Humanity’s fascinations have long played out on the objects of their time, capturing and reflecting the preoccupations of the day. The word that might define the decade to come? Space. The new global space race is on and the economy for it is projected to reach a value of US$1.8 trillion by 2035; just this April, even our little island established its own National Space Agency of Singapore (NSAS).
Vast, a private American space venturing company, is developing and building the world’s first commercial space and situation slated to launch in 2027. The Schaffhausen brand IWC unveiled a watch created in partnership with Vast that might be the first luxury timepiece expressly designed for space living. The Pilot’s Venturer Vertical Drive works with a completely reimagined rotating bezel in place of a crown, which switches from neutral, winding and settling modes using a rocker on the side. It’s crafted in hardy and lightweight ceramic that will surely resist the knocks of take off.
IWC may have the high-tech futurist perspective, but two other brands have the most beautiful watches that espouse cosmic awe. Patek Philippe’s new Celestial model has an entrancing dial that depicts the night sky’s stars as seen from Geneva, with a host of complexities that track time through celestial bodies like the sun, noon and the star Sirius. The futurist design draws from space modules, a combination of traditional and cutting edge.
Van Cleef & Arpels, meanwhile, introduced a sublime vision of the sun and moon’s celestial movements on the Midnight Jour Nuit Phase de Lune. A picture of Earth’s horizon is crafted from guilloché mother-of-pearl painted in a dégradé with an illuminated rim. Above it, a revolving pair of complications, one inside the other. The first shows the day and night Jour/Nuit display, while the turning moonphase is worked into the moon of the Nuit.
The June 2026 ‘Embody’ edition of Vogue Singapore is available online and on newsstands.
