IntroducingUnimatic Updates The Prodiver Line, Including Its First-Ever 600m Diver

At a glance, Unimatic's new trio of Modello Uno divers appears basically the same as the brand's other models in the lineup. But look a little closer, and there are a few subtle updates that make these three a rather interesting new offering.

The trio of new divers marks a refresh of the brand's little-used Prodiver collection, first introduced in 2023 and not updated until now. The collection is intended for watches from the brand that embrace the technical aspects of diving over the more, as the brand puts it, "superfluous decoration" we're typically used to from Unimatic in its many, many collaboration-based releases every year. This means pared-back dial designs in the very familiar Modello Uno case design, and markings actually designed to be used in the water.

In this new trio, we get the Modello Uno U1-PD3-B and PD3-OR, two new replacements for the original 300m Prodiver. This time, in an effort we've seen from the brand across the board this year to lower its average price point, the Sellita movements have been swapped for the much more entry-level Seiko NH35A. The tradeoff in price point is offset by the thickness of the steel 41.5mm case, which offers a thicker 13.2mm measurement compared to the original 300m Prodiver at 11.6mm. Aside from the standard black dial, the PD3-OR has a new International Orange dial, which offers a bit of levity in the otherwise very serious collection and also enhances underwater visibility. I have a hunch that the orange dial will be the best seller here, as it does well to differentiate itself even for collectors of the brand.

But it's the third model in this lineup, the Modello Uno U1S-T-PD6-B, that brings something very interesting to the table. Not satisfied with the depth rating of the previous 500m diver, the brand breaks its personal best with a 600m rating while keeping wearability at bay. A fully sandblasted titanium case keeps things light, with the watch on a strap weighing in at 76g. As this U1S keeps the Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement, the case wears quite a bit thinner compared to the two Seiko counterparts, this time with a more reasonable 12.3mm thickness. Yes, it's more expensive, as it keeps the previous Prodiver price point of around €1,500, but the Sellita movement, paired with titanium, and its most serious depth rating, is sure to justify that pricing.

Carrying over to all three models from the original Prodiver design is the dual-color lume application, with more traditional blue Super-LumiNova on the printed hour indices, hour hand, and seconds hand, while the matte ceramic bezel insert gets infilled with orange lume along with the minutes hand for better legibility underwater.

Each of the three new Prodivers will come with a heavy-duty black nylon NATO strap and be delivered in the Unimatic Tough Case. All three are limited to 300 pieces each, and the steel models start at €750 (+ VAT) while the titanium 600m Prodiver starts at €1,500 (+ VAT).

When news of these three divers came across my inbox, I really thought that the brand had just added a new orange dial to the mix and called it a day, but upon close inspection, I was pleasantly surprised to see the changes made to update the line. Obviously, the new flagship titanium diver is noteworthy in its spec sheet. While there can be an argument made that a dive rating of 600m is unnecessary for most people, it's a great flex from the brand to say "why not?" and just keep pushing itself on the technical front to remind us all that it's not just about collaborations. With the upgrade in depth rating (I'm assuming partially due to an even thicker sapphire crystal) as well as the choice of titanium for the case, I find the price increase to be very fair, if not surprisingly reasonable, given that the previous 500m diver in steel was priced at €1,200 two years ago.

As I mentioned above, it's been very interesting seeing Unimatic adjust its price point across the board this past year or so. At its peak, Unimatic was playing with a lot of interesting concepts and materials, but at the same time pushing its average price point further and further up. It would be only fair to mention that this very much included the second Unimatic and Hodinkee limited editions back in 2023, with the carbon GMT pushing to more than three grand after taxes. But now, the brand has taken a step back and offered a whole slew of both limited and non-limited options with more accessible movements, reminding me of the brand's earlier, Seiko-only days. A few weeks ago, we saw a new series of vintage-inspired Unimatics, all powered by Seiko calibers, and now, two models that offer something a bit more serious at a similar price point. Paired with the more expensive titanium model, I think this revamp demonstrates the brand's ability to balance its assortment while catering to a wide range of Unimatic collectors.

Brand: Unimatic
Model: Modello Uno
Reference Number: U1-PD3-B (300m black dial); U1-PD3-OR (300m orange dial); U1S-T-PD6-B (600m in titanium)

Diameter: 41.5mm
Thickness: 13.2mm (300m); 12.3mm (600m)
Case Material: Steel (300m); Titanium (600m)
Dial Color: Black or orange
Indexes: Printed
Lume: Yes, Super-LumiNova on dial and ceramic bezel insert
Water Resistance: 300m or 600m
Strap/Bracelet: NATO strap

Caliber: Seiko NH35A (300m); Sellita SW200-1 (600m)
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
Power Reserve: 41h (both calibers)
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 21,600 VpH (NH35A); 28,800 VpH (SW200-1)
Jewels: 24 (NH35A); 26 (SW200-1)
Chronometer Certified: No

Price: €750 for steel 300m divers; €1,500 for titanium 600m diver
Availability: Now
Limited Edition: Yes, 300 pieces each

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