Check out Blub, a nixie tube clock whose retro-cool way of telling the time reminds us of the early space age. It’s a Kickstarter project, and it’s already met its goal.

If you’re not familiar with nixie tubes, they first came into existence in the 1950s as a high-tech way to show numerals electronically.

Since then, LEDs and taken over that task. Now, nixie tubes are incorporated into unusual devices like this little clock that can also display the date and temperature.

Australian entrepreneur Duncan Hellmers was looking for a nixie tube clock online, but he didn’t find any designs he liked. So he decided to create his own, coming up with this aluminum-clad device that exudes simple, elegant style.

I especially like the special edition black Blub, which you can see in this gallery:

A funding goal for the clock was set at $16,256 (Australian dollars), that’s $14,261 in U.S. dollars. Want one of these retro-chic timepieces? It’ll cost you around $350, plus $20 to ship from Australia. That’s not a bad price as far as nixie tube clocks go. Its estimated delivery date is May, 2014.

Take a look at Duncan’s video to see Blub in action. The video is short, sweet and simple, just like his nixie tube clock:

Graphics and video: Kickstarter, Duncan Hellmers. Gif courtesy Wikipedia