This Stunning Chronograph Combines Menswear Heritage with Field-Watch Vibes

Todd Snyder, the man, worked with the co-founders of Unimatic to create the perfect watch for his label.

the black case and olive green dial of a Unimatic chronograph watch by Todd Snyder

Published March 5, 2025

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“I’m an obsessive Pinterest user,” admits Todd Snyder in the press brief for his newest collaboration.

The red-hot designer, fresh off a triumphant New York Men’s Week show, is explaining how he stumbled across the independent Italian watchmaker Unimatic.

a black chronograph watch sitting on a deask — Todd Snyder worked directly with Unimatic’s co-founders to design the Modello Tre.

“I was instantly drawn in and thought, ‘What is this? These are incredible,'” Snyder continues. “I started incorporating Unimatic into my seasonal mood boards… When I finally met Giovanni [Moro] and Simone [Nunziato] from Unimatic, I knew — this was the watch.”

Snyder has steadily ascended the menswear mountain since leaving his position as Men’s Creative Director for J.Crew in 2009. His talent for design is undeniable, but his eye for collaboration has been the secret to his brand’s success.

a black chronograph watch with an olive strap — The Modello Tre comes on an olive “seatbelt” NATO strap with black hardware.

To list all the hits Todd Snyder, the company, has offered, either selling other brands directly or co-designing pieces would take all day. But the newest one is easy to spot and might be the best one yet.

The Todd Snyder x Unimatic Modello Tre is a minimalist chronograph inspired by vintage military field watches and adorned with Snyder’s signature aesthetic. He personally worked with Moro and Nunziato, Unimatic’s co-founders, to design every detail of the watch.

A signature watch

Snyder is no stranger to watch collaborations. He has a long-standing relationship with Timex dating back to his stint at J.Crew, including a few exclusive designs.

Todd-Snyder-x-Timex-Marlin-Blackout-gear-patrol-full-featured-2 — Todd Snyder played a huge role in reviving Timex’s reputation by selling this Marlin watch.

Timex’s 2017 revival of the Marlin line for Snyder arguably did more to revive the American watchmaker’s respectability than any other act.

As beautiful as the watches Snyder has collaborated on in the past are, none of them had a look that immediately invoked the esteemed designer’s distinctive touch. But that is exactly what the Modello Tre possesses.

a black chronograph watch on a man's wrist — The Modello Tre has a 41.5mm case that fits comfortably on most wrists.

The sandblasted black DLC-coated steel case, matte olive dial and creamy-white subdials and hands blend rugged and refined in the same splendid cocktail as Snyder’s clothing line.

Olive green is admittedly, and obviously, Snyder’s favorite color, appearing all over his clothing and on the walls of his stores. The traffic cone orange that tips three of the dial hands appears as an accent color throughout the designer’s collections.

a black Unimatic chronograph watch with an olive green dial — The olive green on the dial is the same color that decorates the walls of the Todd Snyder Liquor Store in New York.

Vintage military apparel and gear have been a foundational influence for Snyder since his time at Ralph Lauren in the 1990s. So it is only fitting that his signature watch is clearly inspired by old field watches, down to the olive-drab NATO strap.

Affordable but illusive

The Modello Tre is built on Unimatic’s U3 chronograph line with a 41.5-millimeter case that has a 300m dive rating. The thick stainless steel body houses a screw-down crown and pushers for exceptional water and pressure resistance.

the signed case back of a Unimatic watch by Todd Snyder — The Modello Tre screw-in case back features both brands and each watch’s number in the 100 piece collection.

It is equipped with a double-domed sapphire crystal for optimal dial visibility and strength. The hands are coated with Super-LumiNova C3 lume for a long-lasting glow in low-light conditions.

a black chronograph watch with lume hands glowing — The hands of the Modello Tre are coated in lume.

Even with that impressive case build, the Modello Tre still costs well under $1,000 because it utilizes a Seiko-produced VK64 meca-quartz movement. The chronograph hands are operated mechanically, giving a clean hand sweep, but the watch is powered and regulated by a quartz mechanism.

the box for a Unimatic x Todd Snyder watch — The Modello Tre comes in a decorative box modeled after a water-tight dive case.

Of course, a watch that is this beautiful, well-made, and affordable has a big catch. Only 100 units were produced, so it will be a challenge to acquire.

a black chronograph watch laying on a black tarp — With only 100 units available, the Modello Tre will become intensely coveted the second it is released.

We can only assume that Snyder, having poured his entire design ethos into this watch, didn’t want it to be everywhere. Much like a musician not wanting their song to be in a commercial, where overrepresentation can diminish the beauty.

With scarcity built in from the start, the Todd Snyder x Unimatic Modello Tre is a true instant classic, as coveted and cherished as a rare vintage reference.