There is a steady flow of new independent watch brands appearing these days, however, creating something genuinely different is considerably more difficult than simply putting a new name on a familiar design and sticking around after the first release is possibly the hardest part.

O.G Watches is the creation of British designer Oliver Gallaugher, who launched his first Deep Space watch in 2023 following around a decade spent developing his ideas and learning the realities of actually getting a watch made.

Deep Space Blue is the second O.G watch and whilst there is a clear resemblance to the original, almost everything has evolved.  The case is smaller, the movement is completely different (and created specifically for the watch); and the dial, hands and sapphire minute track have all been further developed.

Despite appearing relatively simple at first glance, there is actually a fair amount going on.

Oliver Gallaugher explains the concept behind the O.G Deep Space Blue:

The Deep Space Blue is an evolution of the first O.G series Deep Space. A watch inspired by the celestial heavens and the rare event of shooting stars – an effect which is captured by moving the dial.  

Part of the creative process behind its design was reimagining each of its components and how they could be pushed further in terms of engineering, function and integration. For example: on the first Deep Space series, the minute ring was printed on the underside of the front sapphire. The Deep Space Blue takes that same floating concept to the next level, by instead engraving its shape into the sapphire and then filling it with Super-LumiNova – two separate materials with different properties becoming one organic form.

This captures a key philosophy of O.G design, which is the pursuit of refinement. While some watches strive to appear complex, the Deep Space Blue is an intricate watch that is engineered to appear simple.

OG Watches Deep Space Blue

Face & case

The majority of the 38mm case of the Deep Space Blue has polished surfaces, with a narrow bezel having a curved chamfer heading down to the case sides which are the only part with a sandblasted finish.  It is produced from 904L stainless steel and measures just 8.8mm thick and approximately 44mm from lug to lug. 

As the name indicates, the blue dial is what the watch is really all about.  The base dial is finely brushed diagonally before receiving a blue lacquered finish, with miniature stars individually engraved into the surface and rhodium treated.  As the angle of the watch changes, the brushing interacts with the light and individual stars also appear and disappear across the dial.  Interestingly, each dial can be personalised – using astronomical simulation, O.G can recreate the position of the stars above a particular location at a specific date and time, with this arrangement then used as the basis for the engraving of the stars.

There are no conventional hour markers on the dial; instead, the minute track (with larger hour markings) appears to float above it, having actually been engraved into the underside of the front sapphire crystal before being filled with Grade X1 Super-LumiNova.  Under directional light, this creates a physical shadow over the dial, adding another layer of depth.  Under low light, the entire track glows blue.

The pointed hands are also (unusually) manufactured from 904L stainless steel, with curved upper surfaces which have mirror polished surfaces.  Rather than applying lume into a conventional recess, the ends of both hands are actually separate luminous ceramic components, producing two solid blue glowing tips in low light.

The dial itself remains deliberately sparse, with only the O.G logo positioned in white, sitting vertically at 12 o’clock – there is no seconds hand or date window to interrupt it.

The crown is low profile in height, but is proportionally large, allowing for good grip whilst winding or setting time.  The OG logo is engraved on the end.

Both the front and rear crystals are sapphire, with the case offering 50 metres of water resistance.

Turning the Deep Space Blue over reveals arguably the biggest technical change from the original Deep Space.  The first Deep Space used the GUY-1, a heavily modified movement based around the architecture of the Unitas 6498 and assembled in Glashütte, but O.G has moved to Switzerland for the Deep Space Blue (more specific details below).  

The screw down caseback has a dodecagon edge to it, with a viewing window being almost the same size as the dial on the other side.  A semi-skeletonised construction and wide gaps between bridges exposes sections of the gear train beneath.  The bridges are finished with wide Geneva stripes and polished anglage, whilst perlage is visible beneath on the mainplate.  The rhodium coloured movement contrasted by gold coloured gear train components and various highly polished steel parts.  Other traditional finishing can be seen, such as circular brushing, polished edges and mirror polishing.

OG Watches Deep Space Blue Caseback

Movement

The Deep Space Blue is powered by the LTM5000-G, a manually wound movement developed specifically for O.G by Le Temps Manufactures in Fleurier.  

At only 3.3mm thick, the smaller movement has played a significant part in allowing the overall watch to shrink from the original Deep Space’s 41mm case to 38mm, whilst also reducing the overall thickness.

Featuring 19 jewels and beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz), it has a variable inertia balance and provides approximately 60 hours of power reserve once fully wound.

OG Watches Deep Space Blue Side & Crown

Strap

Two straps are supplied with the Deep Space Blue – both combine Alcantara and calf leather and are handmade to size, rather than relying on a generic standard length – the colours are named “Beyond Blue” and “Into Grey”.

They use quick-release spring bars at the case side for easy swapping and taper from 20mm at the lugs to 18mm at the buckle.

The pin buckle has also been specifically designed for the watch and is manufactured from the same 904L stainless steel as the case, again combining polished facets with sandblasted surfaces and the OG logo engraved on one side of the main outward facing surface.

OG Watches Deep Space Blue Strap & Buckle

Other stuff

O.G is effectively the vision of one person rather than a traditional watch manufacture.

Oliver Gallaugher is a designer, who works with specialist manufacturers and artisans around the world to produce the various components of the O.G watches; the dial is manufactured by Cador in Germany, the movement comes from Le Temps Manufactures in Switzerland, while the case, hands and buckle are produced by Atmoz in China and straps are handmade by Handdn in Vietnam.

That approach isn’t unusual within independent watchmaking, but being completely open about who actually makes the individual components is perhaps less common.

The original Deep Space was launched in 2023 as a series of only ten watches.  The Deep Space Blue continues with another 10 pieces, however, when it was originally launched, there was a suggestion that 35 might be available.  I can confirm that 10 pieces is the official numbered edition.

Each watch also comes with a lifetime warranty, subject to servicing being carried out by O.G or an approved service centre at the required intervals.

Packaging wise – it’s worth mentioning that rather than a conventional wooden presentation box, the Deep Space Blue arrives inside a polished metallic sphere.  Press an illuminated button and the sphere opens to reveal the watch inside.

OG Watches Deep Space Blue On the Wrist

Our verdict

I first spoke with Oliver and O.G well before his release of the original Deep Space and what I liked then remains evident here – Oliver has his own design lane, which doesn’t feel like a watch that has been designed by looking around to see what everyone else is currently buying.

The Deep Space Blue is actually a fairly simple watch – it tells the time in a traditional style with hours and minutes, but a lot of work has gone into the details and those details make the watch what it is.

Engraving and filling a minute track into sapphire when you could simply print one onto the dial is objectively making life more difficult.  Manufacturing unusual two part hands, developing an individual dial finish, specifying a dedicated version of a Swiss movement and designing your own buckle are all things that could quite easily have been avoided.

The individual star configuration is a clever idea and importantly, doesn’t interfere with the appearance of the watch if you have absolutely no interest in attaching a sentimental meaning to it!

On the wrist, the Deep Space Blue is lightweight and easy to wear.  Daily use should be a doddle, thanks to the low profile meaning easy to get under cuffs and it also has a somewhat unassuming appearance at a glance.  The only negative for me, personally, is that I find it too small @ 38mm, however, I am starting to get the feeling that everyone else has begun gravitating towards smaller case sizes and it seems to also be the way the market is heading.  I am quite stubborn though – I like what I like and I don’t let trends tell me otherwise.

Pricewise we are at £9,600 excluding taxes.  This may be a considerable amount of money to spend on a time only watch from an independent designer who is still establishing his name, however, what makes the Deep Space Blue interesting is where the money appears to have been spent and in my opinion, there is value in the proposition.  There isn’t one enormous complication shouting at you from across the room – instead you get a German manufactured dial with individually engraved stars, an unusual sapphire construction, bespoke 904L hands and case components, a highly decorated Swiss movement and a production run of only 10 watches.

There are thousands of perfectly competent watches available with blue dials and steel cases.  Very few of them could be mistaken for this and you will not likely see another one on your travels if you do decide to buy one – incidentally, as I write this, there is actually only one left of the 10 pieces being made, so you better be quick to make up your mind!

https://www.olivergallaugher.com/

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