Unimatic
- Founded
- 2015
- Based in
- Milan, Italy
- In our catalog
- 3 watches from $735 to $1,100
Unimatic takes the tool watch and removes everything that isn't needed. Most of its watches are matte black or bead-blasted steel, with plain dials, very little text and no decoration. It's a design-school approach to watchmaking, and it has made Unimatic a favorite among people who care more about how a watch looks and feels than about what's inside.
History
Industrial designers Giovanni Morro and Simone Nunziato started Unimatic in Milan in 2015. They have described it as a project they did for fun, applying what they knew about product design to a subject they loved. The first watch, the Modello Uno (U1), was a diver inspired by 1960s military and tool watches.
The brand works in limited, numbered runs, and many editions have sold out within hours. It has done a long list of collaborations with stores, magazines and other brands, including Hodinkee and Massena LAB.
Signature models
- Modello Uno U1-AEG: The core diver: a 40 mm steel case, a dial with almost nothing on it and a rotating bezel.
- Modello Uno U1-GMT-AEB: The same idea with a GMT hand for a second time zone.
- Modello Quattro U4-AEB: A more compact, simpler model in the same spirit.
What it's known for
Unimatic watches use dependable Seiko automatic movements, and the cases and dials are produced in Italy and Switzerland. The model codes (U1-AEG, U4-AEB) are part of the industrial aesthetic.
Price and positioning
Unimatic watches mostly cost $700 to $1,000. Lorier, Baltic and Halios sit at similar prices with warmer, more vintage designs. Unimatic is the cooler, more architectural choice.
Unimatic watches in our library
- Unimatic Modello Quattro U4-AEB ($735 to $805)
- Unimatic Modello Uno U1-AEG ($875 to $955)
- Unimatic Modello Uno U1-GMT-AEB ($1,005 to $1,100)