The Astronic NightHawk Flying Tourbillon (Ref. STL-117S-RG) is a 2025 men’s mechanical watch that brings a visually striking complication into a market segment considerably more accessible than traditional haute horlogerie. It is aimed primarily at enthusiasts interested in exposed mechanics, interaction with a manually wound caliber, and a deliberately dramatic aesthetic.
Its personality emerges from the combination of a strongly three-dimensional skeleton layout and a 3D Co-Axial Flying Tourbillon. Astronic develops the entire concept around this element, turning the movement into the watch’s main protagonist. The result is a model that crosses dress and luxury territories through a contemporary language, far removed from the restraint and proportions traditionally associated with classical elegant watchmaking.
Design
The NightHawk adopts a layered composition in which the dial and mechanics appear to belong to the same architecture. Openings, skeletonized structures, and metallic components create multiple levels of depth, avoiding the traditional visual separation between time indications and movement.
The palette is dominated by the contrast between black and rose-gold tones, with the exposed mechanical components adding metallic reflections and variations in light. The darker areas define the boundaries of the different sections, while the warmer accents extend across the dial and establish chromatic continuity with the exterior. The overall effect is technical and aggressive, with a visual density that forms an integral part of the model’s identity.
The skeletonized central hands adopt angular profiles consistent with this language. The peripheral scale and applied hour markers, meanwhile, create a more orderly frame around the central mechanical area, separating the references required for reading the time from the more decorative elements.
The composition also follows a clear vertical development. The upper section is occupied by a geometric structure dedicated to displaying the available energy, while the lower area leaves ample room for the moving mechanics. This arrangement creates two distinct visual focal points and helps distribute the complexity across the entire dial.
The genuine leather strap with a pilot-style design finally introduces a more traditional material. Its brown surface and contrasting stitching partially soften the industrial character of the overall composition without turning the timepiece into a conventional proposition.
Case & Construction
The case is made from 316L stainless steel with Grade AA IP rose-gold plating and a multi-layer anti-fingerprint coating. Its warm tone therefore comes from a surface treatment applied to the steel rather than from the use of solid gold.
The dimensions are substantial: 44.5 mm in diameter, 13.7 mm thick, 22 mm between the lugs, and 52.8 mm lug-to-lug. The circular body is integrated into a structure characterized by pronounced shoulders and faceted surfaces, a solution that gives the construction a more articulated presence than a traditional round case.
The dial is protected by a sapphire crystal with a multi-layer anti-reflective coating. In a design based on observing the components beneath it, controlling reflections is particularly relevant because it directly affects the visibility of the open architecture.
The crown at 3 o’clock has a pronounced and readily accessible profile. The stated water resistance reaches 100 meters / 330 feet, equivalent to 10 ATM, a substantial specification for this category, although it does not change the nature of the model by turning it into a timepiece intended for underwater activities.
Movement
At the heart of the watch is the Astronic AST-01, a Chinese manually wound mechanical caliber built around a three-dimensional co-axial flying tourbillon. The stated power reserve is approximately 42 hours.
The choice of manual winding is consistent with a design in which the movement forms a fundamental part of the experience. Periodic interaction with the crown is not concealed behind automatic energy management but instead becomes part of the relationship between the owner and the mechanics.
The flying architecture supports the cage from below, dispensing with the traditional upper bridge. This solution provides a less obstructed view of the regulating system from the dial side and therefore assumes particular importance in a construction that uses the depth of the movement as a design element.
The supplied dataset does not provide verified information regarding frequency, jewel count, the presence of hacking seconds, or independent chronometric certifications. It would therefore be incorrect to attribute specific accuracy performance or additional technical characteristics to the caliber without reliable documentation.
Functions & Complications
The time indications comprise hours, minutes, and seconds, while energy is managed through manual winding. The wearer is assisted by a power reserve indicator extending across a 240° arc, allowing the available energy to be checked directly and making it easy to determine when the crown needs to be wound again.
The 3D Co-Axial Flying Tourbillon is the principal complication and remains constantly visible while operating. It requires no dedicated adjustment from the wearer but introduces a continuously dynamic element to the dial that characterizes the experience of reading and observing the timepiece.
The skeleton dial, by contrast, is not a mechanical complication: it is a construction and display solution through which the movement becomes a direct part of the watch’s aesthetics.
Performance
On the wrist, the NightHawk has a commanding presence. The case occupies considerable wrist space, while the angular shoulders further emphasize its perceived volume, making the model particularly suitable for those seeking a conspicuous watch and less appropriate for those who prioritize discretion and compactness.
Its longitudinal development largely determines the fit. On smaller wrists, the structure quickly approaches the edges, while broader wrists provide the space required for it to express its proportions more naturally. The broad frontal surface also emphasizes the depth of the dial, which remains the main point of interest during wear.
The leather strap adapts to the curvature of the wrist and helps reduce the perception of mass compared with an all-metal configuration. The quick-release system makes strap replacement straightforward and also facilitates aesthetic changes without requiring dedicated tools.
The pronounced construction does not slip particularly discreetly beneath a close-fitting cuff. The timepiece works best when left visible, a characteristic consistent with a design conceived to place its architecture firmly in the foreground.
Legibility involves a clear compromise with visual spectacle. The peripheral scale provides distinct references, but the abundance of openings, components, and overlapping surfaces requires more attention than a solid, minimalist dial. The watch therefore prioritizes the contemplation of its mechanics over absolute immediacy when reading the time.
Technical Data
Brand: Astronic Watches;
Model: Astronic NightHawk Flying Tourbillon (Ref. STL-117S-RG);
Year: 2025;
Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel with Grade AA IP Rose Gold Plating and Multi-Layer Anti-Fingerprint Coating;
Case Diameter: 44.5 mm;
Case Thickness: 13.7 mm;
Lug Width: 22 mm;
Lug-to-Lug: 52.8 mm;
Crystal: Sapphire Crystal with Multi-Layer Anti-Reflective Coating;
Water Resistance: 100 m / 330 ft (10 ATM);
Power Reserve: ~42 hours;
Movement: Manual Mechanical Watches – Astronic Caliber AST-01, 3D Co-Axial Flying Tourbillon (Chinese Movement);
Functions: Hours, Minutes, Seconds, Manual Winding, 240° Power Reserve Indicator;
Complications: 3D Co-Axial Flying Tourbillon, Power Reserve Indicator;
Bracelet / Strap: Genuine Leather Pilot-Style Strap with Quick-Release System;
Type: Dress Watches, Luxury Watches, Skeleton Watches, Tourbillon Watches;
Sex: Men’s Watches;
Nationality: Chinese Watches.
Retail Price (Launch): €1,380 / $1,499.
The Astronic NightHawk Flying Tourbillon offers a contemporary and deliberately spectacular interpretation of the tourbillon watch. Rather than attempting to replicate the language of classical haute horlogerie, it establishes its own identity through pronounced volumes, exposed mechanics, and a three-dimensional composition that is immediately recognizable.
Its main strength is the coherence between technical concept and aesthetics. The movement is not used simply as an argument for prestige but directly determines how the timepiece looks and how it is experienced. Its construction also adds substance to a proposition that might otherwise risk relying exclusively on visual spectacle.
The limitations stem from the same approach. Its strong wrist presence restricts versatility, while the visual density requires accepting less immediate legibility than that offered by more restrained models. In addition, the available data provide no independent evidence with which to assess the caliber in terms of chronometric performance: the tourbillon should therefore be judged for its architecture and the mechanical interest it generates, without automatically attributing superior accuracy to it.
The quality-to-price proposition derives primarily from the accessibility of an unusual and extensively exposed mechanical configuration. This is not a watch intended to compete with haute horlogerie in terms of finishing, manufacturing tradition, or certification, but rather to offer a different experience at a significantly lower cost than is normally associated with this type of complication.
The ideal buyer is therefore an enthusiast who regards the movement as something to observe and interact with, appreciates skeleton watches with a distinctive personality, and accepts a deliberately conspicuous fit in exchange for strong mechanical impact. The verdict is positive within these parameters: a specialized and dramatic tourbillon, less convincing as a universal dress watch but coherent and distinctive when chosen precisely for what it sets out to be.
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