What They’re Saying About Us

Der Uhrenratgeber hatte alle drei Editionen des neuen Fortis Novonaut N-42 TR Halo in Schwarz, Blau und Grün vor Ort und zeigt, wie das vollständig aus Leuchtmasse bestehende Zifferblatt bei Tag und im Dunkeln wirkt.

Fortis already has a pretty impressive space chronograph in its lineup with the Novonaut. Yet, the Swiss brand felt that it could use a little more light. With the new Novonaut N-42 Halo Editions, Fortis introduces three chronographs featuring a fully luminous dial, a revamped automatic movement, and a power reserve of no less than 70 hours.

A chronograph can be wonderfully legible in daylight and almost useless when the lights go down. The subdials, scales and hands compete for the same small patch of space, so the usual answer is to paint a few more markers with luminous material. Fortis has taken a bolder route. Its latest Novonaut gives the whole base dial the job of making light, leaving the counters dark against it: the Novonaut N-42 TR Halo Black.

Fortis has been steadily rebuilding its core collections around tougher cases, clearer instrument design and movements with a serious technical brief. The latest step is the Novonaut N-42 Halo Edition, a more visually assertive take on the brand’s space chronograph with a dial that changes character completely after dark.

Video Review Fortis Novonaut Halo Edition

Scottish Watches recorded Episode 822 live at Chronography in Ireland, bringing together retailers, independent watchmakers, microbrands and participating watch brands. The episode covers the Irish watch scene and the people contributing to its development, with Fortis featured among the brands present at the event.

Ende 2026 erweitert Fortis die Novonaut N-42-Kollektion um die HALO. Kennzeichnend ist ein vollständig aus Lumicast X1 gefertigtes, stark und lang anhaltend leuchtendes Basiszifferblatt.

Swiss watchbrand Fortis is launching a panda version of its 42-mm Novonaut with a full lume-dial made of hybrid ceramic offering 48 hours of lume.

Mit neuen Zifferblättern, der leuchtstarken Halo Edition und dem weiterentwickelten Werk 17 TR startet der Fortis Novonaut in seine nächste Generation. Das auffälligste Modell ist die Halo Edition.

It's dark out in space, but Fortis solves that problem with the new Novonaut N-42 Halo trio, which features dials with wild lume. The chronographs also feature an upgraded movement that has been tested to last in space.

When you want to talk about tough tool watches, the Fortis Novonaut line has to come into the conversation. So when we heard the small independent brand was giving this chronograph a new look that doubles down on visual clarity, we certainly had to check it out.

In an interview with WatchTime, Fortis owners Jupp and Petra Philipp explain how a chance investment became a family business, why they ignore market studies, and how extreme testing shapes the brand’s tool watches.

WatchTime im Gespräch mit Jupp und Petra Philipp über Familienunternehmen, Werkzeuguhren, Raumfahrt und den Mut, einen eigenen Weg zu gehen.

Früher habe ich beim Autofahren gedacht: Hoffentlich kriegt die Uhr keinen Kratzer. Heute denke ich: Hoffentlich kriegt das Auto keinen Kratzer, die Uhr hält das auf jeden Fall aus. Wenn du mit der Fortis an die Porsche-Tür anstößt, hinterlässt sie da mit Sicherheit einen Kratzer.

Fortis expands its longest-standing dive watch line with a major material upgrade. For the first time in the history of the Marinemaster collection, the case receives a full Dianoir ta-C Diamond-Like Carbon coating, significantly increasing the watch's resistance to abrasion, saltwater and impact.

With the new Marinemaster M-44 DLC Gravity Black and Black Resin, Fortis raises the robustness of the Marinemaster collection to a new benchmark.

Die Fortis Marinemaster M-44 DLC Gravity Black und Black Resin überträgt das bekannte Konzept der Marinemaster erstmals in ein schwarzes, ultrahartes DLC-beschichtetes Gehäuse. Damit erhält die robuste Toolwatch nicht nur einen neuen Auftritt, sondern auch eine technische Schärfung. Wir haben uns das Schwarz auf Weiß angesehen.

Fortis has just unveiled the newest members of the Marinemaster collection with the release of the M-44 DLC Black Resin and Gravity Black. Both models feature 44mm stainless steel cases with a DLC Dianoir Coating. The main difference between the two comes down to the dial, where the Black Resin variant gets golden Super-LumiNova markers. Both models are serious divers with a staggering 500 meters of water resistance. Of the two, I slightly prefer the Black Resin, which gives the monochrome aesthetic of the watches a slightly warm tone.

One of the most underrated Swiss watch brands, without question, is Fortis. A specialist in luxury-level tool watches, Fortis sends watches to space, uses custom movements from Tudor’s Kenissi manufacture, and generally makes some of the toughest and most purpose-built watches in their respective categories.

In der DLC-beschichteten Version wirkt die M-44 auf den ersten Blick beinahe zurückhaltend: Das schwarze Gehäuse schluckt Licht, Konturen treten erst beim zweiten Hinsehen hervor.

Swiss tool watch specialist Fortis has just added two new 44-mm versions with “Dianoir” DLC coating to its Marinemaster dive watch collection, the M-44 “Black Resin” with a completely black case and gold-colored hands, and the M-44 “Gravity Black” with silver-colored hands, partially coated case and white lume.

Two black-cased watches that are perfectly suited for any nightly expeditions you might have planned.

Fortis has dropped two new additions of its professional dive watch line; the Marinemaster M-44 DLC Gravity Black and Marinemaster M-44 DLC Black Resin.

The releases mark a first for the Marinemaster collection, with the watches featuring a full Dianoir Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coating applied to the case.

Fortis continues to refine its idea of the modern tool watch, and the new Marinemaster M-44 DLC is one of the clearest expressions of that approach to date. The brand’s most capable dive watch has been released in two new versions, Gravity Black and Black Resin.

For once, not a watch linked to pilots, the Marinemaster is a watch meant for exploration on land or underwater. For the first time, treated to stealthy, dark-themed watches as Fortis releases the first Marinemaster with DLC coating.

In diesem Video geht es ausnahmsweise mal nicht um Specs und Datenblätter. Klar, die neue DLC-Version mit 4.500 Vickers Härte und Kenissi-Werk für 4.950€ ist beeindruckend – aber eigentlich will ich euch erzählen, warum diese Uhr das Zeug hat, eine echte Ikone zu werden. Und warum der Weg, den Fortis geht, mehr Respekt verdient, als manche bereit sind zu geben.
Das hier ist weniger Review, mehr Hommage. An eine Uhr, eine Marke und ein Team, das unbeirrt seinen Weg geht.

Der Fortis Marinemaster ist fester Bestandteil der Fortis-Geschichte: Seit den 1970er-Jahren taucht er immer wieder im Portfolio des Schweizer Herstellers auf – zuletzt 2021 mit einer Neuauflage als moderne, sportliche Toolwatch. Mit dem Fortis Marinemaster M-44 DLC schlägt Fortis nun ein weiteres Kapitel auf – eines, das nochmal eine Spur technischer ausfällt: Das schwarz DLC-beschichtete Gehäuse in der härtesten ta-C-Ausführung verleiht dem M-44 ein merkbar anderes Gesicht. Gleichzeitig spielt Fortis mit zwei unterschiedlichen Varianten mit warm-kühl Kontrasten.

Fortis’ fliegers for the 21st century, like this F-43 Triple GMT, are now in the Time+Tide Shop!
Designed in collaboration with the Swiss Air Force, Fortis' Flieger collection is super-legibile and tough: this GMT is a particular standout.

Fortis has long been synonymous with tool watches that go where others fear to tread – including space. Its latest release, the Stratoliner Reentry Edition, is more than just a timepiece; it’s a celebration of the moment when spacecraft blaze back into Earth’s atmosphere.

The Fortis Stratoliner S-41 Reentry Edition completes the mission by successfully capturing the daring spirit of early aviation pioneers and packages it into a well-executed modern chronometer.

While most brands lean on vintage-inspired aesthetics or manufactured patina, Fortis took a different approach with the Stratoliner S-41 Reentry Edition — they captured the raw violence of atmospheric reentry and translated it into wearable art.

Fortis is well known in the world of horology for creating amazing tool watches. It is also one of the few brands with a track record of successfully sending watches into space. The Fortis Stratoliner S-41 collection is a modern-day space traveler’s watch that has achieved just that.

This timepiece is a direct translation of a violent, beautiful phenomenon – the fiery reentry of a spacecraft into Earth’s atmosphere – into a wearable, mechanical object.

From a pioneering serial-produced automatic wristwatch to the Gemini space programme, rugged functionality has always been at the heart ofFortis. When Jupp Philipp took over the independent Swiss brand in 2018, he set about redefining its image for the contemporary watch scene. Serge Maillard met him in Grenchen.

Last year, we covered the very cool Novonaut AMADEE-24 Mars Analog Mission Timer from Swiss watchmaker Fortis, which was designed to survive a trip to Mars. Following the Novonaut’s debut in 2023, it was also the first time we saw the space-travel-inspired chronograph on a titanium bracelet (previous versions were on steel). Unfortunately, this watch was limited to just 100 pieces. Those who missed out have been clamoring for a lightweight Novonaut that’s not limited in production. Luckily, the wait is over!

The Omega Speedmaster may have been the first watch on the moon, but no other timepiece has been tested for the riggers of space travel like the Fortis Novonaut.

While looking good and with a GMT ring crafted in white gold, it packs a COSC-certified chronometer movement.

My second pick is the brilliant Fortis Novonaut N-42 Legacy Edition.

If humans were to visit Mars, however, we’d need some tools to help us on our travels. Similarly, with Mars exploration on the horizon, astronauts will need watches that can withstand the conditions they might undergo. Known for supplying a fledgling NASA with the Spacematic AR back in 1962, Swiss brand Fortis has some history with space watches and now they’ve made a model specifically for Mars.

Marcus Finger

Worn & Wound

Pilot’s watches are a genre with a tremendous amount of history and sentiment. That makes it a joy to look back on some of this year’s best in the category.

Fratello is at it again with a stylish pilot's chronograph.

Über die Jahrzehnte hinweg hat die Fortis Cosmonaut viele Design- und Funktionsanpassungen erfahren, wobei die Grundessenz einer robusten und zuverlässigen Uhr beibehalten wurde. Sie wurde ein Symbol für die Verbindung von Erde und Kosmos, Technik und Abenteuer.

Brice Goulard

A video review by Random Rob...

Die Marinemaster M-44 Black Resin Gold besitzt einen Lünettenkorpus aus 18-karätigem Gelbgold, während das restliche Gehäuse aus recyceltem Edelstahl besteht.

Fortis has been busy with the development of new manufacturer movements with the help of Kenissi and most recently, La Joux-Perret who helped them with the production of the Werk 17 seen here.

Jupp Philipp stellt uns im Gespräch die neue FORTIS FLIEGER GMT & F39 vor und präsentiert uns damit Uhren die 100% unter seiner Führung entstanden sind. Besonders stolz macht das Manufakturwerk in der GMT.

Ein echter Outdoor-Begleiter: Fortis setzt einen weiteren Meilenstein auf ihrer Reise, die Tool Watch neu zu definieren. Mit der neuen Marinemaster.