowly formed inside. Millions of years later, one such meteorite hurtled toward Earth’s atmosphere, exploded on its way down, and spread across a vast area of Namibia.
It was discovered in the 1800s and became known as the Gibeon meteorite. The stone’s characteristic crystalline appearance, called the Widmanstätten pattern after Count Alois von Beff Widmanstetten, director of the Imperial Porcelain Factory in Vienna, was created on the surface of a meteorite for cleaning. was discovered when treated with acid. Since then, jewelry and watch makers have appreciated this ancient material and found their way into some of their most popular pieces.
It’s pretty cool to know that the meteorite fragment on your wrist is not only 100% unique, but is also likely older than the solar system itself. Now that the history lesson is out of the way, let’s take a look at the best meteorite dial watches you can buy. And let’s hope some other cool watch finishes exist as well.
Nivada Grenchen F77 Stainless Steel Meteorite
Meteorite dials are very often used on watches that are out of reach for many people, and are usually reserved for special editions or ultra-luxury pieces where six-figure prices are standard territory. But Nivada has another option: use its highly valuable product, F77, to return the meteorite to Earth. Sure, there are plenty of affordable octagonal Royal Oak-inspired products these days, but the Nivada Grenchen F77 Stainless Steel Meteorite is a unique bag on its own merits. Additionally, it was made of titanium.
A reissue of the 1977 classic model, the Nivada Grenchen F77 Stainless Steel Meteorite is made of 316L stainless steel with a titanium caseback and domed sapphire crystal. Although the 37mm case shape is familiar, it has its own classic touches, such as being integrated with the bracelet, giving it a slightly tool-like impression. The watch is powered by the Soprod P024 movement, an automatic time-limited mechanical movement with a 38-hour power reserve and mounted beneath a dark meteorite dial. Each dial is unique, but it’s so cool that you won’t even notice it’s a meteorite unless you look closely. It’s a watch that doesn’t make too much of itself, which I like. The Nivada Grenchen F77 Stainless Steel Meteorite tells a story and also offers a bit of quiet luxury without breaking the bank. Price: $1,390.
bulova moon pilot meteorite
Legend has it that American astronaut Dave R. Scott, on the Apollo 15 lunar mission, encountered problems with his NASA-issued Speedmaster and quickly took it into his possession for the remainder of the mission. It is said that he replaced it with a Bulova Chronograph 88510/01. . The watch sold for $1.6 million at auction in 2015, and earlier this year Bulova released a special edition commemorating the watch and its journey.
The Bulova Lunar Pilot Meteorite is a limited edition chronograph made from grade 5 titanium and sandblasted for a tool-like aesthetic. Although it looks large at 43.5mm, it is faithful to the original and while the original watch was mechanical, this special version is powered by the high-precision quartz caliber NP20. The caseback is engraved with an engraving of an astronaut on the moon and the number of each piece up to 5000 pieces. But importantly, the dial itself is made of meteorite, something rarely seen in this price range, and has such a cool heritage and look that we had to add it to this list. Price: $1,495.
Omega Speedmaster Dark Side of Moon Meteorite
One of the best looking Speedmasters on the market in my opinion, the Dark Side of the Moon Meteorite is for the hardcore space horologist. With a 44.25 mm gray ceramic case, 18K Sedna gold bezel and hands, and of course a meteorite dial, this watch is by no means a delicate watch, but it stands out among the many Speedmaster special editions. Masu. Visual aspects aside, the watch includes a silicon balance spring, twin barrels, and a coaxial caliber 9300 with a 60-hour power reserve, visible through the sapphire caseback, and what we learned about the Speedmaster. It has everything we love. This Speedy also omits the 6 o’clock subdial in favor of a date function, and incorporates the chronograph minutes on the 3-position subdial. The Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon is a technology-packed watch with features such as: This is a great homage to the Speedmaster’s astronomical influence. Price: $17,100.
Rolex GMT Master II 126719BLRO
Rolex, the king of stone dials, first featured a meteorite dial on the Daytona nearly 20 years ago. It was removed from the Daytona line with the introduction of the latest reference last year, and currently only one model remains in the catalog. What an amazing watch it is, a white gold Rolex GMT-Master II BLRO with a dreamy meteorite dial. The GMT-Master II needs little introduction. One of the most respected GMT complication watches available for purchase today. This watch is well known for its combination of tool-like functionality and luxury with durability, but in white gold it approaches something much more special than your everyday tool watch. This watch is powered by Rolex’s excellent 3285 GMT movement. This is a true rapid-set GMT with a 70-hour power reserve, making it one of the most reliable and accurate mass-produced movements.
Each of the GMT-Master II’s meteorite dials is unique, each with its own characteristics, some exhibiting a dull, dark appearance, while others appear almost solid silver in the right light. Only available in a red/blue ‘Pepsi’ configuration, the white gold version is usually one of those ‘you know it’ types of watches, but the meteorite dial is the real charm and makes the watch Turn it into a serious show. piece. Price: $42,500.
De Bethune DB28XP Meteorite
Out-of-this-world materials call for out-of-this-world watches, right? Few products are as out-of-this-world as De Bethune’s DB28XP. First, the extreme case design is described as a “perfect fusion of tradition and innovation.” Crafted from anthracite-coated zirconium and measuring 43mm, it makes a pretty big statement with a unique floating lug design that folds comfortably onto your wrist. The caseback is solid zirconium with blue titanium decoration, and the front of the case is finished with a domed sapphire crystal.
Powering this watch is the hand-wound caliber DB2115V7, visible through the movement opening on the dial. Beneath the crystal is one of the most stunning dials in modern watchmaking, made from slices of blue meteorite and decorated with white gold stars to create a starry sky effect. Today, blue is De Bethune’s signature color, and the Blue Meteorite is both a unique choice and a rarity, with only 10 numbered watches ever produced. Price: $138,000.
Louis Monet Cosmopolis
If a meteorite dial watch isn’t enough for you, how about a record-breaking meteorite dial watch?Louis Monet Cosmopolis is the “most meteorite-inserted” watch made from 12 different fragments of 12 different meteorites. He is the current world record holder for “Clockwork”. Each Cosmopolis is decorated with 12 unique meteorite slices on the dial and is housed in an 18K red gold ring that matches the 40.7 mm case.
There’s also an off-centre flying tourbillon at the front, paired with a beautifully crafted hand-wound movement with twin barrels and an impressive 96-hour power reserve. Finishing off the watch is an alligator leather strap with an 18K red gold folding clasp. Louis Monet Cosmopolis is a rare item in many senses of the word, not only a limited edition Haute Horlogerie watch, but also a collection of human-made watches, collected from fragments of the most extraordinary materials ever created by mankind. Constructed from some of the rarest materials known. It travels billions of miles across the solar system. That’s pretty great if you ask me. Price: $259,608.
Cartier Rotonde de Cartier Earth & Moon
When you think of Cartier, you probably think of the small, shapely dress watches that have become a staple not only in the last few decades, but even more recently. However, there are some Cartier models that don’t really get the spotlight, and the Rotonde de Cartier Earth & Moon is one such watch. Cartier tends to focus on the aesthetic side of things, but that doesn’t mean they don’t know how to make authentic watch movements. Inside the Rotonde de Cartier Earth & Moon is the caliber 9440 MC, a hand-wound tourbillon with a second time zone, an on-demand moon phase complication, and a three-day power reserve.
It is housed in a large 47mm 18K rose gold case in traditional style, which makes it even more interesting on the dial. First, you’ll notice that Cartier’s iconic Roman numerals have been cut out and skeletonized around the off-center time dial at 12, which is decorated with, you guessed it, a meteorite. The moon phase also has a space stone. The overall finish is very nice and gives Cartier a unique look. These luxurious details and some impressive movement specs don’t come cheap, making this model an ultra-luxury Cartier. Price: 331,000 USD.
