Borna Bošnjak In addition to exclusive movement rights, Studio Underd0g has updated the 01Series case, making the crown larger for easier winding and slimming the case by 0.7 mm. The ST-1901B, which continues to be installed in the 01 series, has a new finish and improved accuracy evaluation. The 9-hour pre-order period begins on November 19, 2024, with prices starting at $650 USD.
When Seagull announced it was increasing the minimum order quantity for its hugely popular ST-19 movement, it spelled doom for many microbrands that had long relied on affordable hand-wound chrono calibers. As a result, many micro products have recently moved away from Sellita SW500 and started using it as the next best option, but the prices have increased significantly across the board. Studio Underd0g is one of those brands that owes much of its fame, in part, to the ST-19. The brand has continued to use the ST-19 in its food-inspired 01Series chronographs since its inception. When news broke of the 03Series, Salm0n powered by Sellita, it was almost certain that Studio Underd0g would follow the same path. However, in this article we present the third generation of the Studio Underd0g 01Series, thanks to an exclusive agreement with Seagull. It includes many other improvements to the “iconic” design. This word is famous as a buzzword thrown around in watch journalism, so I’m usually very careful when using it. Thanks to the Chat GPT response proudly featured above the 01Series Gen 3 press release, I’m confident using this product. It is written as follows: independent roots. ” If the AI says it, it must be true, right?
This is just the kind of brash, self-deprecating humor you’d expect from Richard Benn’s brand, but to his credit, he’s one of the most famous faces in the micro-space. I built one of these. Following in the footsteps of the aforementioned Salm0n, the dial now reads “Assembled in Great Britain” instead of the “mechanical manual winding” of previous generations.
However, there is no need to worry. Four familiar names, Watermel0n, Mint Ch0c Chip, Desert Sky, and Go0fy Panda, all make a comeback with 01Series Gen 3. Lume is limited to spindly phones, but it often shows up again. If a luminous dial is what you’re looking for, Studio Underd0g has something even better.
But the most important change is in the case of 01Series Gen 3. The diameter is still a compact 38.5 mm, but the case has been slimmed down to 12.9 mm. This is quite impressive for a Seagull power watch with a very domed sapphire crystal, and is an improvement of 0.7 mm compared to its predecessor. This is a welcome improvement. The Gen 2 never felt overly thick, but its compact diameter and 44.5mm lug-to-lug distance definitely has the benefit of making the watch slimmer overall. The crown, on the other hand, is quite thick to help wind the movement. Water resistance remains at 50 meters, which is quite acceptable for a watch of this style.
There’s plenty of news about the move beyond the exclusive deal. First, the ST-1901B will be the movement installed in all 01Series watches from this point on. This means two main things. The 01Series Gen 3 watch is one of three brands to exclusively use the swan neck regulator, a feature introduced in the second generation of the model. This allows for finer adjustment of the 50-hour movement, which is reflected in the brand’s nominal accuracy, which is regulated by UK-based Horologium to -10/+15 seconds per day.
Another change is purely aesthetic. The baseplate is now black to increase the contrast of the bridges, and the display caseback has been made slightly wider, allowing for a slightly better view of the movement. Given the completely industrial finish, I’d normally be happy with a closed caseback, but the Venus-derived structure and moving parts when operating the chrono look really very cool and for this price range. It looks better than most others.
Studio Underd0g 01Series Gen 3 pricing and availability
Studio Underd0g 01Series Gen 3 will be available for pre-order from November 19, 2024, with a 9-hour reception period from 15:00 to 00:00 GMT. All orders placed during the period will be fulfilled. The first 600 orders are expected to arrive before Christmas, with additional orders expected to arrive in January 2025. Price: $650 USD, available soon at T+T Discovery Studio.
Brand Studio Underd0g Model 01 Series Gen 3 Reference 01WMB 01DST 01GPB 01MCBR Case dimensions 38.5mm (D) x 12.9mm (T) x 44.5mm (LTL) Case material Stainless steel Water resistance 50 meters Crystal Sapphire front and back Dial Watermel0n, Desert Sky, Go0fy Panda, Mint Ch0c Chip Lug Width 20mm strap Saffiano leather, steel pin buckle Movement Seagull ST-1901B, manual winding Power reserve 50 hours Functions Hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph Release date November 19, 2024, coming soon to T+T Studio Price $650
