Promotion: From Stealth Fighter to Tourbillon — The Astronic Nighthawk
In 1964, Pyotr Ufimtsev, a Soviet mathematician, showed that the strength of the radar return from an object is related to its edge configuration rather than its size, considering a certain angle of edge and shape together with gravity; the legendary Stealth F-117 Nighthawk was developed by DARPA of the U.S. Department of Defense in 1974 to challenge both radar signals and gravity. In 1801, French-Swiss watchmaker Abraham-Louis Breguet invented the tourbillon to challenge the effect of gravity on a timepiece. Both the Nighthawk and the tourbillon represent the ideal combination of precise technology, engineering and mechanics.
The Astronic Nighthawk takes its inspiration from the legendary Stealth F-117 Nighthawk, not only in its design but in its precise mechanics. Its exclusive in-house design features a 3D flying co-axial tourbillon with a precise 21,600-vph frequency and a 42-hour power reserve displayed on a 240° power-reserve indicator. The Astronic’s Nighthawk's “stealth engine” allows its wearer to defy gravity.
To synchronize with the F-117 Nighthawk's distinctive visual, the Astronic’s case is built from military-grade 316L stainless steel with highly precise, streamlined edges and angles. Each case is fabricated by a top-quality CNC machine one piece at a time. In the further interest of "stealth," a multi-Layer of AFC (Anti Fingerprint Coating) is added to each case to keep the surface pristine from fingerprints and dirt.
The watch's case and stainless steel bracelet are coated by professional vacuum IP plating – Grade AA 1.0 Micron PVD. The exclusive IP camouflage and IP wave patterns found on the two limited-edition models are most often seen on air force fighter planes and require extremely complex technology to produce. Meanwhile, the Swiss RC Tritec NewLite Luminous material, used to highlight the hands and dial markers, is much brighter than most luminous material used on watches, giving this timepiece a look that transports the wearer to the cockpit of a fighter jet during a night mission.
Also evoking the experience in an air fighter's control cockpit is the multi-layer, 3D-engraved dial design, which resembles the F-117's dashboard and exhaust system. The specially designed leather strap is in the spirit of an ejection seatbelt, while the super-hard sapphire crystal is covered with multiple layers of nonreflective coating, like a plane's windshield.
The Astronic Nighthawk watches are available in colors that include Red, Yellow, Rose Gold, and the IP-Camouflage and IP-Wave colors on the limited editions. Astronic is built to shake up the conservative watch industry by offering an exclusive tourbillon that has the look and feel of a billion-dollar Stealth air fighter with all the features and quality of a luxury watch — and priced within the reach of the masses. You can order your own Astronic Nighthawk watch by clicking here.
Astronic also offers skeletonized models without tourbillons in the Astronic Apache collection, whose dials draw their inspiration from the exteriors of Apache 64 helicopter. In the words of the company's founder, “Apache-64 has a powerful T700 turboshaft engine; the Astronic Apache also has a powerful engine.”
That engine is the automatic HZ 7500 movement, which is made visible through a large opening on the dial. Its baseplate is CNC-machined and beautifully finished. The movement features an extra-large mainspring, holding an exceptional 80 hours of power reserve, nearly double that of most automatic movement.
The Astronic Apache's hollow, curved skeleton dial is designed to highlight all the valuable moving parts of the movement. Its Tritec Swiss Luminour hands offer the best night vision, and its Flexi-glass second plate simulates the design of the helicopters' side rotors.
You can get your own Astronic Apache watch, and secure a piece of the next era of horology, by clicking here.
