Furlan Marri has elevated its mechaquartz twin-register chronograph collection by announcing the jaw-droppingly gorgeous Meteorite Octa.
Available only during a limited pre-order period, the Meteorite Octa blends 1940s chronograph style with an out-of-this-world stone dial.
The dial is made from Muonionalusta meteorite, formed over 4.5 billion years ago, and selected for its unique and captivating Widmanstätten patterns.
As is normal at this time of year, we see a significant number of new releases from brands, and, given the sheer volume, it can often be challenging to pay equal attention to all of them beyond the initial glances. Some, however, manage to instantly grab your undivided attention, and just one glimpse of the new Meteorite Octa from Furlan Marri was all it took to stop me in my tracks.
Furlan Marri’s collection of  twin-register chronographs has been a cornerstone of this now well-established microbrand since they launched in 2021 – setting the tone for the brand’s approach to democratising the appeal of famous 1940s designs. There have been rose-gold PVD versions, a flyback, and even the spectacular Secular Perpetual Calendar that sold for six figures at Only Watch 2024, and while some of those have been slightly different and technically upgraded, they all share the same Furlan Marri chronograph DNA. This new release is no different, but with the addition of a very special stone dial, has it just elevated the mechaquartz to microbrand elite status?
Like all good watches, it begins with the foundations. It would have been all too easy for Furlan Marri to focus on style, but arguably, the proportions are the most important starting point. Thankfully, this mechaquartz chronograph has that side of things nailed. At 38mm in diameter, 12mm thick, even with the domed sapphire crystal, and with a 46mm lug-to-lug, the 316L stainless steel case has the hallmark proportions of a watch that proves restraint is often the most confident design choice of all. The finishing follows suit. A combination of perlage, polishing, satin brushing and deep embossing brings a level of detail that doesn’t go unnoticed, all brought together in a package that whisks you back to the 1940s without any of the usual impracticalities.
This functionality comes in the form of a screw-down decagonal caseback, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with five layers of anti-reflective coating and even a fingerprint-resistant coating, and an ample 50 metres of water resistance, which is undoubtedly a hell of a lot more than any chronograph legitimately from the 1940s would provide.
As the name Meteorite Octa suggests, the dial on each watch features a unique slice of meteorite, and it’s more than just a typical stone you might find elsewhere. Specifically, the dial is made from a slice of the Muonionalusta meteorite, a cosmic relic that formed at the dawn of the solar system around 4.5 billion years ago and, after traversing vast stretches of time and space, finally reached Earth just over a million years ago. It’s considered one of the oldest meteorites ever analysed, after it was finally discovered in 1906 in the village of Kitkiöjärvi, Sweden.
Each dial is completely unique, thanks to the complex crystalline structures on the surface, which are revealed when polished or chemically treated. The resulting patterns, known as Widmanstätten patterns, are not decorative treatments but a direct expression of the meteorite’s internal structure. They cannot be naturally reproduced on Earth, and the way the crystal structures catch and flip the light is a captivating watch collector’s dream.
The dial carries a sandwich construction, adding genuine visual depth to its design. Applied polished Roman numerals, paired with curved, polished hands, ensure fairly decent legibility considering the dial material and layout, and a lot of this is down to the clarity of the double-printed indications, and the domed outer ring, which contains a very typically vintage pulsometer scale. Overall, the dial remains functional while retaining its vintage inspiration, which is especially important to consider when you add luxurious meteorite to the mix.
Like the other Furlan Marri mechaquartz chronographs, the Meteorite Octa is powered by a Seiko VK64 movement, a hybrid that uses a quartz base for power, accuracy, and timekeeping, with a mechanical module that handles the chronograph complication. What you’re left with is the reliability, accuracy and ease-of-use of a quartz watch, with the characterful clunk of a mechanical chronograph pusher, and the sexy sweep of a chronograph hand.
It vibrates at a frequency of 32,768 Hz and is accurate to within ±20 seconds per month, so it’s fair to say you never really need to worry about it whatsoever; it’s a true set-and-forget piece. Battery power takes a bit of a hit if you use the chronograph feature frequently; however, in normal use, you can expect the VK64’s battery to last around 3 years.
The Meteorite Octa arrives with two strap options included, both of which are easily swapped out thanks to quick-release spring bars. The first is a black textured leather with matching stitching, the other is a softer, smooth white leather strap. Both straps are closed with a stainless-steel pin buckle and are made of either Italian or French leather. There are, of course, several other strap and bracelet options in Furlan Marri’s catalogue, all of which are compatible with the Mechanical Octa, should you want to add a splash of colour, or indeed, take advantage of that retro look with a stainless steel mesh design.
Furlan Marri Meteorite Octa pricing and availability
The Furlan Marri Meteorite Octa is available to pre-order during a limited window from April 10th from the Time+Tide shop. Price: AU$1,450/£850/US$1,075
Brand
Furlan Marri
Model
Meteorite Octa
Case Dimensions
38mm (D) x 12mm (T) x 46m (LTL)
Case Material
316L stainless steel
Water Resistance
50 metres
Crystal(s)
Domed sapphire crystal
Dial
Muonionalusta meteorite sandwich dial
Strap
Two straps – black textured leather, white smooth leather, steel pin buckle
Movement
Seiko VK64 mechaquartz
Power Reserve
~3 years
Functions
Hours, minutes, seconds, pulsometer chronograph
Availability
Limited pre-order period
Price
AU$1,450/£850/US$1,075
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