It’s well understood that anniversaries in the watch world are fertile ground for new projects. We see it on what amounts to a weekly basis at this point, brands celebrating milestones for collections, movements, and of course the founding of the brand itself. Collaborations are also at the heart of pushing new products to watch enthusiasts, which again needs no further explanation at this point. So in that sense, the new limited edition release from Unimatic in partnership with the Armoury should be the least surprising thing ever. It’s a watch that represents the continuation of a collaborative relationship and a celebration of a pair of anniversaries.
The Armoury, the menswear retailer founded by Mark Cho, turns 15 this year, the same year that Unimatic turns ten. It’s a good opportunity to reflect on the impact both the Armoury and Unimatic have had in the watch space in that time. Unimatic has developed into one of the leading design focused, approachable, independent brands. Like Ming, Fears, and a small handful of other brands that have hit their stride in roughly the same time period, they have an unmistakable aesthetic that is recognizable from across a room, as well as a committed contingent of fans that hang on every new release. And while the Armoury did not begin as an outpost for watches, it’s become an important part of the community thanks to Mark Cho’s genuine dedication to watches. He’s a true collector and admirer of great watches (at all price points), and his seal of approval on a watch or a brand is meaningful.
The new Modello Cinque U5S-TA2 “10.5” builds on the previous collaboration between the two brands, also a Modello Cinque. This is Unimatic’s ultra compact, 36mm tool watch with 300 meters of water resistance and a wide, sturdy profile that makes it wear unlike any 36mm watch I’ve ever tried on. Of course, given that this is an Armoury collaboration, the watch has a certain flair and elegance that you’d expect. Unimatic might not be the first brand you think of when the word “refined” is mentioned, but the Modello Cinque is a unique model in their catalog and makes a lot of sense in this context.
The colorway chosen here is a red and white motif, with a checkerboard pattern on the outer track with a simple matte white dial. The interior hour track is a high contrast (and glossy) black, and the Armoury logo appears in red (also glossy). Unimatic designs can sometimes be relentlessly sober, and other times quite playful (they did make a pair of Spongebob watches, after all). This one, I think, sits somewhere in the middle, but is probably on the more joyful side of things. The red works well here, and that’s a tough color to get right on a watch dial.
The Modello Cinque runs on a Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement with a 41 hour power reserve. This limited edition is a run of 120 pieces and ships with both a red TPU strap and a black suede strap (all in a special Unimatic x The Armoury case). The Modello Cinque U5S-TA2 “10.5” is available now at a retail price of $1,520. Delivery is expected in January. Unimatic x The Armoury
Zach Kazan
2025-10-28 20:00:00