Hands-On With The Impressive Fortis Novonaut N-42 Titanium Legacy

I have become somewhat of “the Fortis Novonaut guy” at Fratello. Not on purpose, I might add. But I must say I am quite a fan of Fortis’s latest version of its chronograph for space explorers. The Novonaut series debuted in October 2023 as the follow-up to the famous B-42 Cosmonauts Chronograph. After three initial stainless steel models, Fortis released the Novonaut AMADEE-24 Mars Analog Mission Timer. That titanium limited edition showed what a lightweight Novonaut could offer. The new Fortis Novonaut N-42 Titanium Legacy edition is the regular-production version of that watch. It combines the best traits of the AMADEE-24 and the stainless steel Legacy Edition, resulting in the best Novonaut yet!

At this point, putting a Fortis Novonaut N-42 on my wrist almost feels like coming home. That’s not just because the design feels familiar but also because the watch is so well made. Finding a brand that engineers and produces tool watches at the same level as Fortis is no easy task. As I explained in my review of the inaugural trio of stainless steel models, the quality is super impressive. As a result, the Novonaut exudes confidence. It’s one of those watches that immediately shows it’s ready for anything you throw at it. With the new Novonaut N-42 Titanium Legacy, that is no different. On top of that, it is the logical next step for the Novonaut collection.

The story of the Fortis Novonaut N-42 Titanium Legacy

As I mentioned, this new Novonaut combines the best elements of two previous models. The first is the stainless steel Legacy Edition from the original trio. The new Titanium Legacy has the same aesthetic with a matte black dial and matte black bezel insert. Additionally, with three sub-dials at 6, 9, and 12 and a day/date window at 3 o’clock, it shares the famous Valjoux 7750-style layout.

The second model this new one takes inspiration from is the titanium Novonaut AMADEE-24 Mars Analog Mission Timer. That limited edition was the first titanium Novonaut and sported a special dial. Today’s subject shares its titanium construction and gold-plated chronograph hands. The combination of the matte black dial and bezel with the gold-tone elements makes for the most stylish Novonaut N-42 yet.

The specs of the new Novonaut N-42 Titanium Legacy

Though this Novonaut sports the same specs as the previously mentioned models, let’s review them. The Novonaut N-42 Titanium Legacy has a 42mm brushed titanium case with a 44mm bezel and a 200m water resistance rating. This case also has a 15mm thickness, a 51mm lug-to-lug, and a bidirectional bezel with a ceramic 60-minute insert and luminous markers. Indeed, the watch is substantial, but its titanium construction makes it easy to wear. While I certainly didn’t have a problem with the stainless steel versions, I prefer the lighter titanium execution simply because it’s less hefty. To give you an idea, this watch weighs 161 grams on the bracelet, whereas its stainless steel counterpart weighs 225 grams. That is certainly a noticeable difference. On top of that, the slightly darker hue of titanium combined with the matte black and gold elements creates a presence that suits the Novonaut very well.

The matte black dial with gold elements is a winner

Gracing the matte black dial are large luminous numerals for the hours and smaller numerals for the half hours. On the top of the right-angled rehaut, you will find a 60-second timing scale that never interferes with hour markings or the minute track on the side. The three sub-dials feature circular graining to contrast the dial’s matte finish. Consequently, they look slightly darker. Located at 3 o’clock are the day and date windows. Right above them is the Fortis logo, and underneath, you will see the Novonaut model name.

I have said this before, but despite the abundance of information, the dial never feels cluttered. All the puzzle pieces fall neatly into place, creating an easily legible dial. That’s also thanks to the great handset. The large sword-style hour and minute hand stand out because of their size and thorough application of blue-glowing Super-LumiNova. The gold lollipop chronograph seconds hand also features a nice plot of lume, making it easy to read in the dark.

The rounded case features a screw-down crown and two large chronograph pushers on the right side. These pushers never fail to impress me. They are easy to operate and feel nice and sturdy when using the chronograph function. Finishing the watch’s robust look is a titanium three-row Block bracelet with a push-button clasp and a sliding micro-adjustment system.

As this is a tool watch, there is no taper on the 21mm-wide bracelet, which I don’t mind at all. However, it’s worth noting that because of the double-headed screws, it can be a bit tricky to remove links from the bracelet without a very steady hand and two screwdrivers or something like the Fortis Mirror Tool.

The Fortis Werk 17

Inside the Novonaut N-42 Titanium Legacy lies the Fortis Werk 17, a space-tested automatic chronograph movement made by La Joux-Perret. It operates at a 28,800vph frequency and delivers a 60-hour power reserve. La Joux-Perret utilized a custom traversing bridge and tangential micro-screw regulation for added strength and stability. The movement hides behind a closed case back that features a little Fortis rocket and the functional info engraved, just like the stainless steel Legacy Edition.

Wearing the Novonaut N-42 Titanium Legacy

After sizing the bracelet, I put the watch on my wrist, and all the good memories came rushing back. The clasp closed with a nice, firm click, and I instantly remembered how well the watch sat on my 18.5cm (7.3″) wrist. I usually wear smaller watches nowadays, but switching things up with a proper tool watch is good sometimes. The Novonaut is the perfect watch for that job, and it feels just right on my wrist. The 42mm case size is spot on in terms of wearability, with the sharp lugs placed at the perfect angle to ensure the bracelet wraps itself nicely around the wrist.

Visually, the watch is also nicely balanced. As I said, its various elements work harmoniously to ensure the wearer can read all the info. If I had to choose one thing to critique, it would be the font size of some elements, like the half-hour markers. In all fairness, though, I don’t need to read those. Thankfully, the smaller markers on the rehaut remain fairly legible. Most of all, I love that there is a difference in size because it creates a visual dynamic that works well.

Final thoughts on the Fortis Novonaut N-42 Titanium Legacy

After wearing this watch for a few days, I can confirm that it’s my favorite Novonaut model. It just ticks all the right boxes. Weight-wise, I prefer the Titanium Legacy to the steel Novonauts, and the alloy’s hue combined with the matte black dial and bezel creates a nice, almost monochromatic backdrop. The 3N-gold-plated chronograph hands brilliantly contrast this and are little sparkles that perfectly brighten up the overall aesthetic. As mentioned, I love this look because it is subtle and classy.

Additionally, the watch wears like a charm. If you have bigger wrists, I’d highly recommend checking out the Novonaut N-42 Titanium Legacy edition, which is available for €5,800 / US$5,360. It is nothing short of impressive. Every time I wear it, it reminds me how expertly the Fortis Novonaut is designed and executed. From the case and the bidirectional bezel to the bracelet, everything oozes confidence. It’s nice to be reminded of that every time. But I think the biggest win is that this new Titanium Legacy is the lightweight standard-production version of the Novonaut that fans will love. It combines the best features of two popular Novonaut variations to create the standout model in the series. This proves that the best Fortis Novonaut can still get better!

For more information on this watch, visit the official Fortis website.

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