Introducing: The Lorier × Worn & Wound Astra Stargazer

The new Lorier × Worn & Wound Astra Stargazer is the latest limited-edition collaboration from the New York City-based publication. The partnership is close to home as Lorier, a well-known microbrand, also hails from the Big Apple. They’ve created an affordable, very cool watch that should sell faster than the newest SoHo clothing drop.

I’m a big fan of Worn & Wound. It’s one of the founding titles in watch media, and I like the site’s coverage of small, independent brands. The folks there have put their love of these microbrands into action with many collaborative releases. I still remember a titanium piece with Boldr that dropped during the holidays several years ago and kicking myself for not buying it! The watch was great and extremely affordable. Today’s new Lorier × Worn & Wound Astra Stargazer, with its fresh new design and approachable price tag, is one of the coolest watches I’ve seen. Selling watches isn’t as easy as it was a few years ago, but this piece should move quickly.

The Lorier × Worn & Wound Astra Stargazer

Let’s start with some basic specs because we’ll spend most of the time on the star of the show (pun intended), the dial. The Astra Stargazer is a 36mm by 44mm stainless steel watch with a 100m depth rating and a screw-down crown. It is just 11mm thick including the domed acrylic crystal. This collab uses Lorier’s Astra case, one of the brand’s most popular offerings. The sole strap is a gray suede 20mm one with a stainless steel pin buckle.

A dial inspired by the space age

Worn & Wound sent us the PR information for the Astra Stargazer, and it mentions the mysteries of the universe, the space age, and the stars as the inspiration for this watch. Without looking at the watch, something funky and digital comes to mind, but the actual result is something far more cohesive. The dial looks planetary. But the way it works and the use of luminous material in conjunction with the design is fantastic.

Image: Analog:Shift

Before moving on, I wanted to bring up a vintage watch that instantly came to mind when I saw the Astra Stargazer. The early ’60s Landeron-powered Wittnauer Electro-Chron was a wild piece that continues to be popular today with collectors. Sadly, like most non-mechanical movements from this period, it’s prone to breakage. But wow, is it cool! Thankfully, the good folks at Worn & Wound have given us a globular central hand and a mechanical powerplant.

A wildly cool dial

The Astra Stargazer blends gray, seafoam green, and white elements. A gray outer track with white minute hashes surrounds a ridged, luminous ring. Then, the dial’s center is a rotating gray disc with 12 sectors and a luminous arrow for the hours. If those details aren’t special enough, the two remaining “hands” are wildly different. The minute hand is a large circle with a luminous triangle that points toward the minute’s track. A central three-spoke seconds hand contains a lume pip at the end of each spoke. Two glow blue, and the other lights up green in low-light environments.

The watch is attractive in the light, but it comes out to play in darkness. C3 and C9 Super-LumiNova create a clear contrast with their blue and green tones. Ultimately, this makes the watch easy to read and visually interesting.

A robust automatic movement

Underneath the engraved screw-in case back, the Astra Stargazer uses the familiar Miyota 90S5 automatic movement. This 24-jewel caliber has a frequency of 28,800vph and 42 hours of power reserve. It also has hacking to help line up the unique seconds hand.

Easy on the eyes and the wrist

The Lorier × Worn & Wound Astra Stargazer should wear well on account of its attractive dimensions. Some may wish for a larger footprint, but I’d be happy with a watch that should feel similar to a vintage Datejust. Of course, the dial design is a different concept altogether. Still, the watch, with its blend of polished and matte details, should work well with many straps to dress it up or down.

Pricing and availability

The new Astra Stargazer is available directly from Worn & Wound’s Windup Shop site for US$499. A run of 200 pieces will be available, and shipping will occur during December 2024. Lorier has a great reputation with fans, so the build quality should be on point. Combine that aspect with a truly unique design, and this is a winner. Plus, it could make a great holiday gift! Just ensure you don’t sleep on your buying decision like I did several years ago.