It wasn't that long ago that the Asthet was awarded the German Design Award 2022. Now STERNGLAS is back with a limited edition of the ultra-slim automatic watch. I took a closer look at the Bauhaus timepiece.
Super slim automatic watch: Limited to 750 pieces
Hi, I'm Johannes, a watch fan and one of the first to extensively test the new STERNGLAS Asthet Edition Lumare. I'll tell you what impression it left on me.
The name and appearance of the watch is inspired by the milky seas effect, a phenomenon that occurs when a collection of certain microorganisms, for example, is stimulated by movement and briefly lights up.
Even as a awarded design object, the Asthet remains affordable
From the first impression, the Asthet Edition Lumare appears as high quality and excellently processed as one would expect from STERNGLAS. Of course, the edition, like its Asthet siblings, boasts an ultra-slim design at an affordable price. This combination is not normal – when searching for slim automatic watches that are worth the money, one quickly finds themselves at over 1,000 € – but the Asthet Edition Lumare is still far from such a high price.
With a case height of just 8.5 mm, the watch easily fits even under tighter sleeves. In addition, the weight is very comfortable on the wrist. At just 52 grams (excluding the strap), the Edition Lumare is noticeably valuable, but not heavy. Acoustically, everything runs smoothly: The Miyota caliber 9015 with hacking function works extremely quietly and even in a completely silent room, no ticking can be heard.
Left: STERNGLAS Naos Automatik with Miyota 8215, 12 mm height. Right: New special edition Asthet with Miyota 9015, 8.5 mm height.
The limited edition on the wrist
The diameter of 40 mm is also a win for me. My wrist is quite narrow and often resists watches due to distinctive bones – no matter how beautiful they may be. For those who know the problem, solutions usually consist of choosing between a loose-fitting watch or painful renunciation. That's why the joy was all the greater when the Asthet Edition Lumare fitted comfortably to my wrist. No slipping. No uncomfortable pressure. No compromises necessary. The flexible segment strap can also be adjusted for any size with just a few gestures.
Polished and brushed case
However, my personal highlight is the design of the case. STERNGLAS relies on a cleverly designed interplay of polished front and brushed sides. This creates a high-quality and varied appearance that really brings joy and always offers something new to the eye depending on the light conditions. This effect also fits very nicely into the theme of the Asthet Edition Lumare: Bioluminescence. Again and again there is a brief flash around the beautiful blue dial. The connection to the theme is completed by the abstract wave engraving on the case back.
My final thoughts
All in all, the Lumare special edition achieves what its excellent predecessors also aimed for: a super-slim automatic watch at a fair price. However, STERNGLAS has gone one step further and refined the design. Thus, the Edition Lumare has an inherent uniqueness, which is based on the advantages of the Asthet and yet stands out from it. The new timepiece remains limited to just 750 pieces worldwide, making it a very special piece for collectors. The watch is also a great gift idea for friends and family who appreciate quality and design.
