Italian watch design meets the spirit of backcountry adventure in the Unimatic UT2-NST.
Most Unimatic watches can be spotted across a room. Though the Italian brand is remarkably young – founded just over ten years ago in 2015 – they’ve become synonymous with their minimalist design language in a way very few microbrands have been able to manage.
Unimatic is dedicated to their visual identity, but also to the business of their craft. The brand is known for prioritizing limited edition releases, which makes every production run special and provides unique opportunities for consumers to connect with a watch beyond the scope of the Unimatic name. They regularly collaborate on these LE launches with like-minded partners who offer their own spin on favorite references. In past years, names like Hodinkee, Massena LAB, and Todd Snyder have hitched their wagons to Unimatic’s lineup – melding their own aesthetics with Unimatic’s industrial silhouettes. In a world of vast and impersonal catalogues that dominate the modern watch market, Unimatic offers enthusiasts something different – small batches, affordable exclusivity, and an identity-driven wearing experience.
One of the brand’s newest collabs this summer is with Rocky Mountain Watches for Natural Selection. This limited run of 100 pieces uses the popular Modello Due model as its base – one of the most popular field watch options in Unimatic’s core collection. The Natural Selection Tour, founded by snowboarder Travis Rice in 2019, showcases the talents of the world’s top athletes across four domains: surf, bike, snow, and ski. Their partnership with Rocky Mountain Watches in the capacity of official timekeeper is a fitting one – Natural Selection athletes are forged by the rugged terrain of their sports while RMW is guided by the philosophy that watches are meant to be worn.
On the wrist, it’s evident that every design decision in the Modello Due UT2-NST can be traced to the ethos of its creators. Each feature serves the whole in an intentional way and deserves a deeper look. The case is an obvious starting point, as it’s one of Unimatic’s best known design cues. At 38mm in diameter, the UT2-NST is a quintessential field watch. Though the lug to lug distance of 47.5mm means this reference wears a bit large for my 5.75 inch wrist, sub-48mm lug to lug measurements tend to fit the majority of wrists very well and this watch is no exception.
At a total height of 15.7mm with the crystal (12.7mm without), this is a thick watch with a significant side profile and a fixed monoblock bezel. The case is crafted from 316L stainless steel with a sandblasted finish – it’s worth mentioning this heavily-textured grain means light scratches can be better hidden than on a polished steel counterpart – an important feature for anyone using the UT2-NST for outdoor excursions. The double-domed sapphire crystal has interior anti-reflective coating to aid in legibility in various conditions.
One of the most notable specifications is the proprietary 360° TPU anti-shock system integrated with the case. The protective shell and dial guard ring crafted from thermoplastic polyurethane insulates the movement from heavy impact and environmental stressors commonly found in sports and other outdoor activities. Perhaps the most impressive part is it can add a significant level of resilience to the watch while keeping additional weight to a minimum. The UT2-NST is powered by a quartz Seiko VH31A caliber, a change from the automatic movements used in other Modello Due options offered by Unimatic. The replacement ensures accuracy and reliability when seconds matter most – at ±15s per month and a power reserve of around two years, the UT2-NST keeps ticking long after the action stops.
The matte black dial captivates on the wrist with a geometric wonderland of design. The lack of a date window ensures optimum space for the artwork to take center stage, with the gray Natural Selection Tour logo sitting in the middle, anchoring the handset. The solid and dotted lines rippling out from the center of the dial are more than mere decoration – they are a reference to terrain maps used by athletes in backcountry sports. A subtle gray railroad minute track around the outside of the dial contrasts nicely against the orange tipped reverse lollipop seconds hand. Circular indices echo the terrain route markers, with horizontal dashes marking 3, 6, and 9 o’clock. The prominent hour markers provide the ultimate playground for the GL C1 Super-LumiNova®, which provides a bright green glow lasting through the night – or (though unverified by this land-locked Coloradan author) a good chunk of the way down to the 300m water resistance depth rating.
One of my favorite aspects of the UT2-NST is the variety of quick-release strap options included in the speciality RMW x NST tin container. On the surface, the inclusion of four canvas straps in addition to the black one it ships on only seems like a generous offer. However, the color options – international orange, cool gray, alpine blue, and white – specifically link the watch to the geography of NST’s events. All hues reflect the incredibly varied terrains represented on tour. This level of detail further highlights the time and dedication put into this collaboration by all of the teams involved in bringing this watch to life. Though NATO straps are often the default option for adventure-leaning aesthetics, the decision to make these nylon straps a two-piece set was a smart one. The watch has a high profile on its own and NATO straps typically add another 1.5mm on the wrist. These UT2-NST strap options offer the functionality of a NATO without all the extra bulk.
Overall, the Unimatic x RMW Modello Due would be a great addition to any field watch collection. It’s as robust as the athletes represented by the NST logo on the dial – it can take a fall, scratch, or splash, and come out ticking. For enthusiasts who appreciate the interplay of design and durability, this will be a limited edition that earns its place on the wrist… not just in the watch box.
The Modello Due UT2-NST is now shipping, exclusively from Rocky Mountain Watches. They are priced at USD 849 and can be purchased directly through the RMW website.
Get yours here: https://rockymountainwatches.com/products/unimatic-ut2-nst-limited-edition
