Svper 11: A Timepiece Tribute to NASA's Apollo 11 Mission

Rafal Czaniecki and Mike Mak's Award-Winning Design Celebrates Space Exploration

Designers Rafal Czaniecki and Mike Mak found inspiration in the Super Moon event of 2016. The celestial spectacle sparked the idea of creating an object that would celebrate NASA's successful landing on the moon, an object that would inspire every time one glanced at it. The wristwatch became the perfect vehicle for this idea, a piece of the moon on your wrist.

The Svper 11 watch stands out for its unique features. The face is a 3D topographic representation of the Apollo 11 landing site area - Mare Tranquilitatis. The unique four-arm seconds hand and sweeping motion movement resemble a radar constantly marking the exact location of the landing. The crown takes the shape of oxygen valves from the NASA spacesuit, and the case back is made out of technical ceramic, a reference to NASA's Shuttle ceramic shield.

The realization of this design required detailed maps of the Moon to recreate a topographic 3D map of the landing site. The face of the watch has multiple 0.1mm steps shaped to represent the terrain. Achieving such detailed replication involved applying 300 tonnes of pressure to a brass disc to replicate every nanometer of the form. The case back, made from technical ceramics, required multiple attempts to achieve the proper thickness of embossed elements, considering the production process and the material's brittleness.

The watch's interaction design features diver-grade submersion properties, requiring a double-lock mechanism for the crown. To change the time, one needs to unscrew the crown, pull it out slightly to lock the mechanism, and then reverse the operation to ensure the watch is water-tight up to 10ATM. The watch is also easy to open for maintenance or battery replacement.

The Svper 11 project started in 2016, and after several months of design and documentation, the watch debuted at the Watch Fair 2019 in Hong Kong. Following a successful Kickstarter campaign, production could proceed. The design was awarded Silver in A' Jewelry, Eyewear, and Watch Design Award in 2021, a testament to its creative and professional excellence.

In conclusion, the Svper 11 wristwatch is more than just a timepiece. It's a celebration of human achievement, a tribute to space exploration, and a testament to the power of innovative design. Rafal Czaniecki and Mike Mak's creation serves as a constant reminder of the inspiring Apollo 11 mission, a piece of the moon that can be worn on the wrist.