Baltic x SpaceOne Seconde Majeure. Turning Time Reading Into Theatre
Okay, so strap in for this one!
Baltic and SpaceOne are not obvious partners. Baltic has built its reputation on vintage-inspired watches, classic proportions and a clear respect for traditional watchmaking. SpaceOne, on the other hand, lives in a more futuristic world, creating watches that challenge how time should be displayed.
That contrast is exactly what makes the new Seconde Majeure so interesting.
This is not a simple logo-sharing exercise or a familiar Baltic case with an unusual dial. The Seconde Majeure is a genuinely collaborative watch, born from the friendship between Etienne Malec, Jas Rewkiewicz, Théo Auffret and Guillaume Laidet. According to the press material, the connection began in 2021 at Baltic’s headquarters, where French watchmakers gathered to discover the brand’s new office. Five years later, that relationship has resulted in one of Baltic’s most unexpected releases.
The watch centres on a deconstructed display. Traditional hands are replaced by sapphire discs, with the hours read at 12 o’clock and the minutes at 6 o’clock. A large central seconds hand sweeps above the dial, bringing movement and energy to the whole composition. It is this prominent seconds hand that gives the watch its name: Seconde Majeure.
Behind the display sits a jumping-hour complication module developed by Théo Auffret. The system uses a central control wheel, star wheel and jumper spring to advance the hour disc. Rather than hiding the mechanics away, the Seconde Majeure makes the architecture part of the experience. The dial, cut from a single piece of maillechort, is not just decorative. It supports the module and helps the watch function.
There are two dial finishes available. The Brushed version feels cleaner and more restrained, allowing the unusual layout to take centre stage. The Charbonné version adds a more artisanal quality, with each dial finished by hand in Théo Auffret’s atelier, taking up to three hours to complete.
Brushed Version
Charbonné version
The case is also new, rather than borrowed from Baltic’s existing collection. Measuring 38.5mm in 904L stainless steel, it combines brushed surfaces with a polished concave bezel. The arched, low-hanging lugs should help it sit naturally on the wrist, while the beige Alcantara® strap by Delugs softens the overall look.
What makes the Seconde Majeure work is the balance. It has SpaceOne’s appetite for disruption, but Baltic’s sense of proportion. It is technical without feeling cold, playful without becoming a gimmick and unusual without being unreadable.
The watch will be available for pre-order from 12 May to 17 May 2026, with production limited to the number of orders placed during that six-day window. Each case back will be individually numbered, and deliveries are expected to begin in November 2026.
Pricing is €2,500 excluding taxes for the Brushed version and €3,500 excluding taxes for the Charbonné version. For collectors looking for something that feels genuinely different, the Seconde Majeure may be one of Baltic’s most intriguing releases yet.
Winding Things Up
The Baltic x SpaceOne Seconde Majeure works because it does not try to smooth away the differences between the two brands. Instead, it leans into them. Baltic brings the restraint, the proportions and the sense of old-world charm. SpaceOne brings the disruption, the unusual display and the willingness to make people read time differently.
That tension gives the watch its personality.
At 38.5mm, it remains wearable and refined, but the dial keeps it from feeling safe or predictable. The jumping-hour display gives the piece real mechanical intrigue, while the visible architecture makes the experience feel more connected to the movement itself.
The Brushed version will likely appeal to those who want the cleaner, more direct expression of the design. The Charbonné version, with its hand-finished dial, adds a more artisanal layer and will probably be the one that collectors talk about most.
What stands out most is that this feels like a true collaboration, not a marketing exercise. It has come from a meeting of people, ideas and opposing design languages. The result is not perfect for everyone, but that is part of its charm.
For those wanting something different, considered and genuinely conversation-worthy, the Seconde Majeure delivers.
All image credits - Baltic Watches
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