German watchmaker KronSegler launches the SOLARIS SunPhase automatic watch on Kickstarter. Discover its innovative rotating color-gradient disc that visually tracks the sun's daily journey.
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German watchmaker KronSegler is launching its new Solaris SunPhase automatic watch, and it's built around a clever twist on a familiar movement. Instead of a traditional twenty-four-hour hand, this timepiece uses a rotating, color-gradient disc to track the sun’s daily journey across the sky.
The Solaris comes in a forty-two-millimeter stainless steel case that's twelve millimeters thick. It runs on KronSegler's Caliber KS029.026, which is based on the robust Citizen Miyota 9132. This automatic movement beats at twenty-eight thousand eight hundred vibrations per hour, a common frequency for smooth second hand sweeps, and gives you about forty hours of power reserve. KronSegler modified the movement specifically to drive the unique SunPhase disc and then installed the entire caliber rotated one hundred eighty degrees inside the case. This specific orientation places the SunPhase indicator prominently at the twelve o’clock position, visually mimicking the sun’s highest point in the sky, and moves the crown to the nine o’clock side for a distinct aesthetic.
The SunPhase disc itself cycles through a thoughtful progression of colors: deep black for night, transitioning through red for sunrise and sunset, and into a bright orange for midday. An interesting detail is that stars become visible on the disc only during the night portion of the cycle, adding to its visual appeal. This isn't designed for precise time zone tracking, but rather for a visual, at-a-glance sense of the day's progression. The watch also features conventional hour, minute, and second hands, a date window, and a power reserve indicator to keep track of its winding state.
With fifty meters of water resistance, making it suitable for splashes but not swimming, and an anti-reflective sapphire crystal for clear legibility, the Solaris is available in five distinct color variations, offering options for different tastes. The Kickstarter launch price for the KronSegler Solaris is approximately seven hundred fifty-five dollars, positioning it as an accessible entry point for a unique complication.
For all the details and to see more about the SunPhase complication, head over to the Veloce Journal.
German watchmaker KronSegler is launching its new SOLARIS SunPhase automatic watch on Kickstarter with a price of about $755 (€697). Instead of a traditional 24-hour hand, the watch uses a rotating, color-gradient disc to track the sun’s daily journey across the sky. The 42mm automatic watch is built around a modified Citizen caliber and presented with a direct-to-consumer model that sidesteps traditional marketing budgets.
42mmCase
~$755 (€697)Price
~40hPower Reserve
50mWater Res.
Founded in Glashütte in 2004, KronSegler has built a catalog of watches around specific themes from science, culture, and history. The SOLARIS continues this approach by creating a mechanical representation of the day-night cycle. The launch campaign is notable for using only real prototype photos, forgoing computer-generated imagery entirely.
At the heart of the SOLARIS is its unique time display. It replaces the utility of a simple 24-hour hand with a visual, interpretive disc. This "SunPhase" indicator completes one full rotation every 24 hours, showing the progression of daylight through a palette of colors.
The disc’s gradient moves from deep black, representing night, to a deep red for sunrise. As the day progresses, the color shifts to a bright orange for midday, then back to red for sunset before returning to night. A field of stars on the disc becomes visible only during the night portion of the cycle.
This isn't a tool for tracking a second time zone with precision. It’s an astronomical complication designed to provide an at-a-glance sense of the day's progression. The watch also includes conventional hour, minute, and second hands, a date aperture, and a power reserve indicator.
A Rotated Movement and Left-Hand Crown
To create the SunPhase display, KronSegler started with a Citizen 9132 base movement. This caliber already includes a 24-hour indicator function. KronSegler’s engineers modified this output to drive the rotating disc instead of a hand.
More unusually, the entire movement is installed rotated 180 degrees within the case. This clever flip positions the 24-hour sub-dial register at the top of the watch, where the sun would naturally be in the sky. As a result, the power reserve indicator moves to the six o’clock position.
By installing the Citizen 9132 movement upside down, KronSegler places the SunPhase display at 12 o'clock, creating a more intuitive "sky" at the top of the dial.
This orientation also shifts the crown to the left side of the case at the nine o’clock position. KronSegler states this is an ergonomic choice to prevent the crown from digging into the wearer’s wrist. It's a functional decision that also sets the watch apart visually.
Caliber KS029.026: The Engine Inside
The movement powering the SOLARIS is designated the Caliber KS029.026. It is based on the Citizen Miyota 9132, a reliable automatic movement from a well-established Japanese manufacturer. It operates at a modern frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz).
The caliber contains 26 jewels and offers a power reserve of 38 to 42 hours. This is a proven workhorse movement often used by smaller brands to build watches with custom complications without the massive expense of developing a new base caliber from scratch. The rotor is gold-plated and engraved, visible through an exhibition case back.
This approach echoes what we’ve seen from other brands focused on unique displays. Much like the Xeric Volta Double Retrograde re-imagined time-telling with its dashboard-inspired indicators, KronSegler focuses its innovation on the dial-side module, leaving the core timekeeping to a robust third-party engine.
Case, Dial, and Five Variations
The SOLARIS comes in a 42mm 316L stainless steel case that measures 12mm thick. It features a brushed finish and a screw-down exhibition case back. The watch is fitted with an anti-reflective sapphire crystal and is rated for 5 ATM (50 meters) of water resistance.
The dial has a two-level construction with a matte enamel finish. A central pastel golden-yellow circle is common to all models, while the outer ring color varies. The hands are diamond-cut with a brushed finish.
KronSegler is launching the watch in five distinct color combinations:
Steel-Blue: Silver-tone case with a blue outer dial ring.
Gold-Blue: Gold-tone case with a blue outer dial ring.
Steel-Red: Silver-tone case with a red outer dial ring.
Gold-Orange: Gold-tone case with an orange outer dial ring.
Steel-Black: Silver-tone case with a black outer dial ring.
The gold-tone cases use a dual-layer IPG and genuine gold plating. Each watch comes on a cowhide leather strap with a calfskin grain, available in black, blue, or red to match the dial. The strap is secured with a butterfly folding clasp.
The KronSegler Philosophy
KronSegler’s business model is central to the SOLARIS project. The company explicitly forgoes large advertising spends, influencer marketing, and traditional retail distribution. This direct-to-consumer strategy, refined over 22 years, aims to channel funds directly into the product.
According to the brand, this approach allows them to offer the SOLARIS at a Kickstarter price of €697. They calculate that traditional marketing for a similar launch would add over €300 to the cost of each watch. Any dialhead looking for an unusual complication without the associated four-figure price tag will recognize this value proposition.
KronSegler's direct-sales model bypasses traditional marketing costs. The brand states this saves over €300 per watch, allowing the sub-€700 launch price for the SOLARIS.
The brand was founded in Glashütte but deliberately forgoes the "Glashütte" designation of origin. This gives them the flexibility to use high-quality Japanese and Swiss base movements without the added expense of meeting the region's strict value-add requirements.
The Kickstarter campaign has a goal of €30,000, with an initial production run of up to 500 watches. Delivery for these first units is targeted for Christmas 2026.
The Takeaway
The KronSegler SOLARIS is a 42mm automatic watch aimed at collectors who prioritize novel mechanical displays over brand prestige or in-house movements. Its key feature is the color-gradient SunPhase disc, powered by a modified Citizen 9132, offered at a sub-$800 price point via a direct-to-consumer Kickstarter campaign.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the KronSegler SOLARIS SunPhase?
The SunPhase is a mechanical complication that uses a rotating disc to display the 24-hour day-night cycle. Instead of a hand, it shows a color gradient representing the sun's position: black for night, red for sunrise/sunset, and orange for midday.
What movement does the KronSegler SOLARIS use?
It uses the Caliber KS029.026, which is based on the Japanese Citizen Miyota 9132 automatic movement. It runs at 28,800 vph, has 26 jewels, and a power reserve of approximately 40 hours. KronSegler modified the movement to drive the SunPhase disc and installed it rotated 180 degrees.
How much does the KronSegler SOLARIS cost?
The Kickstarter campaign launch price is €697 (including German VAT), which is approximately $755 USD. The brand has indicated that the standard retail price after the campaign will be higher, around €1,300.
Is KronSegler a Glashütte watch brand?
KronSegler GmbH was founded in Glashütte, Germany, in 2004. However, the company intentionally does not use the "Glashütte" designation of origin on its watches. This allows them the flexibility to use non-German base movements, such as the Japanese Citizen caliber in the SOLARIS.
When will the KronSegler SOLARIS be delivered?
For the initial Kickstarter campaign, KronSegler is targeting delivery by Christmas 2026. The first production run is planned for up to 500 watches.
Case
42mm x 12mm, 316L stainless steel
Movement
KS029.026 Automatic (base Citizen 9132), 4 Hz, ~40h power reserve
Crystal
Sapphire, anti-reflective coating
Water Resistance
50m / 5 ATM
Strap
Cowhide leather with butterfly folding clasp
Price
~$755 USD (€697 on Kickstarter)
GALLERY
WRITTEN BY
Nick
I originally started VELOCE to put my skills to work, hone my app design and web development practices, and dive deeper into the world of horology. I wanted to learn more about the watches, the brands, and the incredible people behind them - the creators, the designers, and the collectors. I love discovering new timepieces and sharing their stories with the world. VELOCE is my ultimate passion project and hobby, the creative space I head to after my full-time job to build something I truly care about.
By Nick·October 21, 2026· 6 min read
