As if luxury watches weren’t already expensive enough, personalized watches usually turn out to be an even more expensive undertaking. The Hong Kong based microbrand UNDONE shows that this can be done differently. The brain behind the brand is a watch-obsessed man called Michael Young. His honourable intention was to put an end to this prevailing price madness and to offer high-quality watches at fair prices, acting on a special maxim: Always allowing for the greatest extent of individualization.
Young is well connected in the world of watches and has long made a name for himself as the “bracelet magician”, alluding to his skills in the reconstruction of watch bracelets. In 2014, he founded the company and just two years later landed a €200,000 Kickstarter campaign. This capital injection set the young brand on course for success, as 1336 backers did not want to leave UNDONE’s future to fate.
What distinguishes UNDONE is the fact that its fans can configure their personal dream watch from three different collections: Aqua, Basecamp and Urban. The first collections were Urban, vintage-inspired chronographs, and Aqua, masculine diving watches. With the Basecamp series, robust tool watches have now found their way into the brand’s ranges.
The brand uses reliable and proven Seiko calibres to breathe life into the watches. Whilst the Urban watches are based on a Seiko VK64 Meca quartz calibre (a quartz-mechanical hybrid), the Aqua and Basecamp collections use automatic calibres in the form of the NH35A.
With the help of a “customizer”, elements such as the dial, bezel, hands or case can be selected from a wide range of options, so that everyone can put together a piece that is unique in the world without great effort. All that is needed is a little bit of creativity.
In addition to the three main collections, UNDONE also relies on collaborations that have in the past already spawned models adorned with Moomin, Simple Union and Ultraman. After their initial success with Peanuts & Snoopy in 2018, the Hong Kong team is ready to launch its second collaboration: Peanuts “Lunar Mission”.
It is not the first time that Snoopy has proven to be an excellent choice for chronograph dials of watches paying tribute to the Apollo mission: Just five years ago, Omega released the “Speedmaster Apollo 13 Silver Snoopy Award”. In 2018, also Timex dedicated a special edition to the globally loved beagle as part of the Marlin collection. Five years after Omega, on the 50th anniversary of the first manned moon flight with subsequent landing by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, UNDONE is now taking up this idea again with cool space-inspired watches.
The timepieces come in a 40mm stainless steel case, featuring hardened and domed K1 mineral glass on top. Since the Peanuts special editions are offshoots of the Urban chronographs, the Seiko VK64 Meca quartz calibre is used here as well. The special feature of this movement is the mechanical chronograph with flyback reset and a sweeping seconds hand. As far as the choice of bezel is concerned, customers can choose between a tachymeter and a smooth bezel. It is important to note however that the tachymeter version wears slightly larger on the wrist than its counterpart.
As you would expect from UNDONE – in keeping with Young’s philosophy – these watches are also characterized by their more than fair price point. The customizable “Snoopy Moon A.C.E.S” with Charlie Brown in an orange space suit on the dial starts at USD $ 365, while the two novelties “Snoopy Starlight” and “Snoopy Heritage” will set you back USD $ 480 each.
At a glance:
Case material: 316L stainless steel
Case diameter: 40mm / 41.8 mm
Glass: Hardened K1 mineral glass
Case height: 12 mm
Movement: Meca quartz
Calibre: Seiko VK64
Water resistance: 30 m
Lug width: 20 mm
Well done, Undone.
Make sure to check out UNDONE’s website.
This is a sponsored post written for UNDONE by Montredo.
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