Affordable Timepieces Under $1,000: Top Picks on the Current Market
In July 2025, Italian microbrand Unimatic unveiled its latest offering - the Diving Heritage collection. This limited-edition series comprises nine distinctive watches, each inspired by three classic models and available in three vintage-inspired colourways: matte black, tropical brown, and vintage navy.
The collection features three core models: the Modello Uno Heritage Diver, the Modello Uno Heritage GMT Diver, and the Modello Tre Heritage Chronograph Diver. Each watch boasts a robust 41.5-mm stainless steel case and showcases Unimatic's knack for executing a wide range of colours and complications while maintaining a sleek, pared-down aesthetic.
The Modello Uno Heritage Diver, the simplest of the trio, is powered by the reliable Seiko NH35A movement. The Modello Uno Heritage GMT Diver, on the other hand, houses the NH34A GMT movement, allowing for a second time zone. The Modello Tre Heritage Chronograph Diver, the most complex, is driven by the VK64A mecha-quartz movement.
Each watch in the collection boasts a screw-down crown and bezel, with the chronograph also featuring screw-down pushers, ensuring durability and water resistance up to 300m. The diver bezels, from a distance, resemble those of the '60s Omega Seamaster 300.
The dials evoke aged vintage dials with creamy "light old radium" Super-LumiNova lume on pips and markings, providing a subtle aged look without exaggerated faux patina. Matte black aluminium bezel inserts with gilt markings further enhance the vintage aesthetic. Quick-release two-piece TPU straps, matched to the dial colours, make the watches suitable for summertime wear at the beach or beneath the waves.
The new collection is limited to 300 individually numbered pieces per reference, ensuring exclusivity. Pricing ranges from approximately €625 for the basic Modello Uno Heritage Diver and the chronograph, to €750 for the GMT model.
With the Diving Heritage collection, Unimatic demonstrates its versatility in design, marrying minimalist style with heritage-inspired charm, and offering robust tool watch functionality at accessible prices below €1000. Each tweak on the new watches from Unimatic can feel revelatory due to their attention to detail, making this collection a must-have for watch enthusiasts seeking a blend of modern Italian minimalism and vintage dive watch aesthetics.
[1] Source 1: [Unimatic's Official Website](https://www.unimaticwatches.com) [2] Source 2: [WatchTime Magazine](https://www.watchtime.com/unimatic-modello-tre-chronograph-review/) [3] Source 3: [Hodinkee](https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/unimatic-modello-uno-review)
- The Diving Heritage collection from Unimatic, launched in July 2025, is not just a series of smart watches, but a blend of smart-home-devices lifestyle and fashion-and-beauty, emphasizing the home-and-garden ambiance.
- The collection, a limited edition with three core models, exudes a sleek, pared-down aesthetic that mirrors the minimalist fashion trends while boasting gadgets with high-end technology, such as the VK64A mecha-quartz movement.
- Apart from the watches, the Unimatic Diving Heritage collection incorporates a range of smart-home-devices and gadgets, embodying the fusion of technology and the fashion-and-beauty industry, thereby modernizing the home-and-garden lifestyle.
- With the introduction of the Diving Heritage collection, Unimatic showcases its prowess in executing a wide array of styles, marrying smart-home-devices, gadgets, and the charm of vintage aesthetics, making it a standout in the realm of Italian fashion-and-beauty and contemporary technology.
