When two brands dedicated to surviving harsh elements join forces, the resulting gear is bound to be relentlessly utilitarian. Unimatic, the Milanese master of minimalist tool watches, has partnered with Norwegian Rain, an award-winning outerwear label born in Bergen—one of the rainiest cities in Europe.
Blending Italian brutalist horology with Scandinavian atmospheric design, the newly unveiled UNIMATIC x Norwegian Rain Modello Due U2-GMT-NR-T Collab GMT Watch is an absolute triumph of texture and tone.
Priced at £1150, this highly exclusive 150-piece limited edition offers a moody, highly individualized take on the classic field watch, complete with serious diving capabilities.
Controlled Chaos and Bespoke Patina
The absolute centerpiece of this collaboration is its extraordinary, textured dial. Moving far away from the sterile perfection of standard painted brass, each dial in this 150-piece run is entirely unique.
The meticulous, multi-step production process begins with a base sheet of galvanised copper, which is precisely laser-cut to its final dimensions. These raw copper dials are then deliberately exposed to a controlled oxidation process within a specialized salt and ammonia environment.
This induces a brilliant, unpredictable organic patina, meaning no two watches are exactly alike. Once the desired decay is achieved, the dials are sent to a specialized facility where the indices and the UNIMATIC logo are sharply stamped. A final protective coating is applied to freeze the oxidation in place, ensuring long-term stability.
Adding to the architectural intrigue is the date display. Rather than a standard 3 o’clock window, the dial features 31 laser-cut holes around its perimeter, allowing the date wheel underneath to cleverly indicate the current day through the oxidized surface.
A Masterclass in Stealthy Aesthetics
To complement the rich, weathered copper, Unimatic opted for a strictly stealthy, dark interpretation for the handset and accents. The watch utilizes matte black “ladder ghost” hour, minute, and GMT hands, alongside a slick reverse lollipop seconds hand.
To ensure the dual-time functionality remains highly legible without breaking the brooding aesthetic, the hollow arrow tip of the GMT hand is rendered in a dark cool gray, perfectly matching the dial trims and the open seconds rail.
It is an incredibly cohesive, storm-cloud palette that directly mirrors the moody ethos of Norwegian Rain’s protective apparel.
Over-Engineered Field Architecture
While it is undeniably a design object, the Modello Due remains an uncompromising tool at its core. The brushed 316L solid stainless steel case boasts an incredibly impressive 300m (1000 ft) water resistance rating—a rarity for a field-style GMT.
This aquatic durability is secured by a massive 8mm screw-down crown, a high-quality gasket set, and a heavy-duty screw-down caseback featuring custom collaborative engraving and an individual progressive edition number.
Protecting the oxidized dial is a massive 2.7mm thick, ultra double-domed sapphire crystal. Treated with an inner anti-reflective coating, it provides optimal legibility under any lighting condition while adding a beautiful vintage-leaning distortion at the extreme angles.
Reliable Mechanics and Tactical Tailoring
Powering this traveler’s companion is the fiercely reliable NH34A automatic GMT movement. Tuned to a beat rate of 21,600 bph, it provides a solid 41-hour power reserve alongside a hacking seconds function for precise time-setting.
A great field watch requires equally great straps, and this package does not disappoint. The watch is delivered with a robust, brushed solid steel bracelet for a unified metallic look.
However, the true standout is the included green two-piece strap, tailored from up-cycled military tent fabric with heavy-duty top stitching. It is a brilliant, eco-conscious nod to Norwegian Rain’s textile expertise.
For £1150, the UNIMATIC x Norwegian Rain Modello Due U2-GMT-NR-T Collab GMT Watch delivers a profoundly unique, weather-beaten aesthetic backed by bulletproof Italian engineering.
