Some of the Best Affordable Tool Watches Just Got Way Tougher

New to Unimatic’s permanent collection, these everyday tool watches are rated to one of the world’s toughest standards.

Published July 24, 2024

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Few independent watch brands have garnered as much attention as Unimatic since the company launched in 2015. Its minimalist timepieces have won a legion of fans for their pared-back aesthetic and approachable price tags — an agreeable combo that makes Unimatic hard to ignore and easy to love.

To date, the company has only offered four timepieces as part of its permanent collection, with a steady stream of limited-edition watches keeping things fresh and interesting.

However, Unimatic looks to be doubling its evergreen offerings with the release of a new series called Toolwatches that not only adds extra durability to its permanent collection but lowers the barrier to entry with what is now the cheapest watch in its catalog.

Unimatic Toolwatches

$425 at Unimatic

Unimatic Toolwatches

The new collection spans two models and four variants. The first is the Modello Uno ref. UT1, a time-only dive watch powered by a Seiko VH31 quartz movement. It features orange accents and comes on a black nylon strap.

Its sibling is the Modello Uno GMT ref. UT1-GMT — effectively the same watch but with a date a window 6 o’clock and a GMT aperture that functions as a secondary timezone display. It swaps the Seiko movement for a quartz Ronda 515.24D.

Then there’s the Modello Quattro ref. UT4 and Modello Quattro GMT ref. UT4-GMT, which do the same dance in functionality and movements but drop the rotating bezel of the UT1 models for a classic field watch experience.

An added durability standard

Though the orange accents and GMT apertures would likely be enough to draw the eyes of collectors, the real selling point of the collection comes down to a proprietary 360-degree protection system that’s rated to MIL-STD-810H, the US military standard that goes back to the 1960s.

plastic shell in a tool watch — The protective shell of the Toolwatches protects their inner workings against shocks and vibrations.

According to Unimatic, it dropped test samples of the watches more than two-dozen times onto a concrete surface from 1.22 meters, targeting “each surface, corner and edge.” What’s more, each timepiece is rated to 300 meters of water resistance.

Though the MIL-STD-810H standard is seldom used in high-end watchmaking, it can be commonly found in the smartwatch industry. The Apple Watch Ultra is famously rated to MIL-STD-810H, as are many Garmin devices.

Price and availability

Unimatic has always offered excellent value, with timepieces that clock in closer to a Timex and a Seiko than, say, the TAG Heuers of the world. Its Classic watches start at €425 and top off at €525.

With the help of the quartz movements, the Toolwatches come down a half-step. The Modello Quattro UT4 starts at €350, while the Modello Uno UT1 goes for €425. The GMT versions of the watches sell for €450 and €525, respectively.

All four watches are available now at Unimatic’s website and ship directly from Italy, where the company is headquartered. Expect them to trickle into Stateside retailers over the next couple of weeks.