Description

The present watch is the Sarpaneva Stardust Nostromo, a hauntingly beautiful creation from the independent Finnish master Stepan Sarpaneva. Known for his architectural case designs and celestial storytelling, Sarpaneva has crafted a timepiece that feels like a relic from a high-tech lunar outpost. The “Nostromo” designation hints at its cinematic, dark-space inspiration, brought to life through a complex interplay of hand-finished steel and luminous artistry.

The 42mm case is sculpted in Sarpaneva’s signature scalloped silhouette, crafted from high-grade Outokumpu stainless steel sourced directly from Finland. With a remarkably wearable 10mm height and a compact 46mm lug-to-lug distance, the watch offers a bold presence without sacrificing ergonomics. The case features a mix of brushed and polished surfaces, a screw-down crown positioned at 4 o’clock for comfort, and is water-resistant to 100 meters.

The dial is a technical marvel, composed of seven individual stainless steel parts, each hand-finished and DLC-coated for a deep, matte black appearance. For the Nostromo edition, the dial is meticulously hand-painted with Super-LumiNova, creating a spectral glow in low light that reveals the intricate geometry of the construction. This is contrasted by the heat-flamed titanium elements of the Stardust series, while two-tone rhodium-plated steel hands provide sharp legibility against the dark, multi-layered backdrop.

Powering the Stardust Nostromo is a modified Chronode P1003 calibre, a high-performance automatic movement featuring 34 jewels and a robust 60-hour power reserve. The movement is rhodium-plated with a matte finish, visible through the sapphire caseback. The centerpiece of the mechanical display is the custom winding rotor, which features the iconic, brooding Sarpaneva Moonface—a signature hallmark that has become a symbol of Finnish independent watchmaking.

Sarpaneva – bio

Stepan Sarpaneva was born in 1970 to a Finnish family with a long heritage of craftmanship. Son of jewellery designer Pentti Sarpaneva, Stepan was brought up to be a talented designer and craftsman.

Sarpaneva first graduated from the Finnish School of Watchmaking and then moved to Switzerland to further his studies at WOSTEP. In 1994, he began work for several prestigious watchmakers including Piaget, Parmigiani, Vianney Halter and Christophe Claret. During those ten years in Switzerland, Sarpaneva specialised in the crafting of complicated timepieces.