What is a meteorite dial?
A dial cut from a slice of an iron meteorite, etched to show the crystal pattern that formed as it cooled in space over millions of years. No two are the same.
How it's made
Most meteorite dials come from the Gibeon meteorite, which fell in prehistoric times in what's now Namibia, or from similar iron-nickel meteorites. The metal is sliced to a fraction of a millimetre, then etched with acid, which brings out the Widmanstätten pattern: a criss-cross of long nickel-iron crystals that can only form when molten metal cools by a few degrees every million years.
Because every slice is different, each dial is one of a kind, and because the slices are thin and brittle, many are lost in production, which is why they cost more.
Care
Iron meteorite can rust, so dials are sealed with a protective coating and need a case that stays dry. If you ever see fog under the crystal of a meteorite-dial watch, get it to a watchmaker quickly.
Meteorite dials in our catalog
One current watch in our catalog has a dial described this way:
Current watches in our catalog, which is weighted to popular enthusiast models.
Questions
- Are meteorite dials real meteorite?
- From established brands like Rolex and Omega, yes, usually Gibeon. Cheap 'meteorite' dials can be printed or stamped imitations, so check what the brand says.