As if the release of Starfield wasn’t good enough, Bethesda Game Studios had to release an exciting collector’s edition alongside it.
The Starfield Constellation Edition comes with a collectible steelbook case, a digital game download with the code etched onto a Credstik, a Constellation patch, and the pièce de résistance: The Chronomark Watch.
This is a bad arse looking smartwatch and it comes in an even cooler case.
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Bethesda did a similar thing with the Pip-boy alongside Fallout 4, although you needed to use your phone as the display.
I’ve been wearing the Starfield Chronomark watch for a week. It boasts a smattering of random exploration features, fitness tracking, weather display, notifications and music control — just to name a few.
But is this a legitimate smartwatch and fitness tool, or just a gimmick?
I’m leaning towards the latter — but at least the Chronomark Planetary Exploration Instrument, as it’s called on the watch label, looks the part.
In the game, your watch is given to you by Barrett, one of your many Constellation companions. This watch acts as your HUD, displaying planet O2 levels and more.
But the real world watch is very far from the technological advancements of the video game.
I charged the watch using the supplied dock before syncing it with my iPhone 14 Pro. This dock can also be turned sideways to use the watch as a bedside clock.
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It’s a custom two pronged magnetic charging dock, so you won’t be able to use just any USB or wireless charger.
The watch needed a firmware update out of the box, which took about 5 minutes. Having played around with the factory firmware before I updated I noticed a few settings missing, including a detailed time and date feature — it’s much easier to set the the with the app anyway.
The watch’s navigational buttons are intuitive and simple enough, they also feel good to touch.
The left face buttons are up and down. The right top button is essentially SELECT or MENU and the bottom right button is BACK.
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The battery lasts a couple of days from a full charge, this is with all available settings turned on — including vibration and push notifications.
While there’s seemingly a step/fitness tracker on the device, there’s no way to keep tabs on your step count. I couldn’t tell you how many steps I’ve actually taken today, I can only show you a progress bar.
When I hit my step goal for the day, I was expecting the watch to mark the milestone. I was hoping for a planetary explosion, a grav jump animation… Or anything at all. Instead, the progress bar just reset itself.
The also watch doesn’t sync with Apple’s Health app either.
Despite flaunting a weather feature on the device, I couldn’t find any way to get the device to connect to the iPhone’s weather app — or any weather app for that matter.
It’s on the watch, clear as day, but Weather is missing in the Starfield Watch app.
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There are a few functions built into the watch; a barometer that tests for atmospheric pressure, an accelerometer to measure speed, a magnetometer to point you in the direction of a planet’s pole, and a temperature gauge that measures – you guessed it – the temperature.
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The moon phase function looks extra official, I found myself habitually scrolling through the moon phases at my desk.
The watch can push notifications from your phone to the device, but I found they’re often delayed, they’ll pile up and you have to clear them all individually.
You can also control your music with it.
Design wise, it feels good and looks great. The pre attached silicon band was excellent. I wore it for days without any irritation. The fabric band in the kit was also a nice touch.
Engraved into the back of the watch are the words “For all into the Starfield” and “Chronomark Planetary Exploration Instrument”.
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Ultimately, it’s a cool looking gaming-themed watch but it lacks on features.
If you’re looking for a smartwatch that has all the bells and whistles — look elsewhere. But if you’re happy to wear a techy timepiece with a Starfield theme then go for it.
That said, it’s likely difficult to find the Chronomark without heading to eBay.
In my opinion, the Starfield Chronomark Planetary Exploration Instrument is better left on display in its fancy-themed, protective case.
Quest Daily was gifted the Constellation Edition of Starfield by Bethesda.
