Studio Underd0g has launched the 02SERIES Mantis, the first special edition of its second-generation 02SERIES. It pairs the updated Gen2 case with a vivid green gradient dial and a heavy dose of lume, and it’s only up for grabs for nine hours – on Tuesday 1 September – before it’s discontinued for good.
The inspiration comes from the praying mantis, and the dial chases that vivid, almost radioactive shade with real commitment. In daylight, it’s a gradient that runs from light green to dark green, and the collection’s signature translucent dial makes the hour markers appear to float – they’re filled with yellow to keep things legible. In the dark, it does something more dramatic and seven layers of X1 GL C3 Super-LumiNova make the entire dial glow a uniform, intense green. Founder Richard Benc promises “nature’s most vivid green and luminosity that borders on absurd.”
That’s really the headline here. Most lume dials get one or two coats of Super-LumiNova; seven layers turn the whole surface into a single light source rather than a scattering of glowing markers. Studio Underd0g reckons it’s the brightest glow ever to come off one of its watches.
Underneath the theatrics is the updated Gen2 case, now a touch slimmer at 11.5mm. It measures 37.5mm across with a 46mm lug-to-lug, so it should sit happily on most wrists. You get 316L stainless steel beneath a sapphire crystal, a signed crown, a screw-down caseback and 100m of water resistance.
Inside is the Sellita SW200-2 M, an automatic movement running at 4Hz with hacking seconds and a 63-hour power reserve – an improvement over the previous generation. As with every Studio Underd0g, the Mantis is assembled in Great Britain at the brand’s in-house facility, The D0ghouse.
To match a dial this loud, the watch comes on a deep forest-green washed suede strap from The Strap Tailor, in a shade called ‘Herb’ – 18mm at the lugs tapering to 16mm at the steel buckle. It’s fitted on quick-release spring bars, so swapping it takes seconds and no tools.
The Mantis is priced at £875, with free worldwide shipping. While the core 02SERIES collection is now permanently available, the Mantis will be sold direct from underd0g.com on 1 September for nine hours only, from 3pm to midnight BST. Once that window shuts, it’s gone for good. A small number will also be reserved for buyers who book an appointment at The D0ghouse.
Price and Specs:
More details at Studio Underd0g.
