Unimatic Collaborates With Automobili Amos On A Pair Of Unique Modello Quattro Watches

Packing a new Seiko quartz movement for a slimmer profile

May 17, 2022

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If you ask me to name a random rally car, chances are pretty big that I will immediately mention the Lancia Delta HF Integrale. This iconic rally car from the late ’80s and early ’90s is still one of the coolest silhouettes the world of motorsports has ever seen. So when I saw a Lancia Delta pop up in the promo materials for the latest Unimatic collaboration, I was immediately intrigued. For the latest collaboration, the Milanese brand teamed up with Italian car company Automobili Amos to create new and unique Unimatic Modello Quattro models. Time to find out more.

The guys at Unimatic have released some stunning collaboration timepieces over the last couple of years. The wide variety of executions shows the many different faces of their designs. Most of the collaborations have been variations of the Modello Uno, the brand’s popular dive watch. Not too long ago, however, we saw the introduction of the Modello Quattro ref. U4-TA. It was the first limited-edition Modello Quattro, developed to praise the Comando Truppe Alpine. Today, Unimatic releases a new version of the Modello Quattro with a new quartz movement and a slimmer case. On top of that, it also introduces a new case finish. What looked like a variation of the Modello Quattro is essentially a whole new take on the model.

The Unimatic Modello Quattro

Let me quickly refresh our memories for the people who are not too familiar with the Unimatic Modello Quattro. In late 2020, Unimatic introduced the fourth and latest model in its collection. The Modello Uno is the brand’s popular dive watch, the Modello Due is the brand’s field watch, and the Modello Tre is the quartz chronograph version of the Modello Uno. With the Modello Quattro, Unimatic added a military-style watch to its collection. It takes the case size and familiar minimalist looks of the Modello Uno but features a fixed stainless steel bezel instead of a dive bezel.

I own the Modello Quattro U4-A, and it is an absolute joy to wear. It fits my wrist really nicely and looks like a stylish, modern military watch. This is something that became even more clear with the Modello Quattro ref. U4-TA. That watch was created for the Mountain Troops of the Italian Army Alpini. It perfectly showed how well the design fits the utilitarian character that we expect from a military watch. If there is one slightly critical remark I would make about the Modello Quattro I own, it’s that it is a bulky watch. At 13.9mm, it is thicker than the 13.6mm Modello Uno. This has never made me love the watch any less, but a slimmer version would be a great option. And that’s exactly what the brand has done with these new Unimatic × Automobili Amos models.

The magic of Automobili Amos

But first, let’s jump into the story of Automobili Amos. This unique Italian car company is based out of Varese in northern Italy. After reading the company’s story, the collaboration between the two brands makes perfect sense. Both Unimatic and Automobili Amos were founded by young guys that have a great passion for their crafts. Whether it is watches or cars, the enthusiasm that the guys behind the brand show is infectious. Both companies have a deep-rooted love for the classics and a drive to create something new and exciting from them. There is a clear overlap in their vision and approach to creating new watches and cars.

Automobili Amos was founded in 2016 by Eugenio Amos and Carlo Borromeo. In their own words, they have “a conservative but modern mission to enhance the ’80s rally big shot, the Lancia Delta Integrale”. Amos and Borromeo “used today’s technology and mechanical engineering to unleash its outstanding past while embracing the freedom of a futuristic expression.” Above all, this ensures the classic looks of the iconic Delta HF Integrale, but their creation is in no way a normal Delta HF Integrale rebuild. The company uses classic Delta models as donor cars for the chassis, but the rest of the car is completely rebuilt with new materials, ensuring the car is up to modern standards. The final product is the impressive Lancia Delta Integrale Futurista. Automobili Amos built 20 of these spectacular cars, which sell for a whopping €350,000 each. Nevertheless, the end result is amazing!

Unimatic × Automobili Amos

For the new collaboration timepieces with Automobili Amos, Unimatic decided to change the Modello Quattro slightly. Both in aesthetics and technology, the watch is different from the first two versions. For these two new watches, the case has been modified. It’s still 40mm in diameter with a 22mm lug width and a 49mm lug-to-lug span. But the new case has a slimmer profile at 12.05mm compared to the 13.9mm of the previous models. So by reducing the thickness by almost 2mm, it will be a much more wearable watch. Additionally, the case is executed in sandblasted stainless steel with a gunmetal coating. This coating gives the watch a slightly darker presence that works very well in combination with the Brinzio Green color of the dial and the rubber straps.

This Brinzio Green color is a special shade of green named after a little town close to Varese. Additionally, it is the characteristic green of Automobili Amos that is also used for the Delta Integrale Futurista. The dial features the characteristic Unimatic hour markers executed in pale green C3 Super-LumiNova. Hovering above the dial are the hour and minute hands executed in the same Brinzio Green color and filled with the same Super-Luminova shade. When it comes to the seconds hand, that’s where the two models differ. The UT4-AA2 comes equipped with a Brinzio Green seconds hand with a straight yellow tip. The seconds hand of the UT4-AA is also the same color, but at the end of it, you’ll find the silhouette of the AA Delta Futurista.

A new Seiko quartz movement

In order to make the slimmer case possible, Unimatic chose a new movement. Both watches come with a Seiko VH31 quartz caliber. This quartz movement is special in that the seconds hand ticks four times per second rather than once. As a result, it creates the effect of a sweeping seconds hand of mechanical watch. The movements are placed inside an anti-shock movement holder with a yellow TPU gasket positioned between the dial and the case. Therefore, the watches are certified according to the military standard MIL-STD-810H, making them very shock resistant.

The gunmetal-coated cases are water-resistant to 300 meters, and the screw-down case backs feature a special “UNIMATIC × Automobili Amos” laser engraving. Additionally, the UT4-AA2 features a unique limited number out of 150 pieces that will be produced. The UT4-AA features a unique limited number out of only 50 pieces that will be produced. The 50 pieces of the UT4-AA are available at the Automobili Amos website for €425 excluding tax. The 150 pieces of the UT4-AA2 with the regular seconds hand are available at the Unimatic website also for €425 excluding tax.

My thoughts on the Unimatic × Automobili Amos models

I’m a big fan of these two new Modello Quattro models. First off, the two brands are a perfect match in terms of mentality, design philosophy, and craftsmanship. Secondly, I love seeing the colors of the spectacular Delta Integrale Futurista come to life on the watch. Finally, the choice to go for a slimmer profile is a welcome one. It “solves” one of the issues that some people had with the mechanical version of the Modello Quattro. While the slimmer profile means a different quartz movement, it creates a stylish and very wearable watch. On top of that, it is also very affordable at its €425 list price.

Sure, I’d prefer a mechanical version of the Unimatic models with a slimmer profile. The brand showed that it is possible with Sellita movements when the Hodinkee special editions came out. So I hope that in the near future, we will see a mechanical version of the Modello Quattro with a slimmer profile and a Sellita movement. In the meantime, these two new Unimatic × Automobili Amos models are fun releases that will probably sell out quickly. If it’s not the watch enthusiasts who snap them up, there are plenty of car enthusiasts who will love them. And speaking of the cars, do check out the longer story of the Delta Integrale Futurista. And while you are there, also read about the equally awesome Lancia Delta Safarista. Automobili Amos has created some truly spectacular cars!

If you would like to find out more about these watches, visit the official Unimatic website. And as always, let us know your thoughts on these models in the comments below.