I’ve been following Canuck Timepieces for quite some time, and over the years I’ve had the chance to see the brand evolve. Canuck was founded by James Williams, whom I’ve also had the pleasure of getting to know along the way. More recently, I spent some time with the 4th Dimension, Canuck’s collaboration with AndoAndoAndo. So when James showed me what was coming next, I was naturally curious to see which direction the brand would take.

And it’s certainly a different one. The first Signature model The Space Explorer steps into retro-futuristic territory, combining a distinctly 1970s-inspired tonneau case with an unusual aviation-inspired dial.

Photos are courtesy of Vaskar alias watchman.ca on Instagram.

At first glance, the case is probably the thing that catches your eye. Measuring 39mm across and just 9.7mm thick, it has that unmistakable tonneau shape without going overboard with the vintage inspiration. With a lug-to-lug of only 42.5mm, it should also wear quite compactly on the wrist.

But the dial is where things get really interesting.

The watch uses a two-piece aviation-style dial, replacing the traditional triangle usually found at 12 o’clock with a radiant Maple Leaf motif. It’s a small but rather fitting detail, tying the design back to Canuck Timepieces’ Canadian heritage without making the watch feel overly patriotic.

There will be three colourways available: Deep Orbit Black, Cathode Ray Green and Nebula Velvet Purple. Each gives the design a very different personality, with the latter two especially pushing the retro-futuristic aesthetic.

Inside is the hand-wound Seagull ST1700, while the rest of the specification is pretty much what you would expect from a modern everyday watch: a 316L stainless steel case, sapphire crystal with AR coating, 100 metres of water resistance and BGW9 Super-LumiNova.

The watch comes with two straps, yes you read that well! There’s a signed FKM strap featuring a digitalised texture, as well as an elastic metal bracelet developed in collaboration with Vario. The bracelet also comes with an easy-link removal system, meaning you can adjust it without any tools.

The new Signature will be priced at $650 CAD (around $478 USD) and is scheduled to be released on September 26.

Would I rock it?

Absolutely. And if I had to pick one, I’d definitely go for the Nebula Velvet Purple.

I love watches that aren’t afraid to experiment with colour, and I think this one is a great example of why. Somehow, the purple just works with the design. The tonneau case, the futuristic aviation-inspired dial and that particular shade come together in a way that gives the watch a lot of personality. I’d actually love to see this design in salmon or pink as well. I think that could look fantastic.

I think using the Seagull ST1700 actually makes a lot of sense for this particular watch. It’s a manual-winding movement with a solid track record, and at just 3.22mm thick, it helps keeping the overall case profile down to a very reasonable 9.7mm, not to mention it also keeps the whole package very affordable.

There’s also a practical side to the decision. Premium Japanese movements from brands such as Miyota can be increasingly difficult for smaller independent brands to source, with availability sometimes limited and larger companies taking up significant portions of the supply. For a smaller brand like Canuck, that can make sourcing the right movement considerably more complicated.

All that said, I think a watch like this is really about the design more than the specifications. The specs are good, but they’re not what makes this watch interesting. It’s the kind of model that catches attention on the wrist and is bound to start a conversation.

Especially in the purple colourway, I think James has created something that feels genuinely different without simply being another variation of a familiar microbrand design. Add the elastic metal bracelet from Vario to the mix, and the whole thing becomes even more interesting.

For me, that’s what makes this one stand out. It’s a little unusual, has plenty of personality, and is definitely something I’d enjoy wearing.

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Link to the watch:

The Space Explorer

Specifications:

• Case Material: 316L stainless steel
• Case: 39mm, 42.5mm lug to lug and 9.7mm thick
• Colourways: Deep Orbit Black, Cathode Ray Green, Nebula Velvet Purple
• Crystal: Sapphire with AR coating
• Movement: Seagull ST1700, manual winding
• Water Resistance: 100m
• Lume: BGW9 Super-LumiNova
• Bracelet: Elastic metal bracelet with tool-free Easy Link removal, made in collaboration with Vario
• Lug Width: 20mm
• Price: $650 CAD / approximately $478 USD
• Release Date: September 26, 2026

Photos are courtesy of Vaskar alias watchman.ca on Instagram.