UNIMATIC U1-MLB
Mid-Range
Price TierVisit the brand's site for current pricing
The UNIMATIC x Massena LAB U1-MLB is the third and final watch in a trilogy of three collaborations with UNIMATIC following the release of both ML6 and MLM in 2020. ML6, with its red triangle on the bezel and its tropical dial was born from a question: "what would a UNIMATIC watch from the 1950s look like today? MLM, with its blue dial and bezel, was inspired by the dive watches issued to the French Navy in the 1960s. MLB Bund represents a final evolution and is inspired by the dive watches of the 1970s, particularly the cult Blancpain Bund, which was issued to the West Germanys Bundeswehr Kampfschwimmers, a group of elite special forces of the West German Navy. MLB features an all black dial, with a black on black ghost" signature to maximize the legibility of its ivory Super-LumiNova indices. Like the Bund of the 1970s, the dial of the MLB is characterized by a large, distinctly orange minute hand to differentiate it from the hour hand, both of which are luminous. The rotating bezel of the MLB features a single, large plot of Super-LumiNova at 12 oclock, which is referred to as a sterile bezel. The case of the MLB is steel and is engraved with a submarine sonar motif on its case back, along with its limited-edition number. MLB is delivered with two straps: one in burnt orange and another in black, both made in Italy from TPU and signed UNIMATIC. MLB is a limited-edition of 200 pieces. Limit of one watch per household.
Who this watch is really for
developing dataBest for
- Collectors comparing independent dive or sport watches with about 300m of water resistance.
- Smaller wrists or buyers who prefer compact proportions over oversized wrist presence.
- Mechanical-watch buyers who want a proven automatic or hand-wound movement in an independent design.
Skip if
- You want a larger modern sports-watch footprint.
- You want quartz convenience with minimal setting, winding, or service concerns.
Value note: On paper, the spec mix is sensible: mechanical movement, sapphire crystal, and usable water resistance. The value case is strongest if the design language is what you want.
