Sponsored: Meet the Fortis Novonaut N-42 Titanium Legacy– Space Tested, Mission-Ready
With more than a century of heritage in creating mission-ready timepieces, Fortis has long been known as a manufacture known for its innovative engineering, pioneering spirit, and its watches’ rugged reliability. From its early days of supplying cutting-edge timekeepers to its modernly evolved work of building space-ready tool watches, the brand remains laser-focused on performance. That legacy continues with one of its latest, the Novonaut N-42 Titanium Legacy— a chronograph born from space-tested precision, crafted for those who demand nothing but the best.
The Novonaut N-42 Titanium Legacy marks a bold evolution of the Novonaut series, shedding weight while gaining resilience. Forged from aerospace-grade titanium, the 42mm case delivers a remarkable strength-to-weight ratio, offering all the durability of stainless steel at half the weight. At just 89 grams for the watch head, this new construction not only enhances comfort on the wrist but also boosts performance across extreme conditions.
Aesthetically, the purpose-built frame is familiar Fortis, evolving the original Novonaut N-42 in stainless steel, itself evolved from the B-42 Cosmonauts Chronograph. In performance, the case notably features a bidirectional turning Sirius bezel, crafted from high-performance ceramic and infused throughout with SuperLumiNova® X1 for optimal visibility. A water resistance of 200m supports the watch’s utility across all conditions, with this durability ensured via a smartly applied screw-down crown and triple-gasket system.
Underneath an anti-reflective coated sapphire crystal is the mission-focused display, with a matte black dial featuring a slight gradient providing the base. Upon it, a triple-register, vertical chronograph configuration is at work, with day and date indicators balancing the look towards the 3 o’clock position. Lumicast® X1 numerals, designed to glow brightly in low light with a distinctive blue hue, highlight the hour positions, while 3N gold-plated hands and SuperLumiNova® X1-filled details ensure legibility remains uncompromised, even in the harshest environments. The chronograph counter hands are also gold-plated, adding both functional clarity and an elevated aesthetic to the distinct design.
At the heart of the Novonaut N-42 Titanium Legacy is the Fortis Werk 17 Automatic Manufacture Calibre, the brand’s first space-tested manufacture movement. This column wheel chronograph was first introduced in the spring of 2022 and has since proven its mettle under the most extreme conditions. Developed in collaboration with the Swedish Space Corporation, the movement endured 1.5 hours in the stratosphere aboard a high-altitude gondola before surviving re-entry and a Finnish landing. A year later, it was successfully tested during a rocket mission, earning its distinction as a reliable performer in real space conditions.
With a 60-hour power reserve and certified chronometer regulation, the Werk 17 supports its excellent performance with proven engineering, ready to withstand the rigors of earthly and extraterrestrial adventures alike.
The Fortis Novonaut N-42 Titanium Legacy is available now via authorized boutiques and the brand’s website, with pricing marked at $5,360 USD.
To learn more, visit Fortis, here.
