I’m going to have to raise my hands and admit that I can’t be completely unbiased when it comes to talking about the new Unimatic x Massena LAB Modello Quattro U4S-T-SPW. That’s because it’s the third and final model in their NASA Space Exploration trilogy, joining the Modello Quatro UT4-SPT “NASA Artemis II” from May and the original Modello Uno U1-SPG “NASA Artemis” from March, which I own. While the Modello Quattro U4S-T-SPW is the end of the collaborative triptych, they are certainly going out with a bang.
Where the Artemis and Artemis II both feature orange cases made from stainless steel with a vibrant orange Cerakote coating, the U4S-T-SPW is instead made of titanium. Which gives it improved lightweight properties due to the strength to density ratio of titanium. It still has a Cerakote coating, which is a liquid based ceramic coating that enhances durability and scratch resistance, protecting the metal.
This time though, the colour is bright white instead of orange. White and orange space suits have been used throughout the history of space exploration with the primary difference being white is used for missions where astronauts are expected to exit their ships in space (the white reflecting thermal radiation) and orange ones are for internal use only (better visual contrast). Though the precise shades of orange and white used across this series actually pay tribute to NASA’s current SLS rocket, rather than historic missions. For the U4S-T-SPW it really works nicely as a capstone for the trilogy, feeling connected to the previous two without being a replica of what they’ve already done.
What makes the new piece stand out though is the fact that it has a meteorite dial, revealing its Widmanstätten pattern. So not only is the watch produced in honour of space faring, but part of it has also actually been in space. It also pairs nicely with the white case thanks to its silver colour. If you’re a fan of space, there isn’t anything out there so thematic as a meteorite dial, except maybe one of the few watches that have actually been to space and which pop up at auction every couple of years.
Beneath the meteorite dial is housed the Sellita SW200-1b automatic movement with 38-hour power reserve. It’s the first Swiss movement in the NASA Space Exploration trilogy, with the previous time only version featuring a Seiko quartz number and my original Artemis GMT housing the Seiko NH34A.
The Unimatic x Massena LAB Modello Quattro U4S-T-SPW meteorite edition is limited to 60 pieces at a price of €2,500 (approx. £2,160), which is more than double the price of either of the other models. However, that price increase does make sense in the context of the upgraded titanium case, meteorite dial and Swiss movement. It’s exclusively available at Geneva Watch Days from September 4th – 7th.
Price and Specs:
More details at Unimatic.
