Unimatic X Massena LAB Modello Uno

There is a time and place for a modern wristwatch — in the field. 

If you're out digging up Unicorn bones in the Scottish highlands, battling space aliens with adaptive camouflage in some equatorial rainforest, defending your urban keep against a raging zombie horde - whatever - chances are a modern timepiece would be a better tool for the job. It has something to do with their inherently superior water resistance, durability, accuracy, as well as their ease of replacement and all that.  We won't bore you with the practicality of it all.

Unimatic has been a favorite modern brand of ours since it launched in 2015. Based in Milan, Italy, it’s the brainchild of two young Italian gentlemen who had a desire to construct minimalistic tool watches built to exacting standards that have classically-industrial designs and are heavy, tough, and beautiful.

This particular Unimatic is a U1-MLB, a 1970s-inspired special-edition collaboration with Massena LAB, one of the foremost boutique brands in contemporary horology. With a limited production of just 200 units, it features a 41.5mm stainless steel case with a sapphire crystal, a stylized crown, a unidirectional rotating dive timing bezel with a minimalistic black insert, a luminous matte black dial with a matching handset, and a standout 'ribbed' orange rubber strap with a signed steel pin buckle.

This piece is powered by Seiko's workhorse Caliber NH35A automatic-winding movement and is accompanied by all its goodies!

This is a fantastic chance to own a limited-edition collaboration from two of the best names in modern watchmaking — don’t pass it up!

Based in Milan, Italy, Unimatic is the brainchild of two young Italian industrial designers who wanted to construct minimalistic tool watches built to exacting standards — the sort of watches that have classically industrial designs and are heavy, tough, and beautiful. Beginning in 2015, Unimatic began producing playful but sophisticated riffs on notable tool watch tropes and quickly hit upon a winning formula: Their watches, which are generally produced in limited runs, often sell out within hours or days, much to the frustration of adoring fans the world over.

From the minimalist U1 diver to the brutalist U2 field watch to the sophisticated U3 chronograph, the company’s wares are thoroughly suffused with Italian design sensibilities while still adhering to the old “form follows function” mantra of the Bauhaus. That their pricing largely runs under $1,000 — even when including a mechanical movement — is a testament to the taste and intentions of their founding partners, Giovanni Morro and Simone Nunziato, who founded Unimatic “as one-hundred percent a game.” In other words: a Unimatic is meant to be fun.

In recent years the brand has moved more and more into the collaboration space, teaming up with everyone from Massena LAB to HODINKEE (on a particularly cool GMT, we might add) to, of all companies, Viacom (in order to license the likeness of a certain aquatic, pineapple-dwelling cartoon sponge). The founders’ love for vintage watches is palpable and fully visible in the destro crown-equipped cases, California dials and other influences one finds in these limited-edition runs.

If you’re the type of person who appreciates vintage watchmaking but loves a good bargain — as well as a bit of fun — then you owe it to yourself to pay close attention to what these two Italian gentlemen are doing.

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.