There are brands that make watches, and there are brands that tell stories. Anicorn falls firmly into the second camp. From the very beginning, their mission has been to design objects that make you think differently about time. Sometimes that means teaming up with cultural institutions or design studios. Sometimes it means channeling science fiction into wearable form. And sometimes, like with the Cassini Nemesis, it means reaching beyond our own planet. This watch is named after NASA’s Cassini mission, launched in 1997 and sent hurtling through the void toward Saturn, where it arrived seven years later. It studied the rings, moons, and atmosphere of the sixth planet for over a decade, sending back some of the most haunting, beautiful images we’ve ever seen from space. Among them was Saturn’s mysterious north pole, where a hexagonal storm system rages endlessly—an atmospheric phenomenon that still challenges scientists today. That storm is the seed of the Nemesis. Anicorn has built a watch that isn’t just inspired by the mission, but shaped by its themes: darkness, geometry, mystery. This is not a “tool watch” in the traditional sense, but a conceptual piece you can live with. And when I held it in my hand for the first time, it was clear: this isn’t another microbrand diver or pilot clone. It’s something altogether different.

The Cassini Nemesis arrives in a minimalist black cardboard box stamped with the Anicorn logo. Inside you’ll find the watch, spare bracelet links, an instruction manual, a metal warranty card, and—if you selected the option—an additional FKM rubber strap (+$50). A small but thoughtful detail: both the warranty card and accompanying paperwork are more compact than the oversized documents many brands still provide. That said, the packaging could do more to reinforce the watch’s concept. Given the Cassini’s strong design language, a hexagon-shaped box or a more thematic presentation would have elevated the unboxing experience and added perceived value.

First impressions of the watch itself were positive overall, though a couple of things stood out immediately. The crystal, for instance, is a single-domed sapphire rather than a double-domed one. As a result, the dial distorts at certain angles, and the anti-reflective coating isn’t as effective as it could be—sometimes making legibility a challenge. Still, the overall design holds up well. The hexagonal case feels unique and appealing, and as someone who has long enjoyed this geometry in watches—I also own the Dietrich TC, which shares a similar case silhouette—the Cassini Nemesis immediately resonated.

Hexagonal cases are tricky. Done badly, they look awkward or gimmicky. Done well, they look like the most natural form imaginable. The Cassini Nemesis is in the latter category. At 42.2mm wide and with a lug-to-lug of 45.5mm, the numbers on paper suggest a chunky watch—but on the wrist, the geometry makes it feel surprisingly compact. The sandblasted stainless steel is finished with a rugger and thick matte black PVD, giving the watch a stealthy, almost utilitarian aura. The black PVD coating is exceptionally well executed—easily among the most consistent and refined finishes I’ve encountered at any price point. It reminds me of precision instruments: tools designed to survive the harsh conditions of space. But Anicorn has softened the edges just enough so it doesn’t feel aggressive. The conical case profile thins the watch visually, so while it’s 14.6mm tall, it never feels like a top-heavy hockey puck.

The sapphire crystal is a single dome that stretches nearly to the case edges, visually erasing the bezel and drawing the eye straight into the dial. While the crystal is coated with anti-reflective layers, the treatment is not especially effective, and legibility suffers in certain lighting conditions. The single-domed profile also introduces distortion at oblique angles. At times this is distracting, but in other moments it creates a striking effect—as if you’re peering into a black hole with the dial suspended in its center. When the crystal catches reflections, they can even feel deliberate, evoking the shimmer of Saturn’s rings.

Compared to more conventional barrel-shaped cases, the Nemesis achieves a futuristic look without tipping into costume design. It feels like wearable sculpture, but still grounded in practical proportions. At 4 o’clock sits an unsigned, push-pull crown rendered in the same hexagonal geometry as the case—an elegant continuation of the design language. Flipping the watch over reveals an exhibition caseback secured with six screws. Here the modified movement is fully visible through the flat crystal, tying the technical core back to the conceptual theme. Water resistance is rated at 50 meters (5 ATM)—more than enough for everyday wear, though not suited for serious aquatic use.

The dial is where the Nemesis earns its name. At first glance, it’s controlled chaos: a central rotating wheel, cut-out numerals, hidden etchings that appear and vanish as the wheel turns. Look longer, and the logic becomes clear. The hour numerals, sharp and pixel-like, echo early computer graphics—an Atari vibe that feels right at home in a watch inspired by a late-90s space mission. The “hands” themselves are understated: brushed, black-plated, with luminous white tips. Against the matte black backdrop, they remain visible at a glance. It’s clever design. This watch could have easily been illegible, but small choices—matte versus polished surfaces, contrasting lume tips—make it work in practice.

And then there’s the lume. Anicorn uses BG W9 Super-LumiNova, glowing a crisp blue in the dark. When fully charged, it feels like looking at Saturn’s frozen atmosphere in miniature. It’s not just bright—it’s atmospheric. And because the lume is applied thoughtfully across the hands and markers, the watch remains legible well into the night. One of my favorite details: the subtle coordinates primted in white on the dial. They reference Saturn’s pole and the Cassini mission itself. They’re not obvious, not shouting for attention, but appear like easter eggs as the hour wheel rotates. It’s the kind of design storytelling that makes you want to explain the watch to anyone who asks about it.

Inside the Nemesis is a movement we all know: the Miyota NH35. But Anicorn refused to leave it untouched. Through the exhibition caseback you’ll see custom rotor, custom bridges with ruthenium anthracite finishing, Côtes de Genève striping, and gold infill. Blued screws add a final flourish. It’s a thoughtful step up that most microbrands at this price point don’t bother with. Performance-wise, it’s what you’d expect: a 21,600bph automatic with 24 jewels and a 41-hour reserve. My test piece ran at +8 seconds per day. The movement hacks, hand-winds, and has proven itself a workhorse in countless watches over the years. The customization is what elevates the watch. It feels like the movement belongs to this watch, rather than being an anonymous part dropped inside.

Anicorn ships the Nemesis with two quick-release options: a stainless steel bracelet and an FKM rubber strap (you can choose both options, or just the strap, or just the bracelet). Both suit the watch, but in very different ways. The bracelet continues the matte black, bead-blasted theme. Solid links, screw pins instead of push pins, and a fold-over clasp give it a sturdy, dependable feel. On the wrist, it creates an almost integrated look, emphasizing the geometry of the case. If you want the Nemesis to lean toward an “urban tactical” aesthetic, this is the strap to go with.

The FKM strap is the opposite. Soft, flexible, and comfortable from the first wear, it makes the Nemesis feel lighter and more approachable. For summer, travel, or casual weekends, this is the option I found myself choosing most often. It adds versatility, taking the watch from a dark, brooding statement piece to something I could wear with jeans and a T-shirt without a second thought. However, the strap presents a significant issue. The supplied bent spring bars are undersized, and when testing their security with a firm pull, they can disengage from the case entirely, causing the strap to detach. To ensure a proper fit, the spring bars would need to be at least 1 mm longer. As it stands, wearing the watch with this strap feels risky, with a very real chance of the watch coming loose from the wrist. This may well be a limitation of the press sample I received, and it is possible that the production model will address the problem. Still, in my case, the concern was serious enough that I opted not to use the strap at all.

The Cassini Nemesis is not a watch that plays it safe, nor does it try to please everyone. Instead, it embraces a bold narrative—one rooted in space exploration, geometry, and mystery—and delivers it through a wearable, thoughtfully executed design. Anicorn has shown once again that it belongs among the few independent brands willing to push concept-driven horology into accessible territory. The watch is far from flawless. The single-domed sapphire crystal introduces distortion and the anti-reflective coating could be stronger. The strap issue on my sample raises a real concern, though it may well be corrected in full production. Yet even with these caveats, the Nemesis succeeds in its primary mission: it feels different. It sparks curiosity. It makes you want to look closer.

From the refined black PVD coating and imaginative dial execution to the unexpectedly well-finished Miyota movement, the Cassini Nemesis offers more personality than most watches near its $600–650 price point. The bracelet gives it an integrated, tactical feel, while the FKM strap (once corrected) would bring lighter versatility. Both highlight the watch’s ability to shift moods without ever losing its identity. Ultimately, the Cassini Nemesis is for those who want more than another diver, field, or pilot homage. It’s for collectors who value design storytelling and aren’t afraid of a piece that may polarize. If you fall into that category, this watch delivers something few others in its price tier can: a narrative object with genuine conceptual depth—one that wears not just as a timekeeper, but as a fragment of the Cassini mission, strapped to your wrist.

Price: 600$ (FKM strap), 650$ (bracelet), 680$ (strap & bracelet) at anicorn-watches.com