If we’re talking about space-themed watches, we might look to the iconic Omega Speedmaster Professional (aka the Moonwatch) — with recent collabs with Swatch drawing the chronograph even closer to its lunar ties with careful design cues inspired by the Moon itself — or we might even want something a bit more affordable such as the NASA-themed digital watches that G-SHOCK has put out in recent years.
However, with the debut of its DSKY Moonwatch, U.K.-based watchmaker Apollo Instruments has something to say about the matter, proving that there’s still some room left in the space-themed category as it draws inspiration from the inside of lunar cockpits themselves.
Less of an homage to the space watches that came before it, the DSKY Moonwatch actually pulls its design from the computer interfaces used during NASA’s Apollo 11 mission, recreating the ACG (Apollo Guidance Computer) layout in the spacecraft’s Eagle lunar module. The process took four years in total, but the result is nothing short of amazing.
Housed in a billet 316L stainless steel case that’s been coated with military-grade ceramic for more scratch-resistance, the scaled-down DSKY (pronounced “dis-key,” which is a portmanteau for “Display Keyboard”) Moonwatch case measures 38.1mm x 44.2mm (similar to the Appl Watch Ultra) and has three sections on the dial: the digital display on the right, the tactile keypad at the bottom, and a light-up display on the left to correspond with the operations selected.
These have all been designed to faithfully match the look of the original, down to the Gorton font on the keys to the retro green color of the electroluminescent numerals — thanks to Oscar-winning coloration supplier Rosco, renowned for its work in cinema. Likewise, each of the 14 indicators on the lefthand display incorporates three micro-LEDs to match the trio of bulbs under the original DSKY.
What makes the DSKY Moonwatch spectacular is how functional it actually is. This is no mere visual replication but an operational one as well. As a watch, you can easily and understandably use the piece as a time-telling device with some ancillary functions like s stopwatch, alarm, date display, and time zone indicator. The integrated GPS capability allows for waypoint navigation as well. Lastly, the watch is given a hybrid strap featuring TPU liner with a full-grain Italian Nappa leather insert, in either brown or black.
As expected, NASA was ahead of its time in the way it developed and designed its on-board computer, which eschewed traditional commands in favor of something that was relatively more intuitive:
“Users would input numerical verbs and nouns to request operations. The Apollo Instruments DSKY aims to recreate this unique experience by utilizing the same verb and noun requests as the original Apollo DSKY. This attention to operational accuracy is extended to the digital and annunciator displays, which accurately reproduce the outputs of the original Apollo DSKY.”
Apollo is offering multiple custom format options that will help with readability and expand the limitations of the DSKY Moonwatch. The software will also let you tap into original flight operations such as the GPS-driven P66 landing routine, the V35 lights and display test, and power down and standby routines.
I, myself, am not a software programmer and would have no clue how to use this properly, so I’m going to defer to Apollo Instruments when describing what the DSKY Moonwatch can do:
“There is an I/O port that offers ISP support for bootloader programming and 8 programmable digital I/O channels. These channels can be programmed and configured to support SPI, I2C, and PWM. DSKY’s proprietary I/O port will provide connectivity with upcoming electronic devices under development by Apollo Instruments. These devices include breadboard interfaces, development enclosures, and robotic systems. A particularly captivating product currently under development is an enclosure that replicates the main chassis of the original Apollo guidance computer.”
This will all be accomplished via micro-USB connectivity, which will also be used to charge the watch. Apollo is hoping that the future will bring even more capabilities, including external devices that can help expand creativity for the user. So far, they are hoping to get two different board designs off the ground soon, including mini core rope and NOR array modules.
Apollo is also hoping to introduce the NASSP/Orbiter Apollo simulator interface, which will let you input the commands from some of the most famous Apollo missions.
Case Size: 38.1mm x 44.2mm
Case Thickness: 13.05mm
Case Material: 316 stainless steel with ceramic coating
Water Resistance: Unspecified
Movement: Battery
Band: Hybrid strap with TPU lining and full-grain Nappa leather insert
Limited Edition?: No
Not limited in edition size, surprisingly, the DSKY Moonwatch is open for pre-orders now. It will have a total price of £649 (~$817) with a £240 (~$302) deposit required right away. While there is no exact release or delivery date, Apollo Instruments is hoping for it to arrive in the next few months.
Apollo Instruments made a faithful recreation of the DSKY on-board computer used during the Apollo 11 lunar mission. The scaled-down wristwatch allows for programming and straightforward time-telling.
