Direnzo x Sophie Cassaro: Space Girl and the Joy of Serious Fun

There’s a moment in every good collaboration where two creative worlds align; one grounded in tradition, the other orbiting joyfully in imagination. That’s precisely what happened when Sergio Direnzo, the founder and designer behind Direnzo Watches, and content creator Sophie Cassaro (of @sophies.watch.world) decided to make something out of this world.

The result? The Direnzo x Sophie Cassaro “Space Girl” DRZ 04R Mondial: a playful, Jetsons-inspired take on Direnzo’s sleek 38mm Mondial collection. It’s a limited edition release that manages to capture the essence of both Sergio’s design philosophy and Sophie’s exuberant personality. It’s also a bright reminder that watchmaking doesn’t have to be so serious all the time; that beauty, whimsy, and sincerity can coexist on a single dial.

Sophie recalls how quickly things spiraled into something special. “It all started in March 2024,” she says. “After doing a couple of campaigns with the DRZ02R and the DRZ06, Sergio reached out to ask my opinion on his new Mondial DRZ04R 38mm collection, specifically the shade of pink one of them would be.”

That seemingly small color choice led to a phone call. “It was a six-minute phone call (I checked the receipts), which would change my life,” she jokes. “Sergio asked if I would like to design a dial of my own as a collab.”

One hour and three minutes later, Sophie had her concept. “The Jetsons watch,” she says. “Specifically, Jane Jetson.”

Within fifteen minutes of that, Sergio had produced the first render. The creative chemistry was instantaneous. “After many back and forths discussing the exact shade of pinks, purples, oranges, playing with the date, adding the lollipop to green, it was over the course of a few months until the first dial prototype arrived,” Sophie says. “Sergio is just amazing. He showed me blind trust and always made me feel heard.”

That mutual trust became the foundation of Space Girl. And in an industry where design-by-committee is often the norm, the fact that this watch came together so organically is refreshing.

For Sergio, collaborations aren’t something he approaches lightly. As the sole creative force behind Direnzo, he’s built a reputation for clean, geometric designs that balance vintage cues with a distinct sci-fi flair. “When I begin working on a new model or collection,” he explains, “it usually starts with the idea of a watch I’d love to own but don’t yet have in my personal collection.”

The Mondial, first launched in 2021, was his answer to the integrated bracelet trend, filtered through his lens. “The Mondial was born from that very idea,” Sergio says. “I wanted an integrated-bracelet watch, but one designed entirely with Direnzo’s signature style.” He calls it a tribute to Gérald Genta, whom Sergio “regards as the most radical and visionary watch designer of his era”. However, the Mondial carries a distinct Direnzo personality: elegant, architectural, and just a little bit space-age.

So when Sergio began working on a smaller 38mm version of the Mondial, Sophie was naturally one of the first people he wanted feedback from. “I had always admired her unique and playful way of showcasing timepieces,” he says. “She brings a fresh and creative perspective to the hobby.”

Their friendship, it turns out, started in the most down-to-earth way imaginable. “We lived not too far from each other, so I suggested meeting in person,” Sergio recalls. “We both brought our kids along, hoping they’d play together, but instead, they spent the entire time screaming!”

“That chaotic afternoon somehow cemented our friendship. From that moment on, I became an even bigger fan of her work,” he said. 

When the idea of a collaboration surfaced, it wasn’t a marketing move. It was the natural outcome of creative respect. “Instead of just discussing colors, I ended up proposing something far more exciting, a collaboration watch, a limited edition designed by her,” Sergio says. “She immediately said yes and quickly came up with the Jetsons-inspired concept and the stunning layout that we can admire today.”

The Space Girl is unmistakable. Built on the compact 38mm Mondial case, it shares the same architectural design and integrated bracelet that define the Direnzo aesthetic, but with a chromatic personality entirely its own.

At its heart is a dial that transitions from a deep electric blue to a pinky-mauve matte edge. “I really wanted the two shades of Jane’s dress to be represented,” Sophie says. “The electric blue almost violet sunburst going into a pinky mauve purple matte exactly in line with the indices, so it frames it; it’s just so special.”

There are Easter eggs scattered throughout, too: the green “spaceship” lollipop seconds hand, a nod to the Jetsons’ little green saucer; orange indices symbolizing Jane’s fiery hair; and the decision to remove the date window entirely to keep the dial clean.

“The green spaceship lollipop is definitely my favorite small detail,” Sophie admits. “It’s such a fun and whimsical touch.”

The name Space Girl came from Sergio. “That was all him!” Sophie says. “Such a great and catchy name.”

And it fits perfectly. There’s something undeniably retro-futuristic about the design, like a vision of tomorrow seen through the optimistic lens of the 1960s. It’s playful without being childish, futuristic without losing warmth.

“What I loved most about this collaboration,” Sergio says, “is that we were able to create a watch that truly blends our visions and energies. It’s a design I probably would never have come up with on my own. It feels so fresh and original, yet it still carries elements that are unmistakably Direnzo.”

That blend is key to the Space Girl’s charm. It’s not a departure from Direnzo’s design language; it’s an expansion of it. “It brings something fresh and playful,” Sergio continues, “yet the retro-futuristic theme inspired by The Jetsons is clearly present. It’s a wonderful balance between nostalgia and modernity, which is exactly what I aim for in every project.”

Sophie’s presence in the watch community has always been defined by her personality: bright, authentic, and unfiltered. Her Instagram, @sophies.watch.world, is filled with colorful backdrops, playful captions, and an infectious sense of enthusiasm.

As she puts it, “You can be serious about watches, but not always serious.”

That ethos runs straight through the heart of the Space Girl. “It’s a watch made to spread joy, fun, and yet still be easy to wear and of great quality,” Sophie says. “Not everyone is going to like this watch, not everyone is going to like me, but that’s okay. I did this collaboration with a friend I respect deeply.”

There’s a freedom in that honesty. And it’s precisely why the watch works.

When asked what she hopes someone feels the first time they put it on, her answer is simple: “Pure childlike joy.”

It’s the kind of answer that could sound glib in the wrong context, but with Sophie, it’s genuine. The Space Girl isn’t about status or specs (though it’s beautifully made and Swiss through and through). It’s about a feeling, the same feeling a kid might have watching The Jetsons or staring up at the night sky.

Collaboration can be tricky, especially when one side is used to controlling every detail. But Sergio insists that working with Sophie was anything but difficult. “She’s full of ideas and has a fantastic eye for design,” he says. “I think that really shines through in this piece.”

Sophie agrees. “We were very much in agreement the whole way,” she says. “We both agreed it looked better without the date!”

More importantly, she learned something from the process: “That it’s so important to work with people you trust, who don’t dampen your ideas, no matter how fantastical.”

That word trust comes up often between them. It’s perhaps the most telling part of this story. Sergio trusted Sophie’s instincts. Sophie trusted Sergio’s experience. Together, they found a way to merge their creative voices without diluting either one.

At first glance, Space Girl might look like a vibrant, playful limited edition, and it is, but it’s also a statement.

It’s a statement that watchmaking can be inclusive. That collaborations between independent brands and creators aren’t just marketing gimmicks, they can produce meaningful, joyful, and genuinely fresh designs.

Sophie puts it best: “The industry could learn a lot from creators. Please show watches on men and women in every campaign. Please have fun. You can be serious about watches, but not always serious.”

In an era where independent watchmaking sometimes risks blending into a blur of homages and monochrome minimalism, Space Girl dares to smile. It’s not trying to be everything to everyone. It’s trying to be something special to someone.

Every watch needs a story, and every story needs a little magic. For Sophie, if Space Girl had a tagline, it would be “Out of this world.” And if Jane Jetson herself could wear it? “Look George, it matches my outfit!”

When asked what she’d wear with it, Sophie’s not at a loss: “It’s the kind of watch which pops on the wrist regardless,” she says. “If you wear dark navy blue, it subdues the watch, but if you wear a bright white t-shirt, it shines just as bright. Just have fun with it, I definitely do.”

That’s the heart of it: fun. Real, visible, contagious fun, built on a foundation of quality Swiss craftsmanship and mutual creative respect.

Because when you strip away all the hashtags and limited-edition talk, Space Girl represents something the watch world could use more of: joy, diversity, imagination, and a shared sense of wonder.

And maybe that’s what makes it so special. It’s a watch that looks forward, not backward, while reminding us why we fall in love with anything, and when we reach the heart of the Space Girl, it’s impossible not to fall in love.