Xeric is a watch brand with a cult following based on a reputation for creating some of the most ingenious and affordable statement watches in the microbrand world. Their pieces are often conversation starters, featuring unusual time telling displays and lots of color. If you’re familiar with some of their avant-garde designs, it’s perhaps not a surprise that they have an entire sub-collection of NASA branded watches. It just kind of makes sense that watches with a decidedly futuristic, sci-fi inspired look would connect to the space agency. Their latest NASA piece, however, is almost subdued in comparison to prior efforts, and if you’re interested in jumping into Xeric but not ready for a watch with complex satellite time telling mechanism, the new Artemis Chrono might be your speed. 

The Artemis Chrono is named for the NASA program that will bring human beings to the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo missions over 50 years ago. Returning to the moon is an important space travel milestone so it’s no surprise that Xeric would celebrate it with a limited edition release. The basis for the design, according to Xeric, is an updated take on the tachymeter equipped chronograph, which of course is exactly the type of watch that has become famous as the space watch over the last five decades. 

For the new Artemis Chrono, the bezel has become a focal point and is highlighted with bold colors and has been glass coated to aid in legibility and make the whole watch a bit more robust. Across multiple dial variants that range from cheerful and colorful to darker and more subdued, we get finely textured sunray dials and with recessed chronograph subdials for added depth and visual interest. The chronograph pushers have been anodized in complementary colors as well. 

The Arttemis Chrono measures 40mm in diameter in stainless steel, and comes with a matching steel bracelet. This watch runs on the Seiko VK63 MecaQuartz movement. For the uninitiated, a MecaQuartz movement has quartz timekeeping functionality, but the chronograph operates mechanically. This is a huge plus for many enthusiasts who prize the distinct tactile feedback of a mechanical chronograph, which can be made available in watches like the Artemis Chrono for far less than one would spend on a fully mechanical chronograph. 

The Artemis Chrono launches today and carries a full retail price of $400, but there are early bird discount opportunities available for those who pre-order. Xeric