UNIMATIC x Automobili Amos Modello Tre Rally Editions

The 2025 East African Classic Safari Rally represents one of the most grueling and punishing endurance challenges in the motorsport calendar, a contest that demands absolute reliability from both machine and driver. It is within this context of dust, heat, and high-speed gravel traversal that the latest collaboration between Unimatic and Automobili Amos finds its purpose. The partnership has birthed two new iterations of the Modello Tre, specifically engineered to accompany Eugenio Amos as he competes in this legendary race. These watches, the Modello Tre U3FB-AAG in Verde Foresta and the U3FB-AAS in Safari Dust, are not merely branded merchandise but rather purpose-built instruments designed to survive the harsh realities of the Kenyan and Tanzanian landscapes.



This project marks the third time these two Italian houses have joined forces, solidifying a relationship built on a shared philosophy of "anti-standard" creation. UNIMATIC, founded in 2015 by industrial designers Giovanni Moro and Simone Nunziato, has spent the last decade stripping watch design down to its barest, most functional essentials. Their approach often removes the superfluous to highlight the structural, a method that parallels the work done by Automobili Amos. Founded in 2016 by Eugenio Amos and Carlo Borromeo, Automobili Amos is a titan in the world of automotive restomods, famous for taking classic Italian rally platforms and reimagining them with modern materials, performance engineering, and a distinct lack of compromise. When these two design languages intersect, the result is invariably a tool watch that feels both thoroughly modern and deeply respectful of mechanical heritage.



The foundation for these Rally Editions is the Modello Tre, UNIMATIC’s chronograph platform, but for this specific application, the design has been modified to prioritize structural integrity and legibility under vibration. The case measures a versatile 40mm in diameter and is crafted from 316L stainless steel, a material chosen for its resistance to corrosion and impact. What immediately catches the eye is the finish; the entire case features a heavy sandblasted treatment. This matte surface is crucial for a driver’s watch as it completely eliminates glare and reflections that could be distracting in the cockpit of a rally car. The industrial grey tone of the steel gives the watch a raw, machined appearance, looking less like jewelry and more like a component of the car’s dashboard.



A defining feature of this release is the fixed monoblock bezel. Unlike traditional diving watches that feature rotating assemblies with aluminum or ceramic inserts, this bezel is a solid piece of steel integral to the upper architecture of the case. By removing the moving parts of a rotating bezel, UNIMATIC eliminates a potential failure point—there is no bezel to get jammed with sand or grit, and nothing to accidentally knock out of position. Deeply acid-etched into this steel ring is a tachymeter scale. The etching is significant, carved deep enough into the metal that it creates a tangible texture, ensuring the markings remain legible even if the surface accumulates a layer of safari dust. This scale allows for the calculation of speed over a fixed distance, a traditional rally function that remains relevant in the analogue world of classic motorsport.



The dial configuration is a study in high-contrast visibility, utilizing a layout that favors rapid information intake. The U3FB-AAS "Safari Dust" variant presents a dial in a warm, earthy tone that mimics the ochre gravel and clay found on the rally stages. Against this matte brown backdrop, the sub-dials and perimeter tracks provide necessary data without clutter. The second variant, the U3FB-AAG "Verde Foresta," offers a deep, intense green that draws inspiration from the wooded sections of the East African terrain. On both models, the hour and minute hands are executed in a "phantom ladder" style. This skeletonized design allows the wearer to see through the hands to the sub-dials below, ensuring that the chronograph counters are never fully obscured, which is a thoughtful detail for a watch meant to track elapsed time.



Legibility in low light or during the shifting shadows of a forest stage is handled by a specific application of Super-LumiNova. The designers have opted for a GL dark orange grade of the luminescent material, which fills the ladder hands and the hour markers. This choice of orange is not arbitrary; it provides a stark contrast against both the deep green and the dust brown dials, ensuring that the time can be read at a glance. The chronograph functions are highlighted with "safari orange" accents, particularly on the tip of the central seconds hand and the sub-dial hands. The central hand is a "reversed lollipop" design, where the counterweight circle adds a distinctive visual element that tracks smoothly around the dial when the chronograph is engaged.



Protecting the dial is a 2.5mm thick double-domed sapphire crystal. This is a substantial piece of glass, chosen for its shatter resistance. The double-domed profile adds a slight vintage distortion at extreme angles but generally aids in clarity, while an anti-reflective coating on the inner side ensures that the crystal disappears when looking at the dial directly. The dome sits slightly proud of the fixed bezel, offering a tactile quality that feels robust to the touch. The interaction points of the watch—the pushers and the crown—are equally over-engineered. The chronograph pushers are of the screw-down variety, measuring a robust 5.5mm. This requires the user to unscrew them before operation, a safety feature that prevents accidental activation or water ingress. The crown is an oversized 8mm diameter unit, also screw-down, which is large enough to be manipulated easily even while wearing driving gloves.



Under the hood, UNIMATIC has chosen the Seiko VK64 meca-quartz caliber to power these rally timers. For purists who demand mechanical movements, this might seem like a departure, but in the context of a rough-and-tumble rally environment, the meca-quartz is a superior choice. It combines the accuracy and shock resistance of a quartz timekeeping module with a mechanical chronograph geartrain. When the chronograph is started, the seconds hand sweeps smoothly rather than ticking, and when reset, it snaps back to zero instantly—offering the tactile satisfaction of a mechanical stopwatch without the fragility or the high service costs associated with fully mechanical chronographs. The movement operates at 32,768 Hz and provides a battery life of approximately three years, meaning the watch is always ready to go without the need for winding or setting after a few days of non-use.



The case construction is rated for 300 meters of water resistance, a figure that far exceeds what is necessary for a rally car cockpit but speaks to the "over-built" ethos of the brand. This rating is achieved through the use of high-grade gaskets and the aforementioned screw-down pushers and crown. Each individual unit is pressure tested to ensure it meets these specifications. While the East African Safari Rally is not an aquatic event, the water resistance ensures the watch is impervious to torrential rain, mud, and the subsequent washing and cleaning that equipment undergoes after a stage. It transforms the watch from a driving accessory into a true field watch that can handle virtually any environment.



Flipped over, the watch reveals a solid stainless steel caseback that screws down into the main housing. This surface serves as a canvas for the collaboration’s branding, featuring a deep engraving of the Automobili Amos steering wheel emblem. This logo is a nod to the automotive DNA of the project and is accompanied by the individual progressive number of the specific watch. The decision to use a closed caseback rather than a display window is appropriate here; it reduces thickness slightly and removes another potential point of weakness, maintaining the focus on durability and utility.



Securement to the wrist is managed by a custom two-piece TPU strap. TPU, or thermoplastic polyurethane, is an ideal material for this application as it is completely waterproof, resistant to sweat and oil, and extremely durable. The straps are color-matched to their respective dials—Verde Foresta green for the green model and a dust brown for the Safari edition. The straps feature a ribbed texture that not only adds to the industrial aesthetic but also helps to vent moisture away from the wrist in hot conditions. The hardware on the strap, including the buckle, matches the case with a sandblasted stainless steel finish and is signed with the UNIMATIC logo. Quick-release spring bars are standard, allowing the owner to swap straps without tools if they wish to change the look or mount the watch on a NATO strap for added security.



Visually, when strapping this watch on, one notices the cohesive matte nature of the entire package. The sandblasted steel absorbs light, making the watch feel smaller and more purposeful than a polished case would. The orange accents pop vividly, drawing the eye immediately to the important data points. The lack of a rotating bezel makes the watch feel compact and solid, like a singular block of milled steel. It sits flat on the wrist thanks to the case profile, and the downturned lugs hug the arm comfortably. The strap feels pliable yet tough, requiring no break-in period, and the keepers hold the excess tail firmly in place.



The collaboration with Automobili Amos goes beyond just a logo slap; it feels like a genuine exchange of design principles. The "Safari Dust" colorway, in particular, is a shade rarely seen in watchmaking, capturing the specific hue of the dry African earth. It gives the watch a utilitarian camouflage aesthetic that looks right at home next to the oversized tires and mud flaps of a rally-prepped Lancia or Porsche. The "Verde Foresta" is more traditional but equally striking, evoking the classic British Racing Green or the deep hues of vintage Italian sports cars, yet rendered in a modern, matte finish that feels tactical rather than retro.



Both watches are delivered in a heavy-duty tough case, further emphasizing the tool-watch nature of the release. Inside, alongside the watch, owners receive a warranty card that features a unique ID seal. This attention to the "unboxing" experience is typical of UNIMATIC, ensuring that the ownership experience feels special from the moment the latch on the box is popped open. The warranty covers the watch worldwide for 24 months, providing peace of mind to international collectors and users alike.



Availability for these timepieces is strictly controlled to coincide with the event they were designed for. The UNIMATIC x Automobili Amos Modello Tre Rally Editions are available for preorder exclusively during the window of the rally itself, running from December 5th to December 13th, 2025. Production is capped at a strict limited edition of 150 pieces for the Verde Foresta U3FB-AAG and 150 pieces for the Safari Dust U3FB-AAS. With a price point of $950, these watches offer a significant value proposition given the technical specifications, the limited nature of the run, and the provenance of the collaboration. For enthusiasts of rally culture, Italian design, or simply robust tool watches, these editions represent a rare opportunity to own a piece of kit that is as capable as it is visually distinct.



Case: 40mm diameter, 22mm lug width; sandblasted 316L stainless steel construction with fixed monoblock bezel featuring deep acid-etched tachymeter scale; 2.5mm double-domed sapphire crystal with inner anti-reflective coating; solid screw-down caseback with "AA steering wheel" engraving; oversized 8mm screw-down crown and 5.5mm screw-in pushers; water-resistant to 300m (30 ATM).



Movement: Seiko VK64 meca-quartz caliber; hybrid mechanical-quartz architecture operating at 32,768 Hz; approximately 3-year battery life; accuracy of ±20 seconds per month; features 1/5-second chronograph sweep and 60-minute totalizer.



Dial: Available in Verde Foresta (green) or Safari Dust (brown/tan) matte finish; two-register chronograph layout; "phantom ladder" hour and minute hands filled with Super-LumiNova GL dark orange; reversed lollipop seconds hand with safari orange tip; sand-colored second rail and orange dial trims.



Strap: Color-matched TPU two-piece quick-release strap (Verde Foresta or Dust); sandblasted stainless steel hardware signed UNIMATIC; 22mm width.



Price: $950



Reference Number: U3FB-AAG (Verde Foresta); U3FB-AAS (Safari Dust)



Notes: Limited edition of 150 pieces per colorway. Developed specifically for the 2025 East African Classic Safari Rally in collaboration with Automobili Amos. Delivered in a custom UNIMATIC x Automobili Amos tough case with unique ID seal warranty card.