Nina is scally
The overarching watch trends of the 2020s were integrated bracelets, steel and sports watches of the 1970s. Since then, faceted bezels, patterned dials and metal bracelets have been combined over a thousand times, with many famous brands putting their own spins, but many small brands too. Unidesign Watch Co. is a micro-brand that took part in the fun with Model 1, and stands out for its accessible price range and its compact, slightly rectangular case. The elongated shape polishes the square silhouette decorated with three-dimensional waffle dials and bevelled with the very important nostalgic charm of Royal Oak or Nautilus. In its second release, Unidesign changes direction with a design inspired by classic cars from the same era, with the Auto Classic giving it a bit of a softer overall look.
Car lovers can easily see why they love watches too. Timekeeping and motorsport are like two peas in a pod. The partnership between IWC and Mercedes, Taghoire and Red Bull, Ferrari and Richard Mill shows how fine-grained mechanisms, precision engineering, and sometimes iconic design blends together car and watchmaking and shared charm . Whether it pays homage to the legendary racing car or watches that use the colours of famous drivers, watchmakers have been hoping to have been working on motorsports for decades. It has been drawn from the heritage of the world of automobiles, adrenaline and success. While Unidesign’s Auto Classic is unlikely to appear in the colouring of F1 cars anytime soon, there is always space to be considered a design at an attractive price, and this watch is about to fit in.
case
The single signature used the model’s design to cut out the corners of the auto classic case to achieve a secondary sporty look. In a sense, the Auto Classic case is an evolution of its original. This time, the square case is not sharp and chic. Furthermore, it is smoother and softer carved. Compared to other classic car-inspired watches I’ve seen, the Auto Classic is rather original. The brand gives the case a vertical brushing with gentle bent corners and lugs. Meanwhile, the high-polished bezel and its six screws evoke the highlights of classic car chrome.
The case measures a compact 37mm diameter 37mm with a lug-to-lug measurement of 46mm. These proportions should ameliorate the unwanted awkwardness that is often associated with square watches, and are suitable for a time when it influenced design. Note that using 100 meters water resistant, screw-in crowns and sapphire crystal will wet the leather straps.
Dial
Motorsport’s inspiration continues on the dial. This is the most obvious effect that comes from a small second subdial. Located in the lower right corner of the dial, it resembles a tachometer, colored in the surround of the brand logo and shortened to UDC
Unissign offers five shades for the new Auto Classic. These consist of light gray with dark gray cutouts, black and burnt orange, light blue with grey cutouts, black and gray, dark blue and gray compositions. All indexes and main handsets during the time of day benefit from Lumicusto technology, which produces 3D mold components, and the concentration treatment of the Super Luminova mixture gives the surface a long lasting and glow.
Movement
Unidesign appears to focus on performance, reliability and affordability by choosing another Japanese move from Miyota. Like the Miyota Movement, which was chosen as Model 1, the Miyota 8N40 is a two-hand hackable caliber with 21,600 vibrations per hour and a total of 46 hours of power reserve. This is one of Miyota’s entry-level moves, from the 8000 series, and while it’s not as great as the Premium 9000, it’s a completely right alternative for this price range. Interestingly, the 8N40 is actually a “skeletonized” movement, but is hidden behind a solid caseback, and is probably chosen for a small second hand position.
Centrally Auto Classic Pricing and Availability
Unissign Watch Co. Autoclassic Co.’s Kickstarter campaign will be released on February 18th. Price: USD 350 (First 24 hours only)
Brand Unidesign Watch Co. Model Auto-Chalic Case Dimensions 37mmm(D) x 11mm(T) x 46mm(LTL) Case Stainless Steel Water Resistance 100m, Screw-In Crown Crystal Front Dial Light Gray, Black and Orange, Light Blue, Black, Dark Blue Bracelet, Strap Brown Leather, Steel Pin Buckle Movement Miyota 8N40, Automatic Power Reserve 46 Hours Function, Availability for a few hours, Minutes, Small Seconds 350 USD (First 24 Hours)
