These Werenbach watches began as the Soyuz MS-02, a rocket that bore American and Russian crewmembers on Expedition 50 of the International Space Station. About two minutes after the launch, the rocket had climbed to about 85 kilometers, where it jettisoned the four first-stage boosters that got the astronauts into orbit. These rockets fell to Earth, landing in Kazakhstan, where Werenbach founder Patrick Hohman was waiting with his team. The Soyuz series of rockets is the most reliable and frequently used launch vehicle in history, and its early iterations played a central role in both the Sputnik launch and the first manned mission into space. That's why it is in no way an exaggeration to say that the wristwatches are made from a significant part of space travel history.

But even for such a steadfast rocket, space travel isn't exactly a walk in the park. In fact, each wristwatch shows a unique pattern of fine scratches across the face—a record of exactly what the materials went through as they blasted through the atmosphere. There's another way to tell exactly what role the materials had played as well: the color. The Kickstarter campaign rewards backers with one of four different watches, each sourced from a different part of the rocket. Those with a black or silver dial were cut from the interior of the booster, while those with a gray face came from the outside. The orange-faced watches, meanwhile, were sourced from the original exterior cladding of the rocket. It's all a pretty incredible way to experience a slice of space travel firsthand.

Almost every museum you go to has a strict no-touching policy. But every once in awhile, you find one that lets you get your hands on the exhibits, and it's amazing what a difference that can make. It gives you a sense of the object's authenticity far beyond what sight alone provides. That feeling has something to do with a phenomenon known as psychological essentialism, and a lot of it comes down to the way the human mind works. Werenbach realizes the value of this phenomenon even outside of their watches, so most donations to the Kickstarter include get a keychain made of the same material the watches are made out of. Knowing you have an actual, tangible piece of a significant object—say, a small chunk of a rocket launched into space—helps you gain a greater sense of connection to and understanding of the history that defines us.

If you'd like one of Werenbach's spaceborne rocket watches, head over to their Kickstarter to take a look at some of the donor rewards. Besides a watch of your choice, you can receive a keychain made from the rocket material, or an autographed copy of a novel by Werenbach's founder Patrick Hohman.