Horological Meandering

SJX
[Purist]
8540

• Show profile
• Show other posts

Launch of the Fiyta Spacemaster - first watch worn in spacewalk by Chinese Taikonaut

Earlier today, Shenzhen Fiyta Holdings Ltd, a watch retailer and manufacturer listed on the Shenzhen and Hong Kong exchanges, launched the Fiyta Spacemaster mechanical chronograph in Singapore in collaboration with Red Army Watches, a Singapore-based retailer of mainly Russian timepieces.

The Spacemaster was worn by Zhai Zhigang on 29 September 2008 on the first spacewalk by a Chinese astronaut. Fiyta has also developed watches for two earlier manned space missions by Chinese taikonauts, having worked with the Astronaut Centre of China since 2003.

There are two versions of the Spacemaster, one is a 699 piece limited edition, the other is a 53 pieces limited edition, 3 units of which were issued and worn by the Taikonauts. Both versions have identical specifications as shown in the photo below, with the exception of:

• 53 piece LE has a 54 mm case, 699 piece LE has a 45 mm case
• Fiyta and Spacemaster logo are absent from the dial of the 53 piece LE
• AM/PM indicator is at 3 o'clock for the 53 piece LE
• Each of the movements of the 53 piece LE have been tested by the China National Horological Qualty Supervision and Testing Centre

What is notable about both editions is the usual date display has been replaced by an AM/PM display to indicate time on earth. Also, the chronograph is marked at 30 and 45 minutes at the request of the Astronaut Centre, as Taikonauts are typically required to complete certain tasks in either 30 or 45 minutes. And to prevent accidental release of the crown, it is screwed down counter-clockwise instead of the conventional clockwise direction. Lastly, the watch has an 8 hour rotating bezel as the survival period inside the Chinese Feitian EVA spacesuit is 8 hours. 

I examined the 699 limited edition briefly during the launch and I was impressed. The case work is especially good and entirely appropriate for a watch in this price range (retail is approximately USD2000). Fiyta notes in its press release that the movement inside is proprietary, but in the catalogue there is a picture of a Valjoux 7754; I believe Fiyta manufactures the movement itself based on the Valjoux design, I will confirm this. I've been told that this watch has been selling very well, especially in Greater China. I would expect that to be the case, given the accessible price point and the nationalist pride surrounding the Chinese space missions, 699 and 50 pieces are few given the number of Chinese peope.

Here is a short pictorial report of the launch event.

Managing Director of Red Army Watches, Fiyta's retail partner, Sugiharto Kusimadi making the opening speech

Sugi with the Spacemaster

Bruce Du, General Manager of Fiyta

The watch pictured below is the 699 piece LE

Timmy Tan of TimeWerke magazine with Sugi

Site Info.