What we’re about to discover today is exceptional. Exceptional in its design, execution, and what it stands for. The reunion of two microbrand owners, driven by their shared passion for horology and dedication to making a different type of watch accessible to all of us. Inspired by the stars and dedicated to all bipeds roving the earth, their first collaboration piece is ravishingly superb and ridiculously attainable for what we’re offered. The two people behind this project are Jason Edward from Santura Watches in Indonesia, and Ranndie Seah from Bauche Watches in Singapore. The former recently successfully launched his first collection called the Novus on Kickstarter, the latter ambitiously attempted to launch a first collection called the Stargazer Carina Nebula which didn’t meet the success it deserved. As it happened to many entrepreneurs and inventors since time immemorial, a first attempt should always be succeeded by a second until the recipe has been perfected and proven to work. 

Through the Novus, Jason Edwards designed the chassis which constitutes the basis for their collaborative release called the Nebula, whilst through the Stargazer, Ranndie Seah invented the masterpiece which makes up its visual spectacle. The Nebula comes in two variants, the Amethyst and Amazonite, the latter being the sample I got hands-on with. A triple-layered dial with exotic materials, an all-rounder sports watch, limited in production on account of the complexity of its fabrication, and priced at an attainable $599 full retail and $499 on pre-order starting today, Monday, December 8th, 2025, and limited to 75 units in each version. While I won’t claim to know or understand how this watch is made, I will share this: it isn’t a Métiers d’Art (hand-crafted) watch in the traditional sense of the discipline as the dial couldn’t have been made by hand at this price point, however it mesmerizes me as much as a real Métiers d’Art watches do and more on account of the tiny price tag that is attached to it.

The Santura x Bauche Nebula Amazonite is a gem and I’m glad to be telling you about it. 

Specifications 

There is a lot to be said about all aspects of this collaboration piece, some of which could fit within either the specifications or design sections of this review. What might be helpful is to first begin with the most basic of information you should be aware of which are the mechanics of the Nebula and what it can do for you. Regardless of how gorgeous the dial is, the Nebula is an everyday sports watch which Jason Edwards and Ranndie Seah spec’ed out to be so. As mentioned earlier, the basis for this piece is the case of the Santura Novus which was modified to best suit the dial, whilst retaining most of what seems to have made it an excellent everyday sports watch case, from what I could tell looking at the photos and specs. The case is made of 316L stainless steel and measures 38mm in diameter, 44mm lug-to-lug, 10.7mm thick and comes with a 20m lug width. It wears incredibly well on my 6.50”/16.5cm wrist as it is perfectly proportioned for my flesh-and-bone apparatus and because it is relatively flat and the lugs turn down dramatically towards the wrist. 

For his release, Ranndie Seah opted for 904L stainless steel which Rolex is first known to use for its high-end sports watches which was a bold bet to place. Though I didn’t see the Stargazer Carina Nebula in the metal, it was a chunkier watch as it came with a diameter of 41mm, a lug-to-lug of 47mm and a thickness of 12.95mm. The duo therefore opted for superb dimensions which will work with a great variety of wrists which already contributes to making the Nebula Amazonite approachable to many. They added a screw-down crown and case-back which endow this model with 100 meters of water resistance which is plenty for all of us in 99% of humanly thinkable situations. Moreover, the crown measures 5.7mm and has a conical profile and well-machined knurling which makes it easy to grab and operate despite its full polished treatment, which adds a little extra everyday sporty vibe to the Nebula. The top crystal is a flat piece of sapphire complemented by inner anti-reflective coating which luckily makes it easier for us to gaze at the dial. 

Sapphire is also the material Santura and Bauche opted for on the semi see-through case-back, thanks to which we can take a look at the premium Miyota 9039 caliber which beats at 4Hz, comes with 42 hours and has a stated accuracy fresh-of-the-box of -10/+30 seconds per day. (By experience Miyota’s typically run in the single-digit daily variation, unregulated that is.) But that is not all folks. Underneath the rear sapphire the brands placed a decorated plate which shows a young kid stargazing in the dark of night, the shape of which follows that of the rotor so that when both are aligned, we can only see the most interesting parts of the caliber. And since the Nebula is indeed a sports watch, it was not deprived of good applications of the BGW9 SuperLuminova on the hour and minute hands and applied hours markers—all of them. Indeed, the hour markers come in various shapes and unique designs to fit the theme of the watch: a Nebula, a celestial body of gas and dust only visible in the night sky. 

Design

Looking again at the Bauche Stargazer Carina Nebula we see the basis for the dial of the Nebula Amazonite. A multi-layered and multi-finished dial inspired by the Carina Nebula, a large, complex area of bright and dark nebulosity in the Carina Constellation which is a short 8,500 light-wears away from Earth. (Thanks Wikipedia!) To translate the Nebula’s complex visual structure, Ranndie Seah built the dial in three layers each made up of different materials: colored mother-of-pearl, Abalone mother-of-pearl, and IP-treated meteorite stone. I suppose that having selected these materials added to the final price tag of the watch which is why Jason Edwards and Ranndie Seah chose different, more attainable, but no less gorgeous materials to make the dials of the Nebula with: Amazonite stone for the bottom layer which is a limited naturally-occuring mineral stone; green fumé mother-of-pearl for the middle layer which is more readily available; blue aventurine for the top layer which is a man-made type of glass resembling a naturally occurring metamorphic stone. 

Even though I may have made it sound as if choosing these materials for the dial was an easy process, it wasn’t, neither was it to work with and layer them onto the dial, as each was machined not only to fit the circular shape of the dial but also within the case and one on top of the another. The bottom layer of Amazonite has a marble-like texture where teal-blues and whites mix-in with each other like light clouds in the summer sky, which is where Santura and Bauche decided to place two custom-shaped applied hour markers which together form a rocket and a plume of smoke following it, evoking mankind’s restless chase of the cosmic unknown. While the mother-of-pearl layer displays waves of lighter and darker shades which remind me of how the sunlight behaves when penetrating the depth of the ocean. All the while the aventurine represents the night sky where flakes of bright matter mimic the shimmering stars from a distant galaxy or Nebula. The step organization of the three layers is as perfectly executed as it is superb to look at. 

Designing and creating the dial in this way is where no microbrands had gone before and where most, should they had attempted to do something similar, would have stopped. Santura and Bauche did not stop there as they decided that the rest of the dial should be as pleasant to look at as its central part, as the entirety of it is occupied by applied hour markers of various shapes. As we saw earlier, a space rocket at the nine o’clock but also a multi-faceted inverted triangle at the twelve, and angular, pear-shaped ones everywhere else and enlarged at the three and six o’clock. Around the dial there is a radially brushed disc welcoming the minute track whose singular design is made of paint-filled machined dots and applied and polished elements shaped like the nose of a rocket. Moreover, the Nebula is in fact extremely legible as well as being visually stunning, thanks to the hour markers and minute track and the faceted and lumed pointy Dauphine-shaped hour and minute hands and orange painted seconds hand. 

Jason Edwards and Ranndie Seah literally thought about everything and worked out each design and technical detail of this watch with surgical precision. Earlier we talked about the case and how perfect it is paired with the dial, as it comes with average dimensions which will please many, and a compact physical and visual format. The mid-case is narrow and flanked by upper and lower polished chamfers which stretch throughout the entirety of the angular lugs. The latter are superbly designed and machined, giving the Nebula a modern sporty appearance, which is complemented by the angular and fully polished fixed bezel. The combination of its dimensions, of duality of its finishing, and of how the lugs appear separated from the case, give the Nebula indeed a strong everyday sports watch attitude which beautifully and strongly clashes with the complex and refined appearance of the dial. What the two brands have created for $499/$599 USD is exceptional in so many ways. 

The Heart of the Matter

There are two hearts of the matter with the Santura x Bauche Nebula Amazonite. First, the fact that two microbrands joined forces to create an exceptional timepiece. I emphasized on the micro nature of Santura and Bauch as both brands Kickstarted their debut collections which indicates that they are just at the beginning of their respective horological careers. In other words, they both took great risks by collaborating on such a daring release, which is notable as Bauche found the strength to take another stab at independent horology despite its unsuccessful beginning. This goes to show that indeed sometimes we must pick ourselves back up after a failure insofar we have faith in our ideas. The second heart of the matter lies in the beautiful intricacy of the Nebula’s design and construction as well as its wearable nature. More often than not, bespoke and artisanally crafted watches, as well as “designer” watches are poor time-telling devices, but the Nebula isn’t. Beyond its multi-layered and exceptional dial it is a sensical piece of everyday horology the likes of which I’ve never seen before. 

In other words: it is unique, beautiful, and legible.  A rare combination of adjectives at this price point. 

Conclusion 

Every once in a while I have the opportunity to check out an exceptional watch which redefines the nature of micro and independent horology and of what can be accomplished now compared to decades prior or even two years ago. Which in itself is amazing. More than that, some watches have the power to get us interested in a type of horology we didn’t know could be for us, whatever that is and at whatever the price at which it could be sold. And that is what the Santura x Bauche Nebula is in both of its versions: a remarkable creation whose exceptional dial is complemented by a cleverly designed case, great specifications, and an outstanding price tag of $499 USD on pre-order and $599 USD full retail. As a reminder, both versions are limited to 75 pieces each and shipping is expected for January of next year. So you won't have long to wait before getting this singular horological creation on your wrist. 

Thanks for reading.