Micro Tournament Round 2 Day 1: Vario Vs. Unimatic
Rules:
• Voting is based on the overall brand, not the individual model or sample photo.
• There are no rules on how you should choose, but you are welcome to civilly debate quality, value, heritage, etc.
• Voters are encouraged to look at the hashtags for threads on individual brands or visit their sites.
• Poll closes apx 11PM ET 3/22.
• Be respectful of all the brands and members, even if the vote does not go your way. This is meant to be lighthearted fun to raise awareness of 64 microbrands.
•Ties will go to the brand with the most unique user-owned photos of their watch on this thread.
Good luck and have fun! All posts and results will be tracked under #microtournament
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Watch enthusiast who insists on the next watch being the last.
Northeast, US
Member since
Last active: 2 hrs ago
6.50” / 16.51 cm
Check Out The Lineups Here:
Vario
Unimatic
Get daily updates and see the updated bracket here.
Earnerst question towards Unimatic fans: What attracts you towards these watches? What element or idea makes you crave them?
Going with the Vario.
Mainly because I actually think their riff on the Reverso style was pretty cool.
I also dig their trench watch take, with actual fixed/wire lugs. Also the tilted dial pilot.
Personally wish they used acrylic on top, but that's me.
The Unimatic's are awesome, and the hand engraved option is sick.
If I have to pick tho, it's Vario in this matchup.
Earnerst question towards Unimatic fans: What attracts you towards these watches? What element or idea makes you crave them?
Indeed. They clearly have their design aesthetic, but I don't get it.
I don’t have strong feelings on this one, should I? I’ll take any good advice here on voting
I don’t have strong feelings on this one, should I? I’ll take any good advice here on voting
Take a look at Vario catalogue, they have some gorgeous watches for any occasions
I don’t have strong feelings on this one, should I? I’ll take any good advice here on voting
They have one of the best reproductions of early trench watches and early pilot dials, that's ACTUALLY available, on the market.
It's not in-house renowned, just a small Singaporean based micro.
Some stuff is prolly made in China, but this side of $5K (and even past it) so is a lot of others. I mention this because I've read your posts and agree with you on the situation there.
But for your money you could do a lot worse.
And the Vario Versa is just cool. Obviously not in the same league as an actual Reverso, but not really a whole lot of options out there for a flippable, dual sided watch, outside of the Reverso. YMMV.
I don’t have strong feelings on this one, should I? I’ll take any good advice here on voting
I also realize you can find legit trench watches in the Vario price range, but after figuring in servicing, WR, and just daily viability in a hard use environ, I'd take the Vario.
Then collect some actual trench watches.
Going with the Vario.
Mainly because I actually think their riff on the Reverso style was pretty cool.
I also dig their trench watch take, with actual fixed/wire lugs. Also the tilted dial pilot.
Personally wish they used acrylic on top, but that's me.
The Unimatic's are awesome, and the hand engraved option is sick.
If I have to pick tho, it's Vario in this matchup.
Gone through their website. Lots of Japan Miyota movements and Singapore references for design. Got my vote for the great variety of designs.
Speaking of Singapore and Japan and WW2 - my grandfather was in Singapore when the War broke out. So he was conscripted into British Army based there (he was British but working overseas at the time). When the Japanese invaded, an overwhelming force in a surprise attack, he became a POW.
As a POW building the death railroad in the burmese jungle - his actual 1940s watch was this:
He was one of the lucky survivors and was on deathbed in a jungle work camp, after a cut from elephant bamboo went septic, when bomb dropped, war ended, and he was shipped back to England ASAP.❤
A crazy time.
Gone through their website. Lots of Japan Miyota movements and Singapore references for design. Got my vote for the great variety of designs.
Speaking of Singapore and Japan and WW2 - my grandfather was in Singapore when the War broke out. So he was conscripted into British Army based there (he was British but working overseas at the time). When the Japanese invaded, an overwhelming force in a surprise attack, he became a POW.
As a POW building the death railroad in the burmese jungle - his actual 1940s watch was this:
He was one of the lucky survivors and was on deathbed in a jungle work camp, after a cut from elephant bamboo went septic, when bomb dropped, war ended, and he was shipped back to England ASAP.❤
A crazy time.
That my friend is an awesome story!
Thanks for sharing! 🍻🤘🏻❤️
Vario because of their catalog.
One of my favourite designs by any microbrand. So well executed. A classy nod to Art Deco
Earnerst question towards Unimatic fans: What attracts you towards these watches? What element or idea makes you crave them?
It's a fun comparison as Vario are saving on the movements (miyota), and leaning into the dial aesthetics.
Whereas Unimatic are obviously going for stark minimalist design, with better movements inside.
Personally, I don't like too fussy a dial, I don't like too much polish and bedazzled. I want a tool watch to be reliable and easy to read. Fancy dials aren't enough to sway me. I'm going Unimatic on this one.
Nice to see vario winning
They have one of the best reproductions of early trench watches and early pilot dials, that's ACTUALLY available, on the market.
It's not in-house renowned, just a small Singaporean based micro.
Some stuff is prolly made in China, but this side of $5K (and even past it) so is a lot of others. I mention this because I've read your posts and agree with you on the situation there.
But for your money you could do a lot worse.
And the Vario Versa is just cool. Obviously not in the same league as an actual Reverso, but not really a whole lot of options out there for a flippable, dual sided watch, outside of the Reverso. YMMV.
Amen amen amen.
Fair enough, but surely there are more mininalist brands with good movements. They're not my style, but Sinn 556 from a higher price tier comes to mind. Why Unimatic in particular?
I disagree with "movements over looks". Unimatic use Seiko NH. Vario are cheaper with Miyota 8-series and more expensive with 9-series. That's pretty much on par.
I'm not saying Unimatic is a favourite brand. I've never owned one and would lean towards other brands over Unimatic - it is painfully minimalist - like an extroverted introvert. But I have been close to being seduced by the tooly minimalism. So I just wanted to share some empathy for the Unimatic supporters out there.
It's funny you should mention the Sinn 556 - the two are very much in the same sort of sphere aesthetically. And Unimatic also use the Sellita SW200-1 (U2S-80) which are used in the Sinn 556. So at a stretch, using your own example, Unimatic is bargain Sinn.
Unimatic is an acquired taste. They have interesting pieces. Vario offers more variety. I don't fancy either, but I would go for vario here. Can't say that I am not equally likely to get a unimatic instead.
Vario for me, great catalog and well made watches.
In my opinion Unimatic's design language stands out.
Their affordability and unique identity deserve recognition.
While I appreciate Vario watches (the name same as Honda scooter model is a drawback) I think that with countless intriguing military or military-inspired options, Unimatic's distinctiveness shines through.
Vario for me
What has me frustrated with Vario is how every watch they make seems to be a very small quantity limited edition.
I would think simple color schemes like black and white, you would want to position as flagship colors that you could continue production of rather than discontinue forever.
I would have bought a couple of them, but they sold out a while ago.
It just seems like a fleeting product strategy without any really solid anchor.
What has me frustrated with Vario is how every watch they make seems to be a very small quantity limited edition.
I would think simple color schemes like black and white, you would want to position as flagship colors that you could continue production of rather than discontinue forever.
I would have bought a couple of them, but they sold out a while ago.
It just seems like a fleeting product strategy without any really solid anchor.
I had the same problem before purchasing my Versa a little while ago. You can ask the customer service if they still have an extra stock somewhere in their inventory (that's what I did).
This is how i feel. I would love to own a real trench watch one day, but i feel like Vario is alone and reigns well in making homages (not in the dumb sense) to Trench watches. Regular field watch brands are a dime a dozen, but trench watch revivals are rare, with the closet things I’ve seen being Vague Watch Co and that one Tissot that i forget the name of.
There's also the Timex Midget, but it was at the same price point, is quartz, and has the very odd 19mm lug width.
Indiglo does make up for it, and 20mm straps fit easily enough since it has wire lugs, but still the Vario is available now, has way more color options and a real enamel dial.
Not too mention, the Timex Midget is no longer in production, so even used ones will be rare, and cost a bit more than a typical used watch due to availability.
In my opinion Unimatic's design language stands out.
Their affordability and unique identity deserve recognition.
While I appreciate Vario watches (the name same as Honda scooter model is a drawback) I think that with countless intriguing military or military-inspired options, Unimatic's distinctiveness shines through.
I would 100% echo this for @Fieldwalker. No disrespect to Vario, but their watches look like a lot of other brands and they don’t have a consistent theme or look that one could say ties them together.
Unimatic’s minimalistic design permeates the entire collection from LE to core. They may not be for everyone for sure, but like a Panerai or Nomos they’re easy to spot from across the room.
One of my favourite designs by any microbrand. So well executed. A classy nod to Art Deco
Vario is the modern brand I think of when it comes to watches with Art Deco design ques. They do it very well, in particular the model you shared.
Vario is the modern brand I think of when it comes to watches with Art Deco design ques. They do it very well, in particular the model you shared.
I think they’re definitely at the forefront, especially in terms of microbrands, of art deco design. It’s an easy choice with numerals but the stepped case design here, evokes Art Deco architecture. It continues with the Vera’s case too. The tuxedo and two tone dials also carries on the influences from the period too
My only complain with Vario is that they don´t have watches in stock....
Was not expecting this one to be so close!
I will go for Unimatic. I think Vario has some of the reproductions way too close...my2c
Poll closed for this matchup. Congratulations to Vario!