Unimatic Releases a Trio of Titanium Watches Including A Travel Ready GMT

I mentioned last week that travel watches in general were having a moment. The options are plentiful when it comes to world timers, affordable GMT’s, and models with 12 hour bezels. But there’s a certain metal that’s garnering for our attention and arguably, is currently sharing the spotlight with travel watches. And that’s titanium. Known for its lightweight, mechanical resistance, and anti-magnetic properties (the list goes on), titanium offers up a completely different wearing experience compared to its steel counterpart. There’s a certain balance that titanium has on the wrist, and visually, the metal has warmer and earthier tones than steel. It definitely gives brands an opportunity to offer something different in their range. 

We’ve been spoiled for choice when it comes to titanium watches in 2022. Notable releases include the likes of the Porsche Design Chronograph 1 1972, the Zodiac Super Sea Wolf Pro-Diver LE, and of course the Tudor Pelagos 39. And then there’s the “bang for your buck” category which is headlined by the Citizen Challenge Promaster Diver and the new titanium Baltic Aquascaphe. Unimatic recently released a trio of titanium watches that will quickly make their way to the top of that affordable titanium watch list. We get two familiar models in the Modello Uno and Modello Due with a titanium case, as well as for the first time, a titanium Modello Uno GMT.

The Modello Uno U1S-TGMT hits the sweet spot, combining the caller-style GMT complication within a titanium case. We first saw this model during a limited edition collaboration between Unimatic and Hodinkee which came in a stainless steel variation. It was quite popular and revealed what a GMT would look like from the Italian watch brand. 

The Modello Uno GMT keeps the same form as their flagship Modello Uno diver, except it weighs 45% less thanks to the Grade 2 titanium construction. It maintains the minimal and subtle design language of Unimatic through and through. The entire case gets a sandblasted finish, and is coupled with a matte dial and a stealthy engraved 24 hour bezel. Aside from the date positioned at six o’clock, the dial is sans numerals, displaying the hours in a combination of circular plots, bar markers and an upside down triangle at twelve. 

The simple and straightforward design provides direct legibility. The stark white markers and silver accents pop off the matte black dial. Each marker, as well as the phantom ladder hands are filled with C1 Superluminova. The GMT hand design is distinct. The arrow itself is hollowed out and outlined in orange. And although there isn’t a filling, the fourth hand still illuminates in the dark since the arrow has been dipped in Superluminova.

The 40mm width (41.5mm with the bezel), 49mm lug to lug, and 11.6 thickness of the Modello Uno case has always looked bigger on paper. But with recent updates to the case to make it thinner, Unimatic has made an effort to make their watches more comfortable and wearable. Now that the Modello Uno GMT (as well as the Modello Uno diver) is made out of titanium, it makes the watch more intriguing for those curious about these specific models. I haven’t had much hands-on time with their watches, but I’m almost positive that despite the size, the new titanium case will offer a different wearing experience.

The Modello Uno U1S-TGMT is powered by the ETA 2893. The GMT complication here is of the caller variety, which means that the GMT hand is adjusted independently of the hour and minute hands. The ETA 2893 sports a power reserve of 42 hours on a full wind, 21 jewels and is tuned to 28,800 bph. Unimatic has opted to forgo the solid steel caseback for an exhibition caseback on the Modello Uno GMT, displaying the ETA 2893 in action.

The other two models included in Unimatic’s new titanium collection are the Modello Uno U1S-T-MP and the Modello Due U2S-T-MP. Both models come in Unimatic’s blue dial and bezel dubbed the Blu Notte. The Modello Uno diver is similar to the Modello Uno GMT in case form, except the markers are filled with BGW09 Superluminova and uses a solid caseback with Unimatic’s signature conversion caseback engraving. The Modello Due is Unimatic’s take on the field watch and comes in a compact 38mm x 47.5mm case. Both models use the Sellita SW200-1 equipped with 38 hours of power reserve to keep time.

The new titanium collection is a welcomed sight from Unimatic. I’ve been on the hunt for a GMT for the longest, and the Modello Unimatic U1S-TGMT just adds to the ever growing list of viable options. The titanium case is definitely the highlight feature, but drilled lugs, 300 meters of water resistance, and the distinct hollowed out GMT hand are what stick out to me.

The Modello Uno U1S-T-MP retails for 1,180 EUR and the Modello Due U2S-T-MP retails for 900 EUR; both are limited to 500 pieces. The Modello Uno U1S-TGMT is limited to just 100 pieces and retails for 1,950 EUR. Both the Modello Uno U1S-T-MP and the Modello Due U2S-T-MP are available directly through Unimatic. The Modello Uno U1S-TGMT is available online directly through Unimatic and Hodinkee. Unimatic