What’s this? Have the folks at Undone really released yet another special edition on the Basecamp platform? Yes. Yes, they have. This time, it’s the Arabian Nights, a run of 300 bronze watches with a Lapis Lazuli dial that features a particularly novel twist on the Cali concept. Like the ones that have come before it, it is a beauty.
The Arabian Nights’ case is 40mm wide, 48mm long, and 12mm thick, or 15mm when you include the 3mm domed Lexan crystal. I’ve covered the Basecamp case a few times now, and all of my previous praises and caveats apply here as well. On the upside, that Submariner-style case looks great, is good for 100m water resistance, and has the ideal proportions to fit comfortably on my 6.75″ wrist. On the downside, the case lacks the sharpness of its stainless steel stablemates, and the bidirectional bezel tends to wander.
Arguably, the best part of owning a bronze watch is watching the patina develop over time. This one was already sporting a touch of oxidation when it arrived, and after just a week, I could see a noticeable difference as the metal darkened. That said, I might be tempted to keep this case bright with the occasional scrub (I hear baking powder and lemon juice is good, and I’ve had good luck with plain old white toothpaste) because the mellow reddish-gold tones of the case work so well with the dial.
Ah, the dial… Lapis Lazuli is not common on watches, and now that I have one in hand, I can’t understand why it isn’t employed more often. The rich blue, gold-flecked surface is gorgeous and glitters with life when the sun hits it. Because it is a natural stone, every one will be unique.
The last time I reviewed an Undone, it had a “Kyoto Dial” that used Japanese Kanji in place of the usual Roman numerals you would find on the upper part of a California Dial. This time, they’ve printed those numbers in Eastern Arabic (or Arabic-Hindu). Shall we call this a Riyadh Dial? Perhaps a Dubai Dial? An Abu Dhabi Dial? Regardless, it is a good look with just a hint of the exotic. The dial text and railroad track index are gold, which gets a bit lost against the Lapis but pairs well with the polished gold handset, bronze bezel, and creamy numbers. Lume is, as always, excellent on the dial and hands, nonexistent on the bezel.
A sturdy Seiko NH35 automatic powers the watch. While the Arabian Nights has a display caseback, you won’t see much movement through it. This is fine. There is no real need to show off an NH35 as beauty is not one of its strong suits. Instead, the glass is tinted dark blue and decorated with the phrase “This too shall pass” in Arabic, which is much prettier and rather fitting for these tumultuous times.
Buyers get two straps with their Arabian Nights: one dark blue, padded, crocodile print leather; and one brown, unpadded, minimally stitched leather. Both are 20mm wide, tape to a signed 16mm buckle that matches the case, and equipped with quick-release pins. Both are quite nice, but I much prefer the blue croc against the blue dial.
The Arabian Nights Limited Edition is a lovely addition to the Basecamp collection and one I heartily recommend. You can get it for $480 directly from Undone, but you should know that the first batch went in a flash, so all new orders will be fulfilled in February. I think it’ll be worth the wait.⬩
