During the global pandemic lockdowns, many people found themselves with more free time. Some chose to learn how to make sourdough bread, some indulged in playing video games, and others channeled their creativity into new endeavors. Richard Benc was one of those creative people, and we are pretty sure that if you asked him in 2019 if he had “become a mega-successful watch brand owner” on his bingo card, he would have likely laughed at you. If you told him that one of his most sought-after watches would feature a pizza dial and that the same company would eventually partner with the prestigious watch manufacturer H. Moser & Cie, he probably would have just walked away from the conversation.
However, this is precisely what happened—the additional time allowed Richard to think he could bring new life to the watch industry with some fun and a lot of whimsy. With the support of the Facebook community and positive encouragement, his Watermel0n watch was created and became an immediate success. It arrived at a time when everyone needed something to brighten their day, and his cheerfully colorful design was just what the doctor ordered. Since then, there have been many other color iterations and new models. However, Richard learned that to gain credibility as a watch company, a salmon dial watch was essential, and in typical Studio Underd0g fashion, he subverted this idea.
Introducing the Studio Underd0g Salm0n, part of their brand new 03SERIES. Unlike typical salmon-dialed watches, this one highlights the underappreciated shimmering salmon skin instead of the flesh. The dial has a dark grey gradient texture, while the larger subdial at 3 o’clock features the typical salmon coloration, as does the outer tachymeter scale.
You may observe that this chronograph only features a single pusher, known as a mono-pusher, and it utilizes the same movement found in the aforementioned Project Passion timepiece made in collaboration with Moser – the Sellita caliber SW520M. It turns out fans of the brand wondering when that seemingly impossible to get chronograph would be more widely available have gotten their answer. This movement comprises 23 jewels, operates at 28,800 beats per hour, and boasts a power reserve of up to 63 hours. It can also be observed through the screw-down display case back.
The dimensions are 38.5mm in diameter, 13.6mm thick, and 44.5mm from lug tip to lug tip, making this one easily wearable on wrists of varying sizes. It has a lug span of 20mm and comes with a handmade Epsom Calfskin strap, with a comfortable and sweat-resistant Haas Zermatt lining handcrafted by David Richards, AKA The Strap Tailor. All Studio Underd0g watches have been assembled in Great Britain since 2023. Further enhancing their value proposition, they have partnered with UK-based Horologium for quality control inspection and regulation, ensuring that the watches are within +/- 5 seconds per day in 3 positions. Additionally, a report card is provided with every watch.
The new Studio Underd0g Salm0n will be available for pre-order on September 17th, 2024, for 9 hours between 3 pm and 12 am BST via the Studio Underd0g website. All orders placed during this window will be guaranteed a watch. The first 400 orders will be delivered in October 2024, while further orders will be delivered in January 2025. The price is $2,000.
