There’s a new chronograph coming from Studio Underd0g‘s workshop in Maidenhead, and it’s dressed for the fanciest party you’ve never been invited to. The British brand has teamed up with William Massena’s Massena LAB to create a watch that celebrates life’s finer things: champagne, caviar, and the kind of playful design that makes serious collectors smile.
A Watch That Breaks the Mold
The 03SERIES Champagne & Caviar isn’t your grandfather’s chronograph, unless your grandfather had exceptionally good taste and a sense of humor. Limited to just 200 pieces, this monopusher chronograph manages to be both elegant and cheeky at the same time.
The star of the show is the oversized subdial at three o’clock, which has been cleverly machined to look like a generous serving of caviar. It’s the kind of detail that makes you do a double-take. The varied sizes of the subdials could have looked messy, but Studio Underd0g balances everything with strategic co-branding placement, letting the chronograph seconds hand sweep freely across the dial.
Speaking of that chronograph hand, look closely at its base. There’s a tiny champagne bottle silhouette there, gliding smoothly over the shimmering champagne-toned dial. These little touches show why this collaboration works so well. Both brands understand that great design lives in the details.
The Heart of the Matter
Inside the 38.5mm stainless steel case beats the Swiss Sellita SW510 M, a hand-wound monopusher movement that Studio Underd0g first used in their Project Passion collaboration with H. Moser & Cie last year. This isn’t some off-the-shelf caliber, though. The movement features a custom bridge with Côte de Genève finishing in ruthénium anthracite, made exclusively for Studio Underd0g.
With 63 hours of power reserve and a 28,800 beat rate, it’s a proper mechanical chronograph. The monopusher design keeps things clean, with just one button to start, stop, and reset the chronograph function. There’s also a 30-minute counter and tachymeter scale for those who actually time things (or just like the look of them).
Why This Partnership Makes Sense
Richard Benc of Studio Underd0g and William Massena aren’t just business partners on this project. They’ve developed a genuine working relationship since meeting in early 2023. Massena, often called “the collector’s collector,” brings decades of experience and an eye that’s helped shape the modern watch collecting world.
“Richard and his team aren’t afraid to have a bit of fun with serious watchmaking,” Massena explains. He’s right. Studio Underd0g has built its reputation on rejecting the stuffiness of traditional watchmaking while keeping all the good bits: quality, detail, and craftsmanship.
The watch comes paired with a handmade pebble-grain calfskin strap from The Strap Tailor, tapering from 20mm at the lugs to 16mm at the buckle. It’s supple, it’s classy, and it complements the watch’s luxurious theme perfectly.
The Practical Stuff
At 38.5mm wide and 13.6mm thick, this chronograph wears comfortably on most wrists. The 44.5mm lug-to-lug distance means it won’t overwhelm smaller wrists either. There’s sapphire crystal front and back (the front is double-domed, naturally), and the watch is water-resistant to 5 ATM, which is fine for daily wear but maybe take it off before diving for actual caviar.
How to Get One
All 200 pieces launch on November 11th at 3pm GMT exclusively on underd0g.com. They’re priced at £1,750 (about $2,200 USD), which is remarkably fair for a limited edition chronograph with this level of finishing and a custom movement.
Studio Underd0g promises to deliver all pieces within the month, processing orders on a first-come, first-served basis. Given the brand’s growing reputation and the limited quantity, expect these to move quickly.
The Champagne & Caviar proves that serious watchmaking doesn’t require a serious attitude. Sometimes the best watches are the ones that make you smile every time you check the time. And if checking the time reminds you of life’s little luxuries? Well, that’s just a bonus.
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