March 9 2026

A New Military-Inspired Take: The Unimatic UT5-TANC

MRSTATELESS NEW RELEASES, UNIMATIC 2026, Field Watch, Limited Edition, Nigel Cabourn, The Armoury 0

Italian watchmaker Unimatic has unveiled the Modello Cinque UT5-TANC, a new collaborative release created with British designer Nigel Cabourn and Hong Kong menswear retailer The Armoury. The watch continues the partnership between Unimatic and Cabourn that began in 2019, while also marking a new project involving The Armoury. Designed with a clear focus on practicality, the UT5-TANC takes the form of a compact expedition-style tool watch inspired by vintage military gear.

Compact Tool Watch Case

The UT5-TANC is built around the 36 mm Modello Cinque case, crafted from 316L stainless steel and finished with a stonewashed Cerakote coating that improves durability while giving the watch a rugged appearance. The model is available in two distinct versions. The UT5-TANC-A features a green Cerakote-coated case, while the UT5-TANC-B comes with a navy blue Cerakote finish. Despite the different case colors, both versions share the same navy blue dial, maintaining a consistent visual identity across the collection.

The case follows the familiar Modello Cinque architecture, incorporating a fixed monoblock bezel and an 8mm screw-down crown engraved with Unimatic’s Alchemical Sun emblem. Turning the watch over reveals a solid caseback engraved with a dazzle camouflage pattern, a detail that reinforces the watch’s military-inspired aesthetic.

Functional Dial With Vintage Military Influences

The dial design prioritizes legibility and functionality, consistent with the concept of an expedition-ready tool watch. The large Arabic numerals and dial markers are filled with Super-LumiNova GL “Old Radium”, providing strong visibility in low-light environments. An open seconds track runs around the dial, helping improve time reading precision.

The handset consists of matte navy hour and minute hands, which blend seamlessly with the dial’s utilitarian design. A reverse lollipop seconds hand with an orange tip adds a subtle contrast and improves visibility when tracking the seconds. The dial also features the Nigel Cabourn logo in international orange, which echoes the color used on the seconds hand and introduces a distinctive visual accent without disrupting the overall minimalist layout.

Built for Durability

The UT5-TANC draws inspiration from the historic Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition, reflecting the type of rugged performance required for extreme exploration. As a result, the watch offers 300 meters of water resistance, making it capable of handling demanding conditions both on land and underwater.

To further enhance durability, the watch incorporates Unimatic’s proprietary 360° protection system, which secures the movement against shocks and vibrations. This protective structure meets MIL-STD-810H testing standards, a military-grade benchmark used to evaluate resistance to harsh environmental conditions.

Quartz Movement

Powering the watch is the Seiko Instruments VH31A quartz movement, a caliber known for its sweeping seconds hand that creates a smoother motion compared to traditional quartz watches. The movement runs on a Seizaiken battery with an estimated lifespan of approximately two years, ensuring reliable and low-maintenance operation.

Straps and Limited Production

Each version of the UT5-TANC is paired with a nylon keeper two-piece quick-release strap designed for comfort and durability. The green UT5-TANC-A is matched with a navy strap complemented by green Cerakote hardware, while the navy UT5-TANC-B comes fitted with a forest night strap paired with navy Cerakote hardware. Both straps feature signed Unimatic hardware and include a quick-release system that allows for easy strap changes.

Production of the Unimatic Modello Cinque UT5-TANC is limited to 150 pieces per colorway, resulting in a total of 300 watches. The model is priced at € 810 and will be available through Unimatic, Nigel Cabourn, and The Armoury.