The 2010 limited-edition Fortis B42 Black Mars 500 is the German-based brand’s another attempt to monetize its long-standing partnership with the Russian Roscosmos Federal Space Agency that dates back to the year 1994.
As some of you must already know, some years ago the Russian government had set an ambitious (concerning its current and, um, projected state of the economy) goal to put a man (or a woman) on Mars in the 2030s. Together with the European Space Agency, the Russian Federal Space Agency is working on a new space ship that will be able to bring a crew of astronauts to the Red Planet and back in a matter of fewer than 18 months.
It is currently estimated that the whole mission will take about 520 days, where more than four weeks will be spent on the surface of Mars in a compact landing module.
To understand how almost 74 weeks in a confined environment will affect both the physical and mental health of future crew members, ESA and the Russian Institute of Biomedical Problems have prepared the Mars 500 experiment that will officially commence in a matter of weeks. Six volunteers will spend a total of 520 days in a steel tube 20 meters long and only 3 meters in diameter (this is like two standard petroleum rail tanks put together.)
As usual, the volunteers will be equipped with a great deal of gear, not excluding a set of Official Cosmonauts automatic watches.
As I have already noted, the German brand has decided to monetize the event and is going to bring to the market a special edition Fortis B-42 Black Mars 500 model.
Basically, this is the same B42 Black & Black 647.28.81 K from last year.
It is equipped with the same ETA 2836-2 self-winding caliber built on 25 jewels and featuring a simple calendar function with current date and day of week indicators located at 3 o’clock. We have already seen the movement in the recent Hamilton Khaki Pilot as well as in the last year’s TAG Heuer Aquaracer 500M Calibre 5 diver.
The generous 42 mm case is, too, made of black PVD-coated high-grade titanium and features an AR-treated sapphire crystal as well as a transparent display case back.
What is different, is the color scheme, which is almost identical to that of Mars itself. The deep blackness of its dial and case is accented with luminescent orange for the hands and Arabic numerals. The black leather strap is also stitched with contrasting orange.
Although on the promotional photos the Fortis B42 Black Mars 500 looks rather bleak and not very interesting, it kicks some butts in real life making you really want one.
The good news is that Fortis is going to limit the production at reasonable 2012 models, so most of us won’t have any trouble at all getting one of these toys on our wrists.
See also: Argonaut 1000 TQ Diver by CX Swiss Military
Photos: Fortis
Fortis B42 Black Mars 500 Limited Edition specification
Price range: €2600 (MSRP)
Movement: ETA caliber 2836-2, automatic, 28,800 vph, Swiss Made
Complications: Date, day of week
Power reserve: 42 hours
Case: Titanium, black, PVD-coated
Shape: Round
Transparent back: Yes
Size: 42.00 mm
Dial: Black
Numerals: Arabic
Hands: Steel, luminous (orange Superluminova)
Strap: Black leather strap with orange stitching
Crystal: Sapphire, AR-coated
Water resistance: 200 meters