The Apogee wristwatch collection by Bangalore Watch Company has made history by completing a stratospheric flight, reaching an impressive altitude of 114,000 feet above Earth. This remarkable achievement not only showcases the watch’s robust engineering but also solidifies its reputation as a true ‘Indian space watch.’
Co-founder Mercy Amalraj shared the vision behind the Apogee collection, emphasizing the goal of creating watches that could withstand the harsh conditions of space and potentially be used in actual space missions. This led to a collaboration with a UK-based space-engineering firm to conduct a meticulously planned stratospheric flight in early 2024, named the “Karman Line Project” after the boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space.
Nirupesh Joshi, Co-Founder and Creative Director, highlighted the challenges faced during the mission, including flight dynamics, weather, and ensuring the watches could endure the extreme conditions of space. The rigorous ground testing paid off, proving the watch’s durability under such harsh circumstances.
To celebrate this milestone, Bangalore Watch Company has released a limited edition of 50 Apogee Karman Line watches, priced at Rs 2,40,000 each. These exclusive timepieces feature a unique blue-colored Muonionalusta meteorite dial, sourced from a meteorite older than Earth itself.
The successful completion of the stratospheric flight not only demonstrates the engineering excellence of the Apogee collection but also cements its place in the realm of space-inspired timepieces.