Two years after releasing the Model One, Virginia’s own UniDesign Watch Co. has now unveiled its second watch. No, it is not called the “Model Two,” but the Autoclassic, and UniDesign has rebranded as U.D.C. I had the opportunity to give a prototype a try ahead of today’s Kickstarter launch. As nice as the Model One may have been, the U.D.C. Autoclassic is a leap forward.
This watch is billed as a tribute to classic cars of the 1960s and 70s, expressing that inspiration in a subtle but effective manner. It is not a race timer, and it does not employ many automotive design cues, but the overall effect is sleek, sporty, and purposeful. I could certainly see myself wearing the Autoclassic behind the wheel of an original Jaguar E-Type. I have no idea how I would afford the Jag, but the U.D.C. is well within reach, particularly at the $375 Kickstarter price (35% off).
While you might imagine yourself in something very different, my mind went right for the Jaguar because of the soft contours of the Autoclassic’s square case. Well, square-ish. Rounded edges, sweeping lugs, and a satin-brushed finish lend it an organic quality that recalls a time when car bodies were drafted with French curves before the “folded paper” school of design took hold of the auto industry in the late 1970s. If one end of that spectrum is the Lamborghini Miura and the other is the Countach, the U.D.C. belongs in the Miura.
The watch’s tidy dimensions underscore its sporting aspirations. I measured it as 36.4mm wide, 45.4mm long, and 11.4mm thick. That last one might make you think the U.D.C. is noticeably stout, but that could not be farther from the truth. The rounded sides and clear break between the main body and the tall bezel help maintain a low visual profile. Similarly, some may worry that a sub-37mm watch might be too small. I had no such issue, as a squared case wears much larger than a round case of the same width, and because I have a 6.75″ wrist.
Like a proper sport watch, the Autoclassic will handle a bit of hard use. It has an AR-coated sapphire crystal and a screw-down crown that helps seal the watch for 100m of water resistance.
As noted above, the bezel stands in contrast to the case. Its mirror-polished top meets the edge at 90°. It’s not too jarring, mind you; bowed sides and round corners allow it to integrate smoothly with the overall shape and harken back to the dashboard clusters and wristwatches of an even earlier era. I see a little Streamline Moderné in the exposed fasteners, maybe a dash of Cartier Santos, which is never a bad thing.
Another contrasting element is the screw-down crown, which is proportioned in what I consider to be the most logical and pleasing way: broad yet not tall. It is signed, and like the bezel, polished. Together, the two bright metal accents recall chrome trim, another automotive element.
The Autoclassic’s dial is deceptively simple. It is a layered affair dominated by a tachometer-inspired small seconds sub-dial that is trimmed with a shiny silver ring, yet another crime-inspired accent. Like the tach, the logo is also on the bottom layer and revealed through a cutaway. The minutes index and hour markers share the same track on its perimeter. This leaves the the dial open, and adds one last trick, Swiss Super-LumiNova lume block markers.
I’m a big fan of lume blocks because they add dimension and glow like crazy. While the polished post-style hands wear their lume in a more conventional fashion, I found they kept up with the hour’s brightness just fine.
U.D.C. chose a Miyota 8N40 automatic movement. It’s a solid choice with 21 jewels, an 42-hour power reserve, and 21.6k bph. It labors away behind a solid case back decorated with an early 1960’s F1 car. The four-screw lid is a bit of a retro throwback in and of itself, and while I like fancy caseback art as much as the next watch nerd, there is something endearing about the clean and simple engraving on this one.
You can order the Autoclassic’s 20mm leather strap in any color you like so long as it’s brown. I can’t complain about the stock strap. It looked sparp with that contrasting white stitching and it comes equipped with a signed bubble and quick-release pins. That said, you will likely want to play around with some other options. It’s impossible to resist the urge to customize a sports car, even if it’s just a little bit.
When you place your Kickstarter order, you will have your choice of five rather sedate color combinations, like the black and grey shown here. I’m not afraid of a splash of color in my watch collection and it may seem counterintuitive for a car-themed watch not to have a Ferrari Red or British Racing Green dila options, but I appreciate the understated palette.
The U.D.C. Autoclassic is available now on Kickstarter and at its outstanding introductory price for only three days (and by the time I post this, it will be two), after which, the price will creep up until it hits $450, which is still $100 off.
If you want to try one on before you buy, U.D.C. will have them on hand at the District Time show in Washington, D.C., March 8-9, where you can also see 49 other watch brands. There are some photos of last year’s event on the Kickstarter page, but far more information about the show and links to get your free tickets at DistrictTime.com.
So, this is your assignment: check out the Autoclassic Kickstarter page, then hit DistrictTime.com. You’ll thank me later.
