Introducing the Citizen x HAKUTO-R collaboration model that will inspire your dreams of space exploration

Citizen Watch, a pioneer in the use of titanium in wristwatches, has partnered with ispace, a space venture company. In the summer of 2021, they announced two chronograph models that will inspire dreams of space exploration, using a unique material used in lunar exploration programs. We will introduce the details of these models again, along with newly taken photos.

Two collaboration models with the private lunar exploration program "HAKUTO-R"

　ispace Inc. is a space startup working on lunar resource development, with the vision of "Expand our planet. Expand our future. Extending human habitation into space and creating a sustainable world." Originating from the team ispace was in charge of for the Google Lunar X Prize, "HAKUTO" (named after the white rabbit that appears in Japanese mythology), the company is currently working on the world's first commercial lunar exploration program, "HAKUTO-R," in which ispace has set up two lunar missions.

　The first lunar mission (M1) aims to achieve a soft landing on the Moon's surface in 2022. The second mission (M2) the following year should bring a rover to the Moon to explore the surface and collect data. From Mission 3 onwards, ispace aims to increase the frequency of lunar landings and rover explorations, and to transport passengers to the Moon.

　Takeshi Hakamada, founder and CEO of ispace Inc., said, "Through Japan's high-quality manufacturing and collaborative leadership, ispace will contribute to the creation of a space-scale biosphere that will support humanity."

　Citizen will provide Super Titanium for the legs of the lunar lander. Super Titanium was developed using Citizen's proprietary surface treatment called Duratect. Special processing techniques, including ion plating, cold plasma, gas hardening, and dual-layer coating, have been used to create a titanium material that is six times harder than stainless steel, with excellent durability and abrasion resistance, while maintaining the lightness of titanium. Through this partnership, Citizen will procure pure titanium material, process it using Duratect processing technology, and use it in parts for the HAKUTO-R lander and rover.
　
"Citizen and ispace aim to improve reliability and environmental resistance by using Super Titanium for HAKUTO-R spacecraft components," Citizen Watch said.

　In 1970, the year after mankind landed on the moon, Citizen released the X-8 Chronometer, the world's first mass-produced titanium watch.

"CC4016-75E" expresses the "pale light of the moon"

　The luxurious CC4016-75E features gold highlights on the case and bracelet, with Duratect MRK Gold applied to harden the surface, while the Duratect DLC used on the bezel and bracelet creates a stunning contrast with the gold colored parts.

　Duratect DLC achieves a Vickers hardness of 1000-1400HV by coating the surface of the material with a hard film of amorphous carbon, which is primarily composed of carbon and hydrogen.Duratect MRK and Duratect MRK Gold achieve a hardness of 1300-1500HV by hardening the surface of the titanium material by spraying gas onto it.

　In contrast to the high-tech materials, the subdial at 6 o'clock is made of mother-of-pearl, while the applied indices, hands, and subdials at 9 and 3 o'clock are gold. The multi-layered dial also features a date window at 4:30. Luminous paint is applied to the hour and minute hands and hour markers.

　This 44.3mm model is equipped with Citizen's Eco-Drive GPS satellite-wave watch caliber F950. According to Citizen, this movement receives GPS satellite signals in as little as three seconds, making it one of the fastest in the world. The hour and minute hands also move twice as fast as previous models, allowing for quick display of the current time. Furthermore, the watch can operate for approximately five years on a full charge (in power-save mode).

　The F950 is packed with features, including world time in 27 cities (40 time zones), chronograph, dual time zone, daylight saving time display, perpetual calendar, power reserve indicator, and light level indicator.

"AT8185-71E" expresses the "darkness of the moon"

　The slightly smaller, all-black AT8185-71E, with a design likely inspired by the dark side of the moon, houses the Eco-Drive radio-controlled caliber H800 within its 42.0mm case. This movement features a 26-city world time display, a chronograph (1/20th-second, 60-second, and total 60-minute), dual time zone, UCT display, and perpetual calendar, as well as daylight saving time, power reserve, and light level indicators. This model is synchronized with an atomic clock, which is said to be accurate to within 1 second in 10 years, making it the most accurate time source currently available, automatically correcting the time and calendar. When fully charged in power-save mode, the watch can last for approximately 10 months.

　This model is made of Super Titanium, the same material used in lunar rovers, and features a dial with multiple layers to create a three-dimensional effect like the surface of the moon.

　The subdial at 6 o'clock is accented with mother-of-pearl, the inner bezel features a star pattern, and the HAKUTO-R logo is laser engraved on the case back.

Summary

　These two collaboration models with the private lunar exploration program "HAKUTO-R" are excellent examples of Citizen's expertise as a pioneer in titanium. This is particularly evident in the two-tone CC4016-75E, which offers a gorgeous combination of dark titanium and gold accents. The AT8185-71E, with its detailed design of stars and the lunar surface, will instantly inspire dreams of space exploration.