The Lorier x Worn & Wound Astra Stargazer for the astronomically attuned
Buffy Acacia- The Lorier x Worn & Wound Astra Stargazer can be a great daily wearer for the astronomers among us.
- It uses its three-hand arrangement creatively to depict various aspects of astronomy, as well as referencing the Raketa Copernic.
- It’s powered by the ultra-thin Miyota 90S5 automatic movement for a total thickness of 11mm, including an acrylic crystal and 100m of water resistance.
Lorier is a microbrand best known for its ‘50s and ‘60s inspired sports watches, harnessing that special crossover between conservative dressiness and genuine utility. Well, for this limited edition collaboration with the publication Worn & Wound, the pair have instead looked to the stars and sprinkled in a nod to some Soviet history. The result is the Astra Stargazer, and I desperately hope that there will be further editions, because 200 pieces is nowhere near enough.
You can tell at a glance that the Lorier x Worn & Wound Astra Stargazer has a scientific flair, with the white spots floating around the algae-green background like an atomic diagram. Closer inspection, and a little prior knowledge, reveals it to be specifically dedicated to astronomy. The central grid, which actually forms the slowly-spinning hour hand thanks to a luminous arrowhead, is used to determine celestial coordinates for mapping star charts. The seconds hand, which has three prongs and lumed lollipop tips, evokes movement of the stars in the night sky. The oversized circular minute hand appears to be an ode to the Raketa Copernic, itself an astronomy themed watch released in the 1980s in honour of Nicolaus Copernicus.
Of course, evoking the magic of the night sky doesn’t really work without something glowing. The engraved concentric circles which usually house minute markers on the standard Astra models are packed solid with Swiss Super-LumiNova, making them shine blue like a beacon after dark. The arrows for hours, minutes and one of the three dots for seconds are in a contrasting green colour so you can still differentiate between the decorative lume and the functional lume. Similarly, a black chapter ring with minute markers runs around the dial’s periphery so the time can still be read clearly despite its highly artistic dial.
The case is the same as Lorier’s regular Astra, which was designed as a daily wearer with vintage ideals. The 36mm diameter is large enough to have some modern presence without compromising too much on its firm belief that vintage watch sizes are superior to contemporary ones. Because the diameter is small, the pointed lugs have room to stretch out with elegance, measuring just 44mm from tip-to-tip. It uses a domed acrylic crystal which isn’t as resistant to scratching as sapphire, but it’s also less brittle and can be polished easily. The total thickness of 11mm is impressive considering the 2mm height of the crystal and the 100m of water resistance, which makes the watch safe to swim with.
The Lorier x Worn & Wound Astra Stargazer is powered by the Miyota 90S5, which is from the accessible Japanese brand’s premium line of movements. Although the dial seems pretty complex, it’s really just a creative use of a time-only movement and the three hands it comes with. It’s only 3.9mm tall despite being automatically wound, and has a beat rate of 28,000 vibrations per hour over a 42 hour power reserve. The specified accuracy is within -10/+30 seconds per day, although the average performance is generally much better. The movement is covered by a solid caseback that’s engraved with an astronomical chart, and the question ‘is there anybody out there?’
The Lorier x Worn & Wound Astra Stargazer price and availability
The Lorier x Worn & Wound Astra Stargazer is a limited edition of 200 pieces, available from Worn & Wound’s Windup Shop. Price: US$499
| Brand | Lorier x Worn & Wound |
| Model | Astra Stargazer |
| Case Dimensions | 36mm (D) x 11mm (T) x 44mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 100m |
| Crystal(s) | Acrylic |
| Dial | Grey and blue-green lume |
| Strap | Grey suede leather strap |
| Movement | Miyota 90S5, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 42 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds |
| Availability | Limited to 200 pieces |
| Price | US$499 |