F
Flight Time
Sturmanskie
The Sturmanskie watch brand, from
Moscow, will forever hold the claim of being
the first watch in space on the wrist of Yuri
Gagarin. It’s a distinction no other watch can
ever capture.
Over the years, Sturmanskie has
released numerous commemorative editions
of the simple watch Gagarin wore in April,
1961. But the latest releases have taken
things to a new level. The line most closely
resembling Gagarin’s timepiece continues,
with dials that hearken directly back to
his watch, but this time the company has
produced the first titanium-cased Gagarin
editions. These new models measure
40mm, a good bit larger than the original
36mm watches. Not a large watch by
today’s standards, but these new models
are a departure in size from the original
nonetheless.
There are four dial options. All of them
come with a certificate of authenticity.
Sturmanskie is the only watch line in the
world with the permission to legally use
Gagarin’s image with their products.
The other new Gagarin commemorative,
called Gagarin Sport (far lower right), is a
significantly different watch when compared
to the original. This new example boasts a
45mm case and a dual time function, which
comes via an internal rotating bezel. But
the standout feature for me is the way the
day and night indicator in the center of the
dial is a full globe that fully rotates as the
day progresses. This is a subtle homage to
the fact that not only was Gagarin the first
human in space, but the first person to orbit
the earth. The watch comes in two styles,
with black and blue dials.
All models retail around $599.
Visit www.detentewatches.com to find
a retailer.
92 | AboutTime Magazine