Sarpaneva Revives His Most Daring Design, the Supernova

No, we’re not re-publishing old articles. If this watch, this bold and unconventional watch should I say, feels familiar, there’s a good reason for that. Big brands surfing on the wave of vintage re-edition is not a surprise. Independent, creative watchmakers reviving past designs is slightly less common. But here we are, looking at a Sarpaneva watch that has something familiar indeed – with such a bold shape, it’s hard to forget it, right? Supernova is its name. 2006 was its year of birth. 2025 is the year it comes back, perfected, upgraded, but without losing its edge. 

A supernova marks the end of one era, but it also signals the birth of another. By naming this watch Supernova, I’m signalling a pivotal moment in Sarpaneva Watches – one where everything changes, and nothing is quite the same again. Stepan Sarpaneva, year 2006.

“The Sarpaneva Supernova draws its inspiration from the raw, intricate energy of the universe – its complexity, its power, its unyielding beauty,” explains independent watchmaker from Finland Stepan Sarpaneva. “Wearing the Supernova is like carrying a piece of the universe on your wrist, a constant reminder of the forces that shape time itself. A true masterpiece, it’s more than just a watch; it’s a glimpse into the infinite,” he adds. The man has a universe of his own. His creations are, more often than not, unconventional, designed uniquely, filled with Northern inspirations and centred around our nearest satellite, the Moon.

Supernova goes multiple steps further. It’s a statement piece, the pinnacle of the Sarpaneva case, with its raw, edgy case designed pushed to the max. Think of it as a K3 under steroids, an unleashed version of its scaloped, architectural case. Using the design created in 2006, the Sarpaneva Supernova 2025 retains the same highly original design with surprisingly compact proportions, measuring 40mm in diameter and 11.2mm in thickness. The case is short, at 42mm in length. But with such a wide and sculpted bezel, wrist presence is way above what the numbers suggest. The bezel is a mix of circular brushed surfaces, 8 screws and 8 concave cutouts and a small dial opening. The sides are equally complex, resulting in a horological UFO that’s polarising, disruptive and will create mixed emotions – which, in the end, is the proof of a daring design.

For the return of the Supernova, Sarpaneva offers it as a made-to-order only piece, where customisation rules. Two main styles will be offered. First will be the time-only models (hours and minutes), with sculptural openworked, handmade stainless steel hands. And here, what will make these HM models special are the addition of stone dials (a first for Stepan), with possibilities of malachite – how good does that look, right? – lapis lazuli or meteorite… The latter being an obvious choice for a watch named after a space object.

The other style offered for the Supernova 2025 is as Sarpaneva as it can be, having the classic double-moon display powered by an in-house module. The dial is here made of 5 different stainless steel parts, with several layers revealing a complex hour chapter ring and a disc underneath with signature moonfaces. The latter can be ordered in red, yellow or white gold.

Turn the watch over and you’ll discover the movement, wound by a magnetar turbine – said to be inspired by the rare and powerful explosion of a magnetar, a type of neutron star with an extremely powerful magnetic field. The first design for this rotor was created in 2003 for the Sarpaneva Oiva and is making its comeback. It winds a modified Swiss made Soprod A10 calibre, an automatic movement with 4Hz frequency and 42h power reserve.

The Sarpaneva Supernova 2025 is worn on a selection of leather straps (22/18mm) attached to the case by a floating element. The watches will be produced by order only, with a EUR 5,000 deposit for reservation. It can be ordered from studiosarpaneva.com, with prices (excl. taxes) starting at EUR 16,000 for the time-only models, and EUR 24,500 for the moon versions.