We are living in the golden age of the watch collab. From high-low collabs within the industry like Blancpain x Swatch to celebrity collabs like Hodinkee's Ed Sheerhan x G-SHOCK to out-of-left-field brand crossovers like Jack Mason's Dr Pepper GMT, it seems like everyone is collaborating with everyone else these days. But perhaps no brand has become more associated with watch collabs than Italian independent brand Unimatic, which seems to roll out a new collaborative limited edition every other week.
But what's unique about Unimatic's many collabs is that I'm not sick of them yet. The brand's ultra-cool minimalist aesthetic has shown itself to be hyper-adaptable to a number of brand partners, whether it's the outdoor ruggedness of Huckberry or a stonewashed denim-inspired look from a Japanese streetwear designer, making each new collab feel surprisingly fresh. For its latest team-up, Unimatic has turned to legendary motorcycle brand Royal Enfield for a ride-ready take on its Modello Quattro military watch.
Dubbed the Royal Enfield x Unimatic Modello Quattro ref. U4-RE, the watch isn't too dissimilar from the standard Modello Quattro, which is part of the brand's small core lineup of "Classic Edition" watches that are always in production. Like the standard version, the U4-RE is a 40mm stainless steel diver with a unique sterile steel bezel, a sapphire crystal, 300m of water resistance and is powered by a Seiko-made NH35A automatic movement.
But since this is a limited-edition version of the Modello Quattro, the Royal Enfield version also tweaks the format in some unique ways. The most noticeable change, and the most interesting to my eye, is the treatment of the case. The entire case has been heavily sandblasted, giving the watch a sort of shimmery effect that ought to look great out in the sunshine while cruising down the highway on your wrist. The dial layout is largely unchanged, but the modern white lume has been swapped out for a vintage-inspired Super-LumiNova GL old radium lume that perfectly complements the gold-toned minute track that's inspired by the golden pinstripes seen on some of Royal Enfield's classic bikes.
The blank space typically seen under 12 o'clock on Unimatic's dial has also been jettisoned here to make room for a red Royal Enfield logo, while the caseback features more branding from the Indian bike brand, including its "Made Like a Gun" slogan. The watch includes a pair of straps to fit between its 22mm lugs: a black NATO strap with black DLC brushed hardware and a two-piece cognac leather strap.
Now, for the bad news. As is the case with all of Unimatic's collabs, these watches are very limited in number. Just 122 watches are being produced — coinciding with the 122 years that have passed since the original Royal Enfield's 1901 founding in England — and you have to enter a lottery for a chance to buy the watch. You can enter the draw from now until November 16 at 12:00 PM EST, and the watch is priced at €550 (~$587).
