To mark its 10th anniversary, UTS Watches created a special-edition version of its Bauhaus-styled (or, at least, deliberately minimalistic in the layout of its dial) 1000M Diver.
Still offered in a slightly oversized 43-mm stainless steel case and powered by the same time-proven ETA 2824-2 automatic movement, the 10th Anniversary edition offers a rugged, simple design of its exterior that, together with its impressive water resistance rating and quality movement, makes this new device an almost perfect “tool” (of course, only if you are ready to pay for this “tool” a price of a slightly used Omega Seamaster.)
Even these (not the best around) images show that the massive bezel was designed not only to impress but also to be easily operated with gloved hands. The dial is high-contrast and presents only useful information (in fact, its design reminds me strongly of airplane instruments that, too, were designed to present all the necessary information most conveniently.) Even the multilink bracelet is comfortable, although the 1000M Diver is also available on a trendier black rubber strap.
What I particularly like about UTS is that they are not trying to look like something they are not.
I mean, there are dozens of brands that simply buy a “ready-made ” design of a timepiece from a specialized company, then outsource the actual production to another specialized company, then buy a couple of hundreds of blank movements from ETA, or Selita, or La Joux-Perret, or even from some Chinese clone-maker, pack the resulting product in a nice wooden box and call themselves “watchmakers”.
More advanced brands of this kind limit their list of movement suppliers to Swiss-brands brands and assemble the timekeepers strictly in Switzerland to sell their timekeepers with the famous “Swiss Made” insignia that increases the product’s retail price by a factor of two.
UTS doesn’t claim to be a “true” Manufacture.
Instead, they honestly say that their business is limited to getting good Swiss-made movements and packing them into their own handmade cases with unique dials and hands.
In a sense, UTS to the world of watches is like Morgan to the world of cars: they are coachbuilders. And they are good at that.
The German company has at least eight models in its range, including a chronograph, but to mark its decade in business they have chosen the 1000M diver model.
The special edition version will be supplied with a Galvanic Black dial and its prominent bezel that houses a 3 mm sapphire glass, which is thick enough to withstand the 100 ATM of static barometric pressure, is outsourced from a more expensive 2000M Diver model.
Ditto the bright red second hand with a pair of strips of some luminescent substance.
Speaking of which, UTS says that they put a lot of it on the hour and minute hands, as well as on the indices, so the dial is very bright.
There will be stainless steel, as well as a tad flashier (but also less practical) PVD-coated version.
Prices are still unknown, but I expect the limited edition timepiece to retail for around $3000 or slightly more for a version in plain stainless steel.
WWR Verdict
Originality 5/5
Build Quality: 5/5
Usability: 5/5
Overall Legibility: 5/5
Nighttime Legibility: 5/5
Value for Money: 5/5
Overall Rating: 5/5
See also: Argonaut 1000 TQ diving instrument by CX Swiss Military
Images: UTS Watches
UTS 1000M Diver 10th year Anniversary specification
Movement: Caliber ETA 2824-2, 4.6 mm x 25.60 mm, stop seconds, Etachron regulator, Swiss Made
Winding: Automatic
Jewels: 25
Cadence of balance: 28,800 vph (4Hz)
Functions: Hours, minutes, central seconds, date
Power reserve: 38 hours
Case: Stainless steel or PVD-coated steel
Diameter: 43.00 mm
Height: 14.00 mm
Dial: Black
Water resistance: 1000 meters (100 ATM)
Strap: Stainless steel bracelet or black rubber strap
Crystal: Sapphire
Back: Solid, engraved