Can a watch be all black and still serve its primary function? Apparently, yes. With a matte black index dial, off-black concentric subdials, and a sandblasted black DLC stainless steel case and bracelet, the just released UNIMATIC x Maxfield Modello Tre U3S-M Chronograph Watch demonstrates the stylistic feasibility of layering tone on tone. It comes down to carefully calibrating nuanced contrasts. The new design isn’t just an aesthetic flex though.
The UNIMATIC tonal black timepiece – developed with legendary Los Angeles concept store Maxfield – is hyper performative. Engineered with an automatic chronography, the watch has a water resistance of close to a 1000-feet.
Its look, in fact, reflects the idea that aesthetics should be in service of function or at least derive from it. Long an arbiter of style – across an eclectic array of apparel, collectible furnishings, and accessories – the L.A. showroom has always somehow fostered a monochromatic, utilitarian approach.
The new design is also consistent with the rest of UNIMATIC’s offerings: the brand’s signature double-domed crystal casing with inner anti-reflective coating and a robust 8mm crown, paired with 5.5mm screw-in pushers.
The Modello Tre U3S-M is equipped with a Swiss-made automatic Sellita SW510 BH b caliber. Operating at 28,800 BPH, it delivers a 62-hour power reserve, hacking seconds, and chronograph counters for seconds and 30 minutes. Visible through the sapphire exhibition caseback, the engraved rotor features Maxfield’s signature branding.
Already recognizable, this distinctive identity is only a decade old. UNIMATIC was established by Politecnico di Milano industrial design graduates Giovanni Moro and Simone Nunziato to re-interpret the best qualities of the past in a present cadre. When compared to the myriad mid-range to luxury timepiece piece producers out there, the newcomer brand provides top-level design, craftsmanship, and performance at a competitive price point.
The limited edition product is currently only available in 30 individually numbered editions. It can easily transition from being a bold statement piece, even just a piece of contemporary jewelry, into a hyper-efficient and durable tool; for a runner as much as a deep water diver. Move over Tissot.
The UNIMATIC x Maxfield Modello Tre U3S-M is available for $4,295 exclusively at Maxfield Los Angeles via maxfieldla.com.
Photography courtesy of UNIMATIC.