Space-Age Timekeeping: Unimatic x Massena LAB Create NASA Artemis Watch in 99-Piece Limited Run

The burnt orange glow of NASA’s Space Launch System rocket has found its way to the wrist. Unimatic and Massena LAB have joined forces to create the U1-SPG “NASA Artemis” Limited Edition—a timepiece that celebrates humanity’s return to lunar exploration while delivering serious dive watch credentials. With only 99 pieces available worldwide and official NASA endorsement, this collaboration marks a rare intersection of independent watchmaking and space program heritage.

Design: Unimatic x Massena LAB

Design That Bridges Earth and Space

The watch’s 40mm stainless steel case (41.5mm including the bezel) immediately captures attention with its vibrant burnt orange Cerakote finish. This specific hue isn’t merely aesthetic—it directly references the color of the Space Launch System rocket that will power humanity back to the Moon. The ceramic-based coating offers exceptional durability with a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, making it highly resistant to scratches, chemicals, and environmental damage.

Creating a striking visual contrast, the 120-click unidirectional bezel and screw-down crown feature deep charcoal Cerakote coating. This deliberate color juxtaposition enhances legibility while creating a distinctive visual identity that sets the U1-SPG apart from other space-themed timepieces. The bezel’s serrated edge provides excellent grip even with wet hands or gloves—a practical consideration for a watch designed with serious underwater capabilities.

The conventional 3 o’clock crown position maintains Unimatic’s commitment to ergonomic design principles. Despite the watch’s bold aesthetic statement, its dimensions remain wearable for a variety of wrist sizes, reflecting the brand’s philosophy that tool watches should be practical for everyday wear.

Dial Details: Clarity Meets Heritage

The matte black dial serves as the perfect canvas for the watch’s distinctive elements. Most prominently, the vintage NASA “worm” logo—recently revived for the Artemis program—appears above the 6 o’clock position. This specific logo choice connects the watch to both NASA’s storied past and its forward-looking future.

All hour markers and hands feature “Old Radium” Super-LumiNova, providing excellent low-light visibility while evoking the warm patina of vintage timepieces. The hour markers follow a geometric design that prioritizes legibility while maintaining visual harmony with the case architecture.

The dial’s periphery contains a 24-hour scale for GMT functionality, allowing wearers to track a second time zone—perhaps Houston Mission Control time while exploring the lunar surface. The GMT hand features a distinctive hollow arrow tip, a thoughtful design element that prevents obscuring other dial information while maintaining its functionality.

Technical Capabilities Beyond Theming

Beneath its space-inspired exterior, the U1-SPG offers impressive technical specifications. Its 300-meter water resistance rating exceeds typical dive watch standards, protected by a 2.5mm thick sapphire crystal with interior anti-reflective coating that minimizes glare while maximizing readability in varied lighting conditions.

The Seiko NH34A automatic movement powers the watch, providing reliable GMT functionality with independently settable 24-hour hand. This self-winding mechanism operates at 21,600 beats per hour (3Hz), offers approximately 42 hours of power reserve, and includes a hacking seconds feature for precise time synchronization—a critical function for mission-critical operations.

While some might expect a Swiss movement at this price point, the NH34A represents a practical choice that aligns with NASA’s own engineering philosophy: reliable performance and serviceability take precedence over unnecessary complexity or prestige.

Caseback: A Window to Artemis

While the dial celebrates NASA’s visual identity, the solid steel caseback tells a more specific story. It features an engraved emblem of the NASA Artemis program, depicting the letter ‘A’ rising from Earth to the Moon—a symbolic representation of humanity’s return to lunar exploration. Each caseback also displays the individual number of the watch within the limited series, reinforcing its exclusivity.

This engraving approach maintains the watch’s water resistance while creating a tangible connection to the mission it commemorates. The decision to use engraving rather than a display caseback prioritizes function while still delivering meaningful aesthetic value.

Complete Collector’s Experience

The U1-SPG “NASA Artemis” arrives as a complete package that extends beyond the watch itself. Each timepiece comes with two nylon straps: one in matching burnt orange with a Cerakote-coated pin buckle and an additional black strap for more subdued wearing options. Both straps feature a texture and weave pattern that complements the technical nature of the watch.

The package also includes an embroidered NASA patch—a nod to the patches worn by astronauts on mission uniforms. This thoughtful inclusion reinforces the authentic connection to space exploration heritage. A branded UNIMATIC x Massena LAB tough case, warranty card with unique ID seal, and two-year warranty complete the offering.

At $1,295, the U1-SPG occupies an interesting market position—premium for Unimatic yet accessible compared to many limited editions with similar exclusivity and thematic depth.

The Minds Behind the Collaboration

This collaboration brings together two distinctive voices in contemporary watchmaking. Unimatic, founded by Giovanni Moro and Simone Nunziato in 2015, has quickly established itself as a minimalist-leaning independent brand known for functional tool watches with a clean design language. Their approach typically strips watches to their essential elements while maintaining technical capability.

William Massena, founder of Massena LAB, brings decades of watch industry experience and a reputation for thoughtful collaborations that honor horological traditions while pushing creative boundaries. His background as a collector and industry insider informs collaborations that typically blend heritage elements with contemporary execution.

Together, they’ve created something that respects both NASA’s design language and traditional watchmaking principles without simply applying space imagery to a standard watch template.

Collector Appeal Beyond the Timepiece

The U1-SPG “NASA Artemis” stands out in today’s crowded watch market through several distinguishing factors. Its extreme scarcity—just 99 numbered pieces—creates immediate collectibility that appeals to both watch enthusiasts and space exploration fans.

The official NASA partnership provides legitimacy that separates it from the numerous unofficial space-themed watches flooding the market. The vintage “worm” logo connects this modern watch to NASA’s visual heritage while maintaining contemporary relevance.

What gives this timepiece lasting significance is its connection to the ongoing Artemis program. As NASA prepares for the Artemis II mission in April 2026—the first crewed lunar journey in over fifty years—this watch documents a pivotal moment in space exploration history. While many space-themed watches look back to the Apollo era, this piece aligns itself with humanity’s future among the stars.

The design draws from 1960s retrofuturism and Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, creating a thoughtful aesthetic rather than merely applying space imagery to a standard watch. This approach blends horological tradition with NASA’s storied legacy.

Perhaps most impressively, the watch balances its thematic elements with genuine technical capability. The 300-meter water resistance, unidirectional timing bezel, and GMT functionality make it a practical tool watch despite its commemorative nature—a rarity among themed limited editions that often sacrifice function for style.

As of early March 2025, the U1-SPG “NASA Artemis” is available through Massena LAB’s official website. It represents a significant collaboration between independent watchmaking and America’s space program. For collectors seeking exclusivity and substance, this limited edition delivers both in a surprisingly accessible package.

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