The SpaceOne Tellurium: A Revolutionary Watch for Astronomy Lovers

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Paris, Thursday, 4 April 2024 – Celebrating their first anniversary (but far from resting on their laurels), SpaceOne founding duo, Guillaume Laidet (37) and independent watchmaker Théo Auffret (27) continue to crack open the universe a little wider: the futuristic Tellurium watch describes the annual cycle of Earth (along with the Moon) around the sun. No watchmaker had previously considered, or even dared, to sketch an astronomical complication at such a modest retail price point – just EUR 2,999. SpaceOne Tellurium, born from the imagination of a designer plugged into the future, Olivier Gamiette, is a dazzling demonstration of the energy and audacity that drive the brand’s two co-founders.

After the resounding success of Act I, SpaceOne Jumping Hour, with 500 watches sold in a fraction of the time and sales of one million euros, here comes Act II. Capitalizing on the inspirational power of the conquest of space, the young Auffret/Laidet duo now tackles one of the peaks of astronomical complications: the Tellurium.

The Tellurium is a complication that succeeds in reducing – down to the scale of an animated watch face – the movement of the Earth, the Moon and the eight planets of the solar system, with their associated revolution and rotation speeds. It represents an Everest of microtechnology and watchmaking engineering that very few collectors can afford. SpaceOne, dedicated to offering disruptive yet affordable watchmaking, has succeeded in developing a version that will cost no more than EUR 2,999, a tiny fraction of what a traditional planetarium should cost. It is an uncompromising tour de force: an exclusive, patented modular complication, 100% developed in-house, designed and assembled in the dedicated SpaceOne workshop in the Paris atelier of Theo Auffret, an independent watchmaker renowned for his Manufacture tourbillons.

Olivier Gamiette: the brain of an engineer, the soul (and hands) of an artist

The ultra-sleek SpaceOne Tellurium was designed by Olivier Gamiette, an engineer-designer renowned for his fluid, futuristic lines and deeply audacious dials. Gamiette is known for cultivating his secret garden alongside his professional activity in the automotive industry: he is a designer for Peugeot cars by day and a watch designer by night. More than an enthusiast, he is the acclaimed author of Soon – Timepiece Phenomena, a book published in 2015 which showcases dozens of watch designs. His flowing, technical style, uncannily connected to the shapes of things to come, naturally led him to accept a collaboration with SpaceOne.

The Tellurium is no exception to Olivier Gamiette’s signature. Its 42 mm titanium case defies established geometry. Sleek, taut, edgy yet soft, compact yet harmonious, it resembles a smooth, silver pebble, curved on both sides and topped by a domed sapphire crystal that symbolizes a protective atmosphere. The dial is made of mesmerizing aventurine.

The spatial kinematics unfolding on the watch face are simply compelling. The dial is uncluttered, with just two hands – hours and minutes. Luminescent, evoking spaceships heading out into space, they are central but not solitary. The solar system analogy is obvious: central hours and minutes; the Sun at the heart of its aventurine galaxy. It’s as if ‘short’ human time seamlessly flows into ‘long’ star time. Time becomes relative, indicated in all simplicity by three indexes 12, 4 and 8 – far from the earthbound cliché of “3 – 6 – 9 – 12”.

Telluric complication

Gravitating around the center of heliocentric horology, two polished titanium spheres: Earth, accompanied by its satellite, the Moon. The former revolves around the Sun in one year while the latter around the Earth in 29.5 days, fully respecting the celestial rhythms. This space ballet, orchestrated by an in-house complication, was designed by Théo Auffret, in a dedicated SpaceOne workshop at the heart of his atelier near Paris. “I wanted space and planets,” explains his partner Guillaume Laidet. “It’s a universal source of inspiration,” he adds.

The SpaceOne Tellurium’s complication incorporates a heliocentric Tellurium-type planetary wheel, simultaneously representing the Earth and Moon in their orbit around the Sun. The calendar, mechanically linked to this astronomical complication, features a jumping date and sliding month display, creating a harmonious and functional whole. A noteworthy feature: the ability, with precise watch adjustment, to anticipate astronomical events such as the date of the next full moon.

At 6 o’clock, the day/month display is revealed in a canted aperture, as are the indexes. Echoing starship portholes, these details in deep-space blue PVD-treated titanium accentuate the deep-space vibe.

The Tellurium complication is docked onto a Soprod P024 movement, the celebrated Swiss Made engine that powers SpaceOne’s first creation.

Made on Earth

Designed and assembled in France and powered by a Swiss movement, SpaceOne Tellurium, as the word ‘planet’ suggests, is akin to an interstellar traveler. In fact, it comes delivered in a custom-made watch roll, ready for any journey. Inside, the timepiece is vacuum-packed. The process, unique in watchmaking, had already been developed for SpaceOne’s first creation, echoing the vacuum-packed food carried by astronauts.

SpaceOne Tellurium will be limited in time and numbers. Collectors will be able to choose the watch number, provided it is still available. The piece will be offered for subscription on the first day of Watches and Wonders Geneva (9 April 2024), for a duration of four weeks, and on the last day of the WindUp Watch Fair in San Francisco, where SpaceOne will have a stand, on 5 May 2024.

About SpaceOne

SpaceOne is led by Guillaume Laidet and Théo Auffret.

Guillaume Laidet is one of the most prominent young watchmaking entrepreneurs, combining authentic, creative, Swiss Made watchmaking with a digital approach (subscription and online sales) that makes it possible to offer timepieces at very affordable prices. He is currently the CEO of Nivada Grenchen and SpaceOne, and oversees the Manufacture Vulcain collections.

Théo Auffret is an independent watchmaker based near Paris. After training as a watchmaker and prototypist in France and Switzerland, he won a prize at the F.P.Journe competition, and now has his own atelier. His first creation, Tourbillon à Paris, was nominated for the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG); this was followed by the Tourbillon Grand Sport, also nominated for the GPHG, and now treasured by discerning collectors. Theo Auffret is currently working on his third creation, alongside the two pieces for SpaceOne.

Aimed at those who consciously or subconsciously seek out one-of-a-kind pieces, SpaceOne will surprise and inspire even the most seasoned collectors.

About Olivier Gamiette

Olivier Gamiette is a distinguished French designer renowned for his work in automotive and watch design. With over twenty years in the industry, he has notably contributed to concept car designs for a leading automobile group, demonstrating his innovative design capabilities. Beyond cars, Gamiette excels in watch design, where his creativity brings unique timepieces to life. His influence extends to publishing a book showcasing his sketches and designs, embodying his versatile approach to design that bridges various disciplines seamlessly.

Olivier’s book: Soon – Timepiece Phenomena – ISBN 1624650252
Follow Olivier on Instagram : @oliviergamiette

SpaceOne Tellurium Technical Specifications

Complication design Theo Auffret
Design Olivier Gamiette

Price: 2,999.00 EUR (incl. VAT for EU sales)

Movement

Soprod P024 H4 automatic, Swiss Made
Mechanical components entirely machined in Switzerland
Tellurium complication module (patented)
Hands: Hours, minutes
Heliocentric tellurium: Planetary wheel centered on the sun, indicating the exact position of the earth and moon over 100+ years
Calendar: Date, month
Astral positions: Correction of astral positions via the crown (no corrector). A simple date correction is required every 30-day month as on a classic date watch
100% assembled in Paris at the SpaceOne workshop

Case