I’ve been looking from afar at Unimatic for a few years and really like what they are doing. Genuine limited edition pieces, superior design and very affordable. Based in Milan, Italy, Unimatic burst into the watch scene 5 years ago with a range of designs that really made watch enthusiasts take notice. Founded by two industrial designers, Giovanni Moro and Simone Nunziato, their creations are significantly different to many startups on the scene.
The Unimatic Modello Quattro U4-A originally launched in December 2020 with a limited run of 500 selling out in hours. When I saw them for sale on their website again last week, I immediately pulled the trigger, wanting a modern-day beater to add to my collection. Arriving in a pelican style hard case, the packaging starts to tell the story of this exciting new model. It’s a beast!
The imposing 316 brushed stainless steel fixed monoblock bezel case design looks like it would come out of an Apocalypse totally unscathed. With a 40mm case featuring drilled lugs for easy strap changes and an 8mm screwed-in oversized crown, this is strikingly different to most watches on the market.
VINTAGE INSPIRED
The military styled design and the vintage-inspired black dial has painted indices in Super-LumiNova® C3 pale green lume. The phantom laddered hands and a reverse lollipop second hand featuring an off-white tip. It really is a great looking dial. With Unimatic branding and 1000ft/300m markings above 6 o’clock, the dial is clutter-free and very easy to read under the anti-reflective coated 2.8mm sapphire glass.
Keeping the cost of these watches at a very affordable rate, they feature a Seiko NH35A caliber automatic movement with a 41-hour power reserve, tuned to 21,600bpm. With the bonus of hacking seconds, this is the movement of choice for all Unimatic models. This might be an issue to some, however is tough, reliable and very easy to service.
The U4-A arrived wearing a 22mm olive drab nylon NATO with brushed hardware and pairs well with the look. It wears well on my 17.5cm wrist, and at almost 14mm thick, is just on the edge of not too chunky.
After wearing it for a week, It’s definitely a keeper and just what I was looking for. This is probably going to be a strap monster too. I’ve already changed the strap out for a green canvas Diloy strap, allowing the case to fit closer to my wrist than the supplied NATO.
STUNNING DESIGN
The detail and thought the team went to designing this watch is worth mentioning. The brushing on the case is perfection, especially round the fixed bezel. The dial has so many features worth mentioning. I love that the 6 o’clock hour marker is horizontal and that the branding and writing on the dial are kept to a bare minimum. The reverse lollipop second hand with the white tip is beautifully thought out. Even the 8mm oversize screwed in crown makes changing the time so easy.
At €425, this is fantastic value. With so much love for the brand, I do wonder if they should now start looking at a more premium movement as an option. Either way, you can’t ignore what a stunning watch this is. More information can be found on the Unimatic website.
DIMENSIONS
40mm
22mm
47mm
13.8mm
Neil: I think it’s the plainness of the watch that first catches your eye. The vast expanse of the stainless steel ring around the dial, where a numbered bezel might normally sit, or the lack branding at 12.00. The first glimpse of this watch kind of fools you, yes there is no bezel, but it doesn’t need one, its not a diver. It will do what it needs to do, tell the time very clearly, and be extremely tough in any condition. The branding lower down the dial, where other text would normally be, is very clever. Now I’ve seen the branding and the design, I know that this will more than likely outlast most watches, if it were to be damaged in a fall or at work. The wearer will come off worse, but the Unimatic will just shrug it off. It doesn’t need to compete with other tough utility watches, it just stands there and says, “I’m tough, i can take it”, give me more!
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