A new collaboration has emerged, marking a significant dual milestone for two respected names in their respective fields. The UNIMATIC x The Armoury 10.15, officially designated the Modello Cinque U5S-TA2, serves as a tangible celebration of UNIMATIC's 10th anniversary and The Armoury's 15th. This special edition timepiece is not the first joint effort between the Italian watchmaker and the global menswear curator; it follows their successful "Blu Notte" project. This new release solidifies the partnership, built on a shared philosophy of design and a clear-eyed approach to modern, functional objects. The U5S-TA2 is a 36mm stainless steel watch that channels the spirit of vintage racing graphics into a clean, contemporary format.
The Armoury was established in 2010 by founders Mark Cho and Alen See. It was conceived from their mutual passion for classic styling and a deep interest in the stories behind exceptional artisans and their products. The Armoury operates as a counterpoint to the trend of insubstantial, mass-marketed goods often obscured by heavy advertising. Instead, the company focuses on pillars of deliberate design, lasting craftsmanship, and the development of personal style. While its foundation is in the world of classic tailoring, its application is entirely geared toward the modern man, curating a wardrobe that is both functional and expressive.
Courtesy of UNIMATIC
This philosophy of curation is central to The Armoury's identity. The team actively sources unique items and collaborates with exceptional craftsmen and factories from around the world. Their goal is not just to sell clothing, but to help men discover and build a wardrobe that truly reflects their own style. This dedication to craft and purpose-driven design makes their choice in partners, especially for something as personal as a timepiece, a deliberate one. The relationship with UNIMATIC is a clear reflection of this, aligning The Armoury's understated, craft-focused ethos with the watch brand's own utilitarian modernism.
UNIMATIC, for its part, was founded in Milan, Italy, in 2015 by Giovanni Moro and Simone Nunziato. The two friends both trained as product designers at the Politecnico di Milano, and their brand is a direct fusion of their passions for vintage watch design and contemporary product design. From the outset, UNIMATIC's mission has been to create unique, limited-edition watches that successfully merge a high standard of design and quality with an accessible price point. This approach has quickly earned them a dedicated following among watch enthusiasts who appreciate their minimalist and functional aesthetic.
The design language of UNIMATIC is rooted in function and utility. The brand's founders believe in good design as a method and a form of communication. They often look to traditional and iconic watch references from the past, not to copy them, but to reinterpret their core functional elements in a clean, modern, and respectful way. This process results in timepieces that feel both familiar and entirely new, shedding decorative excess in favor of strong lines, legibility, and robust construction. The Modello Cinque, the platform for this new collaboration, is a prime example of this philosophy in action.
The reunion of UNIMATIC and The Armoury for the "10.15" is a natural fit. Their previous "Blu Notte" collaboration was, by all accounts, a success, and Mark Cho noted that he and his design partner, Elliot, thoroughly enjoyed working with the UNIMATIC team due to their exceptional design sense and positive, collaborative attitude. The two brands have reportedly been exchanging ideas for a future project ever since. This new watch is the direct result of that ongoing conversation, born from a shared set of values that prioritize thoughtful design over fleeting trends.
Courtesy of UNIMATIC
The story behind this specific design, as recounted by Mark Cho, is one of friendly coincidence. During a conversation with Giovanni Moro earlier in the year, Cho learned that UNIMATIC was approaching its 10th anniversary, a milestone that Giovanni was apparently not planning to highlight in a major way. This struck Cho, as he, on the other hand, was in the midst of planning "all sorts of nonsense" for The Armoury's 15th anniversary. At the time, the two teams had already been discussing geometric designs in red and white. Cho suggested that this nascent design be nominated as a joint tribute to the progress both of their independent companies have made.
A key piece of symbolism in the "10.15" is the main dial motif, a red checkerboard-esque pattern that runs along the outer track of the dial. This graphic is strongly evocative of classic racing dials. However, Mark Cho offers a more personal interpretation: to him, it is not a finish line, but a lap marker. This metaphor is central to the watch's identity. It represents the idea that the journeys of both UNIMATIC and The Armoury have no fixed endpoint. Both brands have faced and will continue to face challenges, just as they have celebrated many successes. The important thing, in this view, is to keep going.
This "lap marker" concept speaks to the nature of building an independent business. With each metaphorical lap, the teams learn, grow, and adapt, which in turn opens up new opportunities and allows them to attain new goals. Cho expressed a deep contentment in celebrating these milestones with "good friends traveling on a path parallel to ours," acknowledging the shared trials and tribulations that Giovanni and his team at UNIMATIC must have experienced, similar to their own at The Armoury. The watch, therefore, becomes a salute to 10 years of UNIMATIC, 15 years of The Armoury, and to the persistence of anyone pursuing their own dreams.
Visually, the watch is striking in its graphic simplicity. The dial itself is a flat, matte white, which serves as a bright canvas. The dominant feature is the glossy red checkered "racing" rail for the seconds, which contrasts sharply with the matte dial and a simple, glossy black track for the hours. The Armoury logo is rendered in a matching glossy red, placed just below the UNIMATIC branding. The dial's track and hands are a considered mix of strong, contrasting colors and light, graphic shapes. The markings possess a geometric simplicity that is easy to read at a glance.
Courtesy of UNIMATIC
The handset is a key part of this graphic identity. The hour and minute hands are skeletonized, appearing as bright, matte red outlines. This "ghost" design keeps them visually light and ensures they don't obscure the dial's clean surface. The hour hand features a circular element near its tip, while the minute hand is a simple pointer. The seconds hand is described as a "reverse lollipop," crafted from brushed steel with its circular counterweight fully visible, adding a small metallic detail that sweeps over the matte and gloss surfaces of the dial.
Despite its modest 36mm case diameter, the watch is designed for high legibility. It features a generously sized 29mm dial opening, which, combined with a refined angled rehaut, gives the watch a sense of openness. This prevents the dial from feeling cramped and ensures the graphic elements have room to breathe, reinforcing the watch's character of mechanical clarity and minimalist balance. The crystal itself is a 2.2mm thick double-domed sapphire, a feature that adds to the watch's robust specifications and provides a hint of vintage-style distortion at the dial's edge. The inner side of the crystal is treated with an anti-reflective coating to reduce glare and improve clarity.
The case of the U5S-TA2 is pure UNIMATIC tool-watch design. It is machined from 316L stainless steel and features an entirely brushed finish, giving it a utilitarian, non-reflective quality. The dimensions are compact and classic: 36mm in diameter, 43.7mm from lug to lug, and a relatively slim 11.05mm in thickness. The 22mm lug width is substantial for a case of this size, giving the watch a strong stance. The crown is a prominent feature: an oversized 8mm screw-down crown, deeply etched with the "Alchemical Sun" symbol, ensuring easy operation and contributing to the watch's formidable water resistance.
Speaking of water resistance, the Modello Cinque case is rated for 300 meters, or 1000 feet (30 ATM). This is a professional-grade specification, typically found on much larger dive watches, and it makes the U5S-TA2 a genuine "go-anywhere, do-anything" timepiece. Each case is individually tested for accuracy and water resistance, reinforcing the brand's commitment to quality standards. This robust construction ensures the watch is far more than just a design object; it is a capable tool built for everyday wear and adventure.
Flipping the watch over reveals a solid 316L stainless steel screw-down caseback. It is crisply engraved with co-branded text, explicitly marking the occasion. The center is dominated by the "UNIMATIC" and "THE ARMOURY" logos, surrounded by the celebratory phrases "CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF" and "CELEBRATING 15 YEARS OF." Other engraved details include the model reference "U5S-TA2," the designation "MODELLO CINQUE," and the technical specifications "WR 300M=1000FT," "SWISS MOVEMENT," and "VETRO ZAFFIRO," the Italian term for its sapphire crystal. Most importantly, the caseback features the watch's individual limited edition number, engraved as "XXX/120."
Courtesy of UNIMATIC
Housed inside this durable steel case is the automatic caliber Sellita SW200-1 b. This is a well-regarded, Swiss-made workhorse movement known for its reliability and serviceability. It is a pragmatic choice that aligns with the UNIMATIC ethos of providing high-quality, functional components. The movement operates at a modern frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz), which translates to a smooth sweep of the seconds hand. It features 26 jewels and provides a typical power reserve of 41 hours, with a minimum of 38 hours.
The Sellita SW200-1 b also includes a hacking seconds feature, which stops the seconds hand when the crown is pulled out to the time-setting position. This allows for precise synchronization to a reference time, a practical feature appreciated by many enthusiasts. The movement, which can be wound both automatically by the wearer's motion and manually via the crown, is specified with an accuracy of -20 to +30 seconds per day. It also possesses antimagnetic properties of at least 4800 A/m, providing a degree of protection against everyday magnetic fields that can affect a watch's performance.
The U5S-TA2 package includes two distinct straps, allowing the owner to drastically change the watch's character. It comes fitted with a vibrant red tapered TPU strap, which is a modern, durable, and waterproof option. This strap perfectly matches the red accents on the dial, creating a bold, sporty, and cohesive look. The hardware on this TPU strap is brushed stainless steel, signed with the UNIMATIC logo.
For a more subdued and classic look, the watch also includes an additional black suede strap. This top-stitched strap, likely seen in some of the lifestyle photography, completely transforms the timepiece, dressing it up and pairing well with the black hour track on the dial. Both straps are equipped with a quick-release spring bar system, making it easy to swap between them without the need for any tools. This versatility is a significant value-add, effectively offering two watches in one.
Courtesy of UNIMATIC
The presentation of the watch matches its special-edition status. Each U5S-TA2 is delivered in a co-branded UNIMATIC x The Armoury tough case. This rugged, protective case is a signature part of the UNIMATIC unboxing experience, and its co-branding makes it a unique collector's item in itself. Inside the case, owners will find the watch, the extra strap, a warranty card, and a unique ID seal.
The UNIMATIC x The Armoury Modello Cinque U5S-TA2 “10.15” is a strictly limited edition of only 120 pieces worldwide. The watch is priced at 1,500 USD and is available for pre-order now. It is also available to be viewed in person at The Armoury's retail locations in Hong Kong and New York. Prospective buyers should note the delivery timeline, as the watches are scheduled to begin shipping in January 2026. This long pre-order window is not uncommon for limited-run microbrand collaborations, but it is an important factor for any interested collector to consider.
Case: 316L stainless steel, 36mm diameter, 11.05mm thickness, 43.7mm lug to lug, 22mm lug width. Brushed finish, 8mm screw-down crown, 2.2mm double domed sapphire crystal with inner AR coating. 300m water resistance. Co-branded numbered caseback.
Movement: Automatic calibre Sellita SW200-1 b. 28800bph, 26 jewels, 41h typical power reserve, hacking seconds.
Dial: Matte white "10.15 Racing dial" with glossy red checkered racing seconds rail and glossy black hours track. Super-LumiNova C1. Matte red skeletonized sword hands and brushed steel reverse lollipop seconds hand.
Strap: Red tapered TPU two-piece quick-release strap. Includes an extra black suede top-stitched two-piece quick-release strap.
Price: USD 1,500
Reference Number: U5S-TA2
Notes: A special edition celebrating 10 years of UNIMATIC and 15 years of The Armoury. Limited to 120 pieces. Pre-order, with delivery beginning January 2026.