Argon SpaceOne

The Argon SpaceOne is a radical, neo-futuristic watch design with a jumping hour inspired by science fiction and developed by Théo Auffret. At 27, this young independent Parisian watchmaker with his own eponymous brand and a prestigious GPHG nomination to his name – his Tourbillon Grand Sport watch was officially shortlisted at the official 2022 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève – is also passionate about cars and aviation.

His partner in time on the SpaceOne project: serial watchmaking entrepreneur Guillaume Laidet (37) whose watchmaking journey took a leap in 2015 when he launched his first brand, “William L 1985” by raising more than 192,000 EUR on, you guessed it, Kickstarter. Known as a ‘brand maker’, Guillaume Laidet is today the CEO of Nivada Grenchen and the man behind the rebirth of the Vulcain brand. His start-up spirit goes hand in hand with an unparalleled zeal and tireless energy, transforming a vision into a lasting success. As the architect of the vintage watchmaking revival, Guillaume is one of the players in the industry who is radically reshaping the watchmaking scene.

Guillaume Laidet: “Theo and I and the team at Argon are grateful to our fans who believe in our young brand and have made the successful launch of the SpaceOne possible. Their trust and enthusiasm motivate us to continue to innovate and to keep pushing the boundaries of watchmaking, not just in terms of what it means to make but also to wear and enjoy watches.”

About SpaceOne, Argon's first watch creation

The design of Argon’s SpaceOne is inspired by space exploration and the design era known as "space-age" that became popular during the space race of the 1960s. The brand name – Argon – pays tribute to the noble gas of the same name. The number 18 of the periodic table of elements. This first collection includes a range of limited-edition models made from three different high quality materials: stainless steel, titanium and forged carbon. 

The jumping hour function of the watch was developed directly by Theo Auffret in his workshop. It consists of  nine elements; all components are made in Switzerland by the best suppliers, and the watch is assembled in France in a dedicated workshop.

The watch is equipped with a Swiss automatic movement, a sapphire cockpit and a stainless-steel caseback. It comes with two FKM rubber straps – black and orange FKM – and is water resistant to 3 ATM. The watch case measures 42 x 51.67 mm, with a thickness of 12.6 mm and a width of 22 mm. The minute disc is made from sapphire for maximum transparency.

The movement is a P024 SOPROD without date, self-winding, with a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz) and a power reserve of 38 hours. The SpaceOne weighs 90 grams in stainless steel, 60 grams in titanium and 30 grams in forged carbon. The strap and buckle add 30 grams to the watch.

The packaging of the watches is inspired by a space suit. Each SpaceOne will be vacuum packaged using the same system used to preserve perishables, ensuring that the watch arrives in perfect condition, just as it would after a long trip into space. The combination of these two elements creates a packaging that is not only visually stunning but also highly functional, consistent with the exceptional quality of the watches. 

About ARGON - Made on Earth

Argon designs and manufactures radical watch concepts in limited editions at an affordable price. With the ambition of offering a unique, architectural, sleek and artistic vision for “a watch that is accessible to all”, Argon stakes its claim on a new territory in the independent watchmaking space. The result of a collaboration between two cool dudes in the industry – watchmaking entrepreneur Guillaume Laidet and young watchmaker Théo Auffret – who share a creative and playful flair and a laser-focus vision, Argon launched the duo’s first co-creation via Kickstarter on May 11^th, 2023: SpaceOne, a spaceship-like watch with a radical display at a reasonable price. This three-dimensional UHO (Unidentified Horological Object) sports a neo-futuristic stylistic language: an ultra-sleek ergonomic case, a cockpit displaying time with jumping hour – powered by a Swiss automatic movement customized and assembled in France. A compelling package, all at an entry price of 1500 EUR. Intended for people who consciously or unconsciously seek unique objects, the SpaceOne will surprise and inspire the most discerning enthusiasts and collectors. 

Technical specifications

Argon SpaceOne

• polished stainless steel
• brushed stainless steel
• blue titanium
• brushed titanium - limited edition of 100 pieces
• forged carbon - limited edition of 100 pieces

Case

• Material: Polished steel, brushed steel, brushed titanium, blue titanium or forged carbon
• Dimensions: 42*51.67 mm
• Thickness: 12.6 mm
• Lug Width: 22mm
• Glass: Sapphire cockpit
• Stainless steel case back with flat sapphires, see-through case back
• Water-resistant to 3 ATM

Dial

• The hour disc & second disc are printed with super luminous, and the minute disc is made out of sapphire also printed with supper luminous.

Movement

• SOPROD P024 without date version
• Swiss automatic movement
• Frequency: 28'800 vibrations per hour (4Hz)
• Power reserve: 38 hours

Functions/Indications

• Jumping hour, digital display

Strap and buckle

• Black / Orange FKM rubber Strap

MSRP

• EUR 1'500 (brushed steel or polished steel)
• EUR 1'900 (titanium models and forged carbon)

For more information, please visit kickstarter.com