Unimatic continues to have a busy year with a new pair of watches dropping in a capsule collection done in collaboration with automotive manufacturer RUF, and publisher Highsnobiety. The watches come on the heels of The Quail Motorsport Gathering, where RUF showed off a stunning new take on the Porsche 911 Safari dubbed the Rodeo (more on that one in an upcoming episode of the podcast). Both of the new watches fall within the Modello Tre U3 family, and bring a chronograph complication to the brand’s signature diver in two distinct colors. They are the U3-RUF-B and U3-RUF-G.
Both of these new watches are equipped with the Seiko VK64 meca-quartz movement fitted with a 41.5mm steel case that measures 13.7mm in thickness, which includes a double domed sapphire crystal. The U3-RUF-B gets a black DLC case that carries through to the dial, which hosts yellow hour markers and hands. Conversely, the G gets a standard brushed steel finish that hosts a white dial featuring green accents. Both get the RUF logo placed at 12 o’clock with a small HS icon representing the Highsnobiety crossover.
This year marks the 85th anniversary of RUF, and these watches represent a nod to the manufacturer’s rich heritage. The German company is best known for their high-performance takes on classic Porsche models, and shot to prominence in 1987 with their CTR ‘Yellowbird’, a highly modified 911 that could hit 211 mph. The company has since gone from using Porsche bodies and chassis to manufacturing their own, but still retain the signature Porsche styling cues. The color palettes most associated with the brand are based in green or yellow, hence the color selection for these limited edition watches.
It’s difficult to say who these watches are for, exactly. The colors and designs work well, to be sure, and the hype connection with a publisher like Highsnobiety will undoubtedly catch attention, but I often wonder about the long term future for watches such as this. Will they rise above the level of novelty to find relevance with enthusiasts? It’s easy to be cynical about releases like this, even when (especially when?) being produced by two great brands, but I hope that it’s able to find its footing in more interesting ways than mere commercial opportunity.
The colors are the most prominent details worth celebrating here, as the base underneath is relatively standard Unimatic fare. Both of the watches are limited to 100 units, and the black and yellow U3-RUF-B is available exclusively through Highsnobiety. Unimatic