Skip to main content

The Manual Wind: Romain Jerome Skylab 48 in Honor of NASA’s Space Station

Romaine Jerome Skylab 48
Image used with permission by copyright holder
The term ‘modern watch’ covers a wide spectrum of the watch market.  This term encompasses both classic brands with new technology and design, and the eccentric specialty brands that live on the edge.  The specialty modern watches are always pushing the boundaries of not only technology and design, but theme as well.  One brand well known for its theme designs is Romain Jerome.  Having made their debut with the Titanic DNA watch, which had parts of the Titanic in the actual watch, RJ has come out with some outrageous themed timepiece over the years.  Their latest themed piece, the Skylab 48, is inspired by NASA’s first space station.

skylab48b
Image used with permission by copyright holder

At a sizable 48mm in diameter, the Skylab 48 is a monster skeletonized piece. Fragments of the Apollo 11 spacecraft make this a genuine themed Romain Jerome.  Five layers of black steel make up the dial and hold the visible movement.  The case of this space station on your wrist is black steel PVD coated and also comes available with a red gold bezel.  As Romain Jeromes come, this is one of the more tame designs considering some of their previous.  Paired with a crocodile strap and matching PVD buckle, size aside, this piece might actually be considered a dress piece.  Limited to 99 pieces of each model, this is sure to get collectors attention.

Romain Jerome is known for their themed timepieces.  From the Titanic DNA to the Moon Dust and Space Invaders, RJ definitely makes an interesting modern watch.  The Skylab 48 is another great example of a modern watch that pushes the boundaries of ordinary.  These pieces do come with a price tag; $20,950 in Steel and $24,500 with a red gold bezel.  To own one will set you back a pretty penny, but not many can say they have a piece of the Apollo on their wrist.

Topics
Ian Schwam
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Contributing writer and watch enthusiast Ian Schwam dons an expert knowledge of all things watches. Having spent a decade in…
Men’s fall fashion tips: Is your wardrobe ready for the season?
What you need to know about men's fall fashion (and storing those summer clothes)
A man in a green and gray jacket whittles a stick to a sharp point

You have likely seen the Halloween decorations and pumpkins start to litter the houses in your neighborhood, the candy aisle has doubled in size, or your Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays are dominated by football. Any of these could tell you that fall is here, so you need to start preparing for apple picking, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, and of course, colder and wetter weather.

While changing the decorations around the home, switching your regular tires on the car to snow tires, and putting the lawn mower away for the rake or leaf blower are part of the preparations, your wardrobe needs attention, too. Here are some tips for ensuring you have the proper clothing prepped for the season and your summer clothes are taken care of appropriately for the long wait to spring. Keep reading to get some tips on men's fashion for the fall.

Read more
A new study reveals how filthy Apple Watch bands really are
You spent a lot of money on your smartwatch, so be sure it won't make you sick
apple watch hermes leather band

Your Apple Watch’s band may look clean, but a recent study has shown that your favorite band is probably covered in the sort of disgusting filth you would expect to find crusting up the seat in a public lavatory. According to Florida Atlantic University, 95% of the straps tested were coated in something unpleasant. This includes the infamous E. Coli -- a bacterium that is usually found in the intestines of mammals and has been linked to numerous severe food poisoning outbreaks over the years.

Other unpleasant microbes discovered by researchers include staphylococcus spp, which can cause staph infections when it is introduced to an open wound, and pseudomonas -- another organism that can cause incredibly dangerous infections under the right circumstances.

Read more
Men’s grooming: What the modern day man needs to know (from head to toe)
Grooming for men: Looking good in today's world, under the clothes
A man reading a book

Men have some catching up to do. For decades, women have focused on grooming, skin care, hair care, and everything from head to toe. Men, on the other hand, have traditionally focused more on clothes (if that) with little to no regard for our skin and hair. Luckily for us, an explosion of companies have begun to surface that focus on our physical appearance below the wardrobe, and it has arrived just in time for us to catch up to ladies; now is the time for the rise of men's grooming. 

Below, we're going to help you kickstart your bodily focus by giving you some tips, tricks, and maybe a few brands or products that will help you look your very best even before you start looking at your style.

Read more