The Sarpaneva Supernova gets new inspiration and now released as an evolved state. Also known as the Sarpanova, is now bigger, badder than ever before.
Press Release information with commentary in italics.
New: Sarpaneva Supernova
The Sarpaneva Supernova carries a price tag starting from EUR 16,000 for the time only model and EUR 24,500 for the Phases of the Moon. Prices are before taxes.
Commentary
Sarpaneva has always been marching to the beat of his own drum. Stephan himself has a unique personality, which despite how he may sometimes look…very fierce, especially when he doesn’t smile, but actually a very warm and likeable chap. His tagline “These watches are not created for everyone. They are exceptional timepieces intended for exceptional people.” says it all.
And indeed the new Supernova stays true to this adage. The watch was first introduced in 2006, already a big audacious watch. The new Supernova goes even further. The idea of a scalloped case was first explored in the K3, which features the case offering curved cutouts, but in a rather subtle way. In the supernova, the scalloped is exaggerated. Now, it not only offers a a case footprint with curved cutouts, the design calls for the scalloped edges to extend toward the bezel. Making a kind of effect like an open sunflower.
Surprisingly, despite the broad strokes applied to the case shape, the watch remains rather compact. The nominal case side is 40mm in diameter with a thickness of 11.2mm. And appears to be a nice fit on the wrist.
The watch is available as a two hand time only watch with the option of either a steel polished dial or a selection of stones. The watch is also available with the signature Sarpaneva moonphase display with two gold moons.
Release details
Fate of Cosmos
The evolved Supernova – a timepiece reborn
The Sarpaneva Supernova draws its inspiration from the raw, intricate energy of the universe—its complexity, its power, its unyielding beauty. 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.
“ A supernova marks the end of one era, but it also signals the birth of another. By naming this watch “Supernova,” I’m signaling a pivotal moment in Sarpaneva Watches—one where everything changes, and nothing is quite the same again.” Stepan Sarpaneva 2006
When a star exhausts its fuel, it detonates in a brilliant explosion. Similarly, this watch represents a transformation, a rebirth in the world of fine timepieces.
Made in traditional manner. Steel is real
“I cannot explain how it looks and feels to me, but it is impossible to get the same feelings with wood or glass. I have always liked, even preferred the ‘essence’ of steel-cased watches, as it fits with my desire for simplicity and the beauty you find in basic materials and designs – whether inspired by manmade or natural elements.”
The small dial opening challenges us to traditional methods, while still prioritizing legibility. It’s a delicate balance, much like the gold Moonfaces, which makes its return in the Supernova model for the first time. The half-smiling, half-scowling Sarpaneva Moon takes shape over a complex process.
“ The Moon bothers me; even if I cannot see it, I can feel it. During the Full Moon and New Moon, I’m especially sensitive… I sleep badly. Am I cursed?”
The first step requires creating a drawing six-times actual size, followed by cutting a rough model from plate stock, one piece corresponding to each level of elevation of the oversized model. These parts are then fixed together to form the model plate for the pantograph, which will mill the various shapes into a small piece of copper the actual size of the Moonface. This copper version, which will serve later as an electrode, is then cleaned up and ‘fine-tuned’ by a master engraver before the contours are electro-etched into a steel-pressing block, creating a negative image of the face.
Last but not least, the eyes are modelled by hand into the negative image and the whole is finished by a master engraver and diamond-polished before undergoing hardening, followed by yet another polishing.
“Simple, really! Big, powerful machines are used to prototype and eventually make small, painstaking details in Stepan’s watches – many at engineering firms in Helsinki itself, rather than the usual route of outsourcing component manufacture to Switzerland. The dial parts are made by us, the hands are Stainless Steel and finished to perfection without cutting corners. Well, we do – but then it is about polishing, beveling, black polishing and matting.
Little Bear illuminates Finland’s northern sky
The classic Northern Light dial returns. Following autumn’s somber harvest, nature is swiftly overtaken by the harsh winter that follows. As the world darkens, only the constellation of the Little Bear illuminates Finland’s northern sky. Inspired by this poignant and evocative time of year, Stepan launched two variations of his K3 collection on the first liberating day of 2011’s spring, each adorned with diamonds shaped like the Little Bear. One model captured the essence of the coldest winter day with a blue-sky dial, while the other reflected the darkest nights of Finland’s winter, with a deep black dial.
“It is about the Northern Stars, which I can see during the coldest moments of the Finnish winter, when I look up at the sky from my workshop window.”
The aftermath of a supernova explosion
For the first time, seen in this prototype, Stepan is exploring stone dials. In a way, stones carry the ancient memory of that cataclysmic event. They are the silent witnesses to the universe’s most powerful moments—supernovae that scattered the building blocks of life and structure. These dials evoke the essence of a cosmic mirage, lending the Supernova a calm, natural aesthetic. It’s a balance of simplicity and depth, offering a serene contrast to the watch’s dense, powerful core. A quiet elegance.
Magnetar Turbine – Spiral Galaxy Caseback
Inspired by the rare and powerful explosion of a magnetar, this timepiece captures the intensity of one of the universe’s most awe-inspiring phenomena. The magnetic flares that erupt from these stars also give rise to the mesmerizing auroras we see on Earth. The first design was created already 2003 for the Sarpaneva Oiva. Now in redesigned form in the latest Supernova.
“Some even say it has the power to predict the Northern Lights. Is it myth or reality? Only the daring few will ever discover the truth.”
Cosmic Mirage
Just as exploding stars are fundamental to the universe and the creation of life, our watches are crafted with precision and purpose, designed to stand the test of time. The same elements forged in stellar explosions are reflected in the durability and sophistication of each timepiece. These watches are more than just instruments—they are a connection to the origins of life and the ever-moving force of time. Wear a piece of that story.
Sarpaneva Supernova Specifications
Movement: • Modified Swiss made Soprod A10 calibre, 11.5 lines, 28 800 vph (4 Hz), phases of the moon complication ( in-house ) • Hours, minutes and or phases of the Moon ( 29.5days ) • Mechanical Automatic winding • 42-hour power reserve • Rhodium-plated, perlage finishing • Stainless steel “ turbine “ winding mass
Case: • Sarpaneva case in high-grade Outokumpu stainless steel from Finland (SUPRA 316L/4435) Brushed and polished. • Case size: 40 mm • Case thickness: 11.2 mm • Lug to lug length: 42 mm • Front sapphire crystal with multi anti-reflective coating on the inside • Open caseback with sapphire crystal • Screw-down Sarpaneva crown at 3 0 ́clock • Water-resistant to 5 ATM
Dial: • 5 Part Stainless Steel “ Northern Stars “ dial, hand finished • Moonface relief in Red, White or Yellow gold • Selection of unique stone dials • Selection of unique dials ( meteorite etc. ) • Handmade Stainelss Steel hands • With or without Swiss Super-Luminova®
Strap • Sarpaneva leather in various colors • Sarpaneva stainless steel pin buckle 18mm • 22-18mm
