Frank Huyghe loves testing his watches under real conditions. It’s probably the only independent brand that sends its production pieces to depths of several hundred meters. This is an exercise that the former professional diver enjoys with undisguised joy. However, for his two new models, real-world testing will be more complicated—even with the help of his connections with CNES (the French Space Agency). The first is designed for the Moon, while the second is for Mars.
New Dials, New Cases
For the modest earthly collectors of the brand, the everyday hazards of life should not pose a major risk to these two WRX Rockdust and Stardust. Their difference? The finishing. The Rockdust features a chocolate-textured dial, reminiscent of Mars' brown rocks, while the other opts for the deep matte grey of the lunar surface.
Both pieces now offer a new, slightly microblasted titanium case—an elegant and shock-resistant armor that should be able to withstand just about anything a normal life could throw at it. But you need to look past this outer shell to reach a mechanism that remains substantially above watchmaking standards.
Powered by Lithium
Indeed, on the movement side, we find the RTE (for Ralf Tech) 001 caliber. It’s neither electric nor quartz—it’s both at once. A lithium battery powers a quartz oscillator, ensuring perfect precision. This Swiss-designed movement combines the best of both worlds, with constant energy and the accuracy of quartz. And, most importantly, an "autonomy" that defies comprehension: 100,000 hours, or nearly 12 years. We are far, very far, from the 42 hours of a mechanical watch or the 2 to 4 years of a battery.
Watchmaking Sarcophagus
The precious movement is literally encapsulated within the case of the WRX Rockdust and Stardust. This is Ralf Tech’s strong suit: a long, very long experience in sealing. It was evident in the first watch developed for CNES and remains present in the Rockdust and Stardust models.
This is manifested by a case back sealed to the case itself through a proprietary system. Only Ralf Tech has the tools for this. It might be less convenient to have your watch serviced by your local watchmaker, but Frank Huyghe has the ultimate answer: first, a Ralf Tech doesn’t need servicing; secondly, this seal will prevent any third-party mishandling that could compromise the waterproofing (real and tested) to 1000 meters, a level for which only Ralf Tech guarantees.
Record-Breaking Features
This foolproof waterproofing is not the only result of the sealed case back, but also of a 5.9mm-thick sapphire crystal. This is the thickest scratch-resistant sapphire crystal on the market (for a production watch). Finally, the case thickness reaches 10mm at certain points, addressing the usual weak points so that these two WRX models no longer have any.
Adding to this record-breaking list is a ceramic bezel and an operating temperature range that perfectly aligns with human capabilities, ranging from -50°C to +55°C. Below that, you’ll be frozen. Above it, roasted! Enough to survive even the round-trip journey to Mars or the Moon.
Each piece, priced at €2,500, will be produced in a limited run of 100 examples and available starting March 20, 2025. For the more curious, a few examples will be on display at Time to Watches, from April 1 to 6 in Geneva.
