Introducing the Fortis Official Cosmonauts Chronograph AMADEE-20

The new Fortis space watch – supporting the human race on its journey to Mars. The Fortis Official Cosmonauts Chronograph AMADEE-20 watch will equip the wrists of Austrian Space Forum members in the Negev Desert in Israel as it conducts its AMEDEE-20 Mars simulation programme.

Floating in space since 1992 - Fortis has been equipping the wrists of pioneers in the space and aerodynamics industry with loyal mission companions for over 25 years. Now it prepares for its next giant leap with the new Fortis Official Cosmonauts Chronograph AMADEE-20 watch ref: F2040007. The brand has truly earned its place within the “watches for space missions” segment of the industry over the last two decades and has become a watchmaker worthy of mentioning in the same conversation as other high-end manufacturers renowned for their space mission watches.

Fortis released the first Official Cosmonauts Chronograph in 1994, becoming officially qualified for use by the Russian Space Agency and a part of its official cosmonaut's equipment. The cosmonauts would use the chronograph again in the same year to complete their Soyuz TM-19 mission, as well as their MIR and ISS missions taking place between 1994 and 2003. Since then, the watch and its movement have been replaced with the B-42 Official Cosmonaut’s Chronograph, switching the Lemania movement over for the ETA 7750. Fortis also upscaled its case and dial design, with a strong focus on space travel all the while.

The new Fortis Official Cosmonauts Chronograph AMEDEE-20 watch now takes its place on the wrists of Austrian Space Forum members as they take part in the AMEDEE-20 Mars simulation programme in Israel’s Negev Desert. A small field crew of 6 highly trained analogue astronauts and experts will conduct their experiments using some of the key features of the New Fortis Cosmonauts Chronograph watch. These tests will help prepare mankind to conduct future trips to Mars as well as robotic Mars exploration missions.

The new Fortis Official Cosmonauts Chronograph AMADEE-20 watch

Fortis’ new Official Cosmonauts Chronograph AMADEE-20 watch has been designed in collaboration with the Austrian Space Forum and features a special Mission Control Bezel and an innovative Hook Strap. The 44mm model has been crafted from titanium to deliver a lightweight quality to the wrist and is powered by a Swiss automatic movement equipped with Day-Date and chronograph features.

Case

Helping the team to emulate various aspects of a human Mars mission, the new Fortis Official Cosmonauts Chronograph AMADEE-20 watch spans a daring and confident 44mm diameter. Its titanium case is sandblasted enabling it to retain its futuristic look. This material is chosen to promise comfort despite its large dimensions. The mission control, titanium-crafted bezel features two lume pips. When naturally aligned, these occupy the 12 o’clock position accompanied by the words “mission control” and the 2 o’clock position. This type of bezel is the first to feature in a Fortis watch and is used to track communication and improvise between Earth and Mars. Messages between Mars and Earth and vice versa take around ten minutes to reach one another due to a time lag, which the new Mission Control bezel helps to keep track of. Adjusting the MCB bezel accordingly (by aligning the first luminous plot with the minute hand and waiting for it to reach the second luminous plot at 2 o’clock) enables the wearer to keep track of the expected time frame for his message to reach earth.

The new Fortis Official Cosmonauts Chronograph AMADEE-20 watch also promises a water-resistant capability of 200 meters and features an ultra-engraved caseback depicting planetary bodies that include the Moon, Mars and Earth. It also features a triple gasket screw-down crown system for upholding the watch’s water resistance. The sapphire crystal glass front has received anti-reflective treatment to both sides, enabling a clear and crisp view into the dial, free of any undesirable glare.

Dial

The dial of the new Official Cosmonauts Chronograph AMADEE-20 watch is executed in a stunning stardust grey colour. Multiple surface finishes on the dial such as a vertical brushing and sunburst effect on the 30-minute counter at 12 o’clock, and embossed lines covering the section occupied by 56 minutes to 26 minutes, all add a sense of depth and cosmic character to the watch. The hands and Arabic numerals on the dial have been coated in Super-LumiNova and the AMADEE-20 mission patch features above 6 o’clock, creating a flash of blue and bronze alongside the dial’s white chronograph markings and black hands.

Movement

The UW-50 Calibre is used inside the Fortis Official Cosmonauts Chronograph AMADEE-20 watch – the same movement that powered the Fortis Official Cosmonauts Chronograph AMADEE-18. Its design, based on the Valjoux 7750-base movement, offers a 48-hour power reserve and features a unidirectionally winding rotor. In addition to the chronograph functions, it also offers a day-date feature that can be accessed at 3 o’clock.

The new Fortis AMADEE-20 watch is completed on a titanium Block Bracelet with an adjustable slide clasp but there is also an additional Hook strap supplied with the watch crafted from grey fabric. The strap, designed by Nick Mankey, is adorned in the Fortis wordmark. You can explore the new Fortis Official Cosmonauts Chronograph AMADEE-20 watch here at Jura Watches or call our team today on 01335 453453.

Technical specifications of the Fortis Official Cosmonauts Chronograph AMADEE-20 watch

• Case: 44mm – titanium – sandblasted – 200-meter water resistance – Mission Control Bezel – anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass front – engraved caseback – screw-down crown with triple gasket system – chronograph push-pieces at 2 and 4 o’clock
• Dial: metal stardust grey – Super-LumiNova hands and numeral hour markers – day-date at 3H – small seconds at 9H - 30-minute chronograph counter at 12H – blue chronograph second hand -  bronze and blue coloured AMADEE-20 mission patch - vertical brushed, sunburst and embossed lines
• Movement: UW-50 – automatic self-winding – chronograph and day-date functions - 48-hour power reserve - based on the Valjoux 7750
• Strap: Titanium Block Bracelet – adjustable slide clasp – additional grey fabric Hook strap
• Reference: F2040007
• Price; £2,850