A London brand with a sense of humour
By Sam Okafor, London ยท
Studio Underd0g is a small London company that made its name with fruit-coloured chronographs, and I like it for refusing to take watches too seriously. The 02 Series Mantis is the green one, and the colour is properly cheerful, the kind of green you see on a spring bud rather than an army jacket.
37.5 mm across and 11.5 mm thick, 18 mm lugs, hand-wound with 63 hours of reserve, sapphire, an open back, 100 m. That's a pleasant set of numbers and the size suits the playful dial. 11.5 mm is a touch thick for a 37.5 mm case, and in profile you notice it.
The downside is that playfulness narrows where you can wear it. It's hard to wear with a suit, and plenty of people will find it a bit much at 1,140 to 1,225 dollars. If you want something that makes you smile every time you check the time, it's a great choice. If you want one watch for everything, it isn't.