Unimatic Adds an Awesome New Proprietary Feature to Its Affordable Tool Watches

Italian independent watch brand Unimatic is mainly known for two things: minimalism and tool watches (well, ok, three if you count constant collaborations).

But just because the brand specializes in minimalist tool watches, that doesn’t mean it can’t still innovate. Most recently, Unimatic debuted Unilight, a new illumination technology that should vastly improve the nighttime visibility of its watches.

The brand has incorporated Unilight on two limited-edition versions of its Modello Cinque, and I get the feeling we’ll be seeing a lot more of the feature in the future.

Unimatic

Turn on the light

There has been something of a trend over the past few years among tool watches and sports watches using innovative solid blocks of lume for hour markers and handsets instead of traditional luminescent paint. These three-dimensional blocks of lume, such as Xenoprint’s Globolight and Tritec’s Lumicast, are made of ceramic that’s been impregnated with Super-LumiNova.

Now, there is another.

Unimatic has unveiled its own 3D sculpted lume technology called Unilight, and while details are scarce — it’s unclear if the material used to make Unilight is ceramic, plastic or something else — I do know that the lume formula used here is green-emission Super-LumiNova C1. Unimatic also says the Unilight indices are all applied by hand, adding a high-end touch.

Unimatic

The effect of Unilight is apparent when looking at the new Unimatic Modello Cinque special editions that feature hour markers made of the material. The stark-white blocks of lume rise prominently and without borders from the dial, creating excellent depth and visibility even in the daytime.

But it’s when the lights go down that the Unilight indices really shine, so to speak, as they offer completely uniform lume and more of it, since their glow emanates from the entire index, even the sides.

I love the look and effect of these types of 3D lume blocks, and I think they’re the perfect match for both Unimatic’s minimalistic style and tool-watch functionality. The fact that the material is apparently proprietary is also a nice feather in Unimatic’s cap.

Unimatic

Pricing and availability

Unimatic features Unilight in two new versions of the Modello Cinque, the brand’s most wearable watch due to its 36mm stainless steel case and 300m of water resistance. These versions have been given a more premium Swiss-made Sellita SW200-1b automatic movement to match the higher-end vibe of the Unilight indices.

Both versions of the watch feature identical matte black dials, but differently finished cases. One is in bare stainless steel, the other has a black DLC coating, which is the one I’d go for. The watches also both come with the same two interchangeable straps: an olive drab seatbelt NATO strap and a black leather strap with quick-release spring bars.

Both versions are limited to 300 pieces each, and they’re pricier than your average Modello Cinque. The stainless steel model is listed at $1,250, while the black version goes for $1,390.

Unimatic

Unimatic Modello Cinque Unilight

Specs

Case Size	36mm
Movement	Sellita Cal. SW200-1b automatic
Water Resistance	300m

• $1,390 at Unimatic

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