Hands-On: Unimatic's Modello Uno Prodiver 600m Is All Titanium, No Frills, And Better For It

Not too long ago, we got the first look at press photos of Unimatic’s refresh of their two-year-old Prodiver lineup. Pared back, not nearly as experimental as other Unimatic treatments or colors, the Prodiver is basically a no-frills diver that can do everything you would want. It’s never going to be as eye-catching as some of the brand’s other releases, but a watch like the Prodiver feels like a necessary part of any collection. Sometimes you just need a solid, affordable watch.

When I got to see the watches in person, I was reflexively drawn to the U1-PD3-OR, the brand’s 300m water resistance orange dial variant in steel. That’s unsurprising, I guess. The loud burnt orange color demands attention, and the color is a plus when you’re considering a legible tool for diving. 

However, somewhat paradoxically, it’s the thicker (yet more affordable) of the two options, and I thought it would be interesting to look at the more expensive option, the Promaster 600m diver in grade 2 titanium (ref. U1S-T-PD6-B).

With any distilled diver, there’s not much to opine, but there’s also not much to criticize. The matte black dial and matching bezel complement the sandblasted textured and faceted case. The brand has managed to keep its distinctive brand identity even in the face of the constant pull that many face to make every diver look like that diver from the brand with a crown for a logo. The dial, with printed Super-LumiNova around the dots and other indices, is highly legible (and I imagine it would remain so underwater). The handset is equally bold. Meanwhile, the date window at 6 o’clock is perfectly unobtrusive. 

The brand’s photo of the lume (which I wasn’t able to adequately capture) is representative of the experience in person, which has the smart use of two different colors of lume for the hours and hour markers and the minute hand, which is quickly readable against the 120-click unidirectional dive bezel.

The rest of the design is peak Unimatic in the best ways. Angular, reserved, with drilled lugs and bold crown guards that do their job without getting in the way of setting the time. A sterile caseback for engraving (if someone wants to engrave titanium for you) and you’ve got everything you need in a 41.5mm by 12.3mm case. 

Inside that case, protected by the 600m water resistance, is a Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement with 41 hours of power reserve. That’s an upgraded movement compared to the 300m versions, which feature the NH35A caliber inside. The question is whether, at exactly double the price—$1,900—customers will find value in the model’s list of upgrades. 

The best way to answer the question always seems to boil down to a gut reaction. The watch is comfortable, reasonably thin, and has the specs that we’d want to see at the slightly elevated price point. Keeping it under $2,000 was the right move. Maybe $1,750 would have felt more approachable, but I can’t say I balk at the current price, either.

In the end, you’re not just paying for the use of titanium (which you could get in a Citizen Promaster Fujitsubo), the movement, or the 600m water resistance (which you could surpass with Certina or a Seiko Tuna), but a whole package of design. There’s also the “Made in Italy” part of the equation, which I asked the brand about. Yes, the watches are made not far from Milan in a small workshop. It’s not exactly as sexy a space as some Swiss workshops, they told me, but they acknowledged that clearer marketing of their work would only help. 

Personally, I don’t need another dive watch, and I already am a happy owner of two Unimatics. However, as someone who non-watch friends frequently ask for a robust and relatively affordable watch, I now have a new option to add to my stock of answers. However, with the Prodiver 600m being limited to 200 pieces, I have to wonder how long it will stay in stock and what comes next for the brand’s dive watch offerings.

For more information visit Unimatic.