Venezianico turns to the moon with the Bucintoro chronograph

Press release

May 2024

In tribute to Apollo 11, Venezianico presents a limited edition of only 69 pieces of the Bucintoro chronograph. It features the same Lemania 1873 movement that measured the seconds on the wrists of the Apollo missions’ crews, protagonists of the most extraordinary scientific success in human history.

Venezianico turns to the moon with the Bucintoro chronograph

Press release

May 2024

Venezianico turns to the moon with the Bucintoro chronograph

he precious seconds that held the world spellbound, from the launch phases, to the moon landing, and even more so during the first human walk in space, this is the legacy of the Swiss Lemania 1873 movements. It’s July 20, 1969, when the Eagle module of Apollo 11 touches down on the lunar surface.

Commander Neil Armstrong, with cautious steps, descends the ladder and places the first human foot on the Moon. Nineteen minutes later, Buzz Aldrin joins him, forever marking their historic feat in the history books.

“A small step for man, a giant leap for mankind,” Armstrong will comment; a historic moment for humanity deserving celebration, even from the watchmaking house of the Morelli brothers, with a limited edition watch of just, quite fittingly, 69 units.

With this idea in mind, the Morelli brothers embarked on a journey to find a sufficient number of Lemania 1873 movements, icons of Swiss watchmaking from the ’70s; the same movements that marked the moments of the Apollo missions and whose predecessor was on the wrists of the Apollo 11 crew.

After six months of meticulous restoration, Venezianico has brought these mechanical masterpieces back to life and splendor. With a balance wheel oscillating at 21,600 alternations per hour and a power reserve of approximately 40 hours, these calibers were chosen as the beating heart of the limited edition Bucintoro 1969.

The journey continued with the development of stylistic elements to integrate into the distinctive design of the Bucintoro chronograph. The multi-level dial, embellished with a sunburst finish, showcases an elegant black that stands out beneath the double-curved sapphire crystal, while the ingot-shaped indexes and gold-colored hands go beyond aesthetics: they represent a direct homage to the gold metal coatings often used in space missions.

On the inner rehaut, Bucintoro 1969 features numerous references to the launch phase at Cape Canaveral, starting from a second tachymetric scale with indices that correspond to the countdown phases from “Pre-Launch” at T-60, followed by the actual countdown at T-10, “Engine Ignition” at T-5, and “Launch” at the end of the countdown.

After zero, the chronograph measures speed via the tachymeter, while the “Reset” button resets the chronograph for a new sequence. With the multi-level dial, the rehaut related to the launch phases and the three chronograph counters, also bordered by a thin contrasting gold line, boast a pattern, created with a 3D printer, deliberately reminiscent of the lunar surface with its craters and the typical dark gray color of regolith.

On the side of the case, right next to the crown guard, are buttons to activate and reset the chronograph function. In the opposite area, at 8 o’clock, a steel plate bears the serial number of each model of this exclusive limited edition, comprised of only 69 pieces.

The caseback, made of sapphire glass, is fixed to the case by eight screws and ensures water resistance up to 100 meters. Enhanced by a serigraphy commemorating July 20, 1969, at 20:17:40 UTC, the epochal moment of the lunar module landing, symbolizing a new beginning for humanity, the glass provides a complete view of the movement personalized by Venezianico, enhancing its refined beauty.

Nothing is left to chance, not even the packaging with a handmade walnut wood case, crafted in the region of Venice, featuring two internal levels where the first accommodates the watch, two black straps, one in leather with a Velcro closure system inspired by spacesuits and one in rubber, along with the necessary tools for their replacement, while the second level contains the Canova bracelet.