In the midst of the craziness that was Geneva Watch Days last month, we had the opportunity for a flyby visit to Unimatic to discover the new Unimatic Modello Due Ref. U2-GMT. It’s the first GMT reference in the Modello Due collection, joining the GMTs of the Modello Uno range (including my personal NASA Artemis edition). The Modello Due though is Unimatic’s signature field watch, giving it quite a different aesthetic to the large diver.
The combination of a field watch and GMT function is a well-established one, the most famous example being the Rolex Explorer II with its fixed 24-hour bezel. The concept is that while you can use the display to track multiple time zones as normal, you can alternatively use it as a form of day/night indication if your adventures take you to places without natural light, such as an extended spelunking (cave exploration) expedition.
Aesthetically, the Unimatic Modello Due Ref. U2-GMT retains the Italian brand’s typical quasi-industrial, utilitarian appearance by keeping the bezel as smooth, brushed steel to match the slightly tonneau shaped case. The GMT scale is instead positioned on the periphery of the dial, paired with a large, triangular 24-hour hand. The case itself measures 38mm in diameter with 300m water resistance, making it highly qualified as an adventure watch no matter the environment. Small enough not to obstruct wrist movement while retaining a good level of legibility.
Speaking of which, the dial makes use of a classic dive watch style display instead of the typical field watch Arabic numerals. Traditionally a field watch uses numerals instead of markers in order to avoid confusion in the heat of military exercises and the few extra seconds it takes to process the time when you have to convert the markings into the relevant time. For a civilian watch, that’s less important than making sure the watch is brightly lumed and easy to read in dark conditions i.e. in a cave, so I think it makes sense to use a dive style display here.
Powering the watch is the Seiko NH34A automatic with 41-hour power reserve. It’s one of the most common off the shelf GMT movements in the industry, widely trusted for its combination of accessibility and ease of repair (any service centre worth its salt should be familiar with this movement). Speaking of accessibility, the Unimatic Modello Due Ref. U2-GMT is priced at €690 (approx. £600). For a practical, daily wear watch with 300m water resistance and a GMT display, that’s pretty solid value.
Price and Specs:
More details at Unimatic.
