Apogee wristwatch collection, designed by Bangalore Watch Company as a tribute to India’s space endeavours, recently announced that its has successfully completed a stratospheric flight, reaching 114,000 feet (approximately 35 kilometers) above Earth and has returned in full operational condition. This test not only reinforces the watch’s robust engineering but also elevates its status as a true ‘Indian space watch’.
Mercy Amalraj, co-founder of Bangalore Watch Company, explained the vision behind the Apogee collection, which was launched in 2021. “We didn’t want to stop at creating watches merely inspired by space. We aimed to build them to withstand the conditions of space and qualify for actual space use,” said Amalraj. This ambitious goal led to a collaboration with a UK-based space-engineering firm to undertake a meticulously planned stratospheric flight in early 2024. The test involved a high-altitude balloon carrying an ultra-light carbon-fibre spacecraft that ascended to the edge of space. The harsh conditions included temperatures as low as -65 degree celcius and significant shock forces upon re-entry. Nirupesh Joshi, Co-Founder and Creative Director, referred to this mission as the “Karman Line Project,” named after the boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space.
“The first challenges were flight dynamics, weather, and launch location, but the larger challenge was ensuring the watches could withstand the conditions of space,” Joshi elaborated. Their rigorous ground testing paid off, proving the watch’s durability under extreme conditions.To commemorate this milestone, Bangalore Watch Company has produced only 50 limited-edition Apogee Karman Line watches, priced at Rs 2,40,000. Each piece features a unique blue-colored Muonionalusta meteorite dial, sourced from a meteorite known to be older than Earth itself.
“This limited edition not only celebrates our achievement but also brings a piece of space history to our customers’ wrists,” Amalraj added.Founded in 2018 in Bangalore, a city with a rich legacy in Indian watchmaking, Bangalore Watch Company has quickly garnered a global following, with patrons in over 30 countries. The company has established itself by producing limited numbers of luxury watches that tell captivating stories from the Indian Air Force, the space program, and other modern Indian themes.Further, Joshi said the company is self-funded and profitable and produces about 1,000 watches a year.
