The field watch has long provided a blank canvas for creative – or in many cases not so creative – designs. Leave it to a brand like Studio Underd0g to take a timeless classic and give it a fresh and decidedly fun spin. That’s exactly what the brand did in 2023 with the launch of its 02SERIES.
The line recently got a glow up with Gen2, which notably introduced a more streamlined case – down to a 37mm diameter from the original 37.5mm and down to 11.5mm thickness from the original 12mm. In addition, the new Gen2 collection got an upgraded movement from the Sellita SW210-1 to the Sellita SW200-2 M, which in turn upped the power reserve from 42 hours to 63 hours. Still, the biggest departure we see from the run of the mill field watch is the use of color – a trait Studio Underd0g has become known for – with four shades: Red L0lly, Pink Lem0nade, Steffany Blue, and Nightshade. Now, for the first time, a limited color run comes to the Gen2 series – this is the Special Edition 02SERIES Mantis.
For this limited edition, we don’t just get a bright new green colorway by day – we get one that glows bright green by night. Yup, that’s right – it’s a full-lume dial. Thanks to a generous application of X1 GL C3 Super-LumiNova (a whopping seven layers to be exact), the daytime green ombre transforms into a single, uniform glow once the light fades.
Here, at the base, you have that well-refined case design of the new Gen2 makeup. The dial gets a pleasing green color palette, fading from a yellowy-lime hue to a more blued mint green in subtle gradation. For a bit of legibility and contrast without disrupting the overall monochromatic color scheme, the hands are filled with true yellow. The green theme continues to the strap with an “herb” washed suede that reads as a deep forest green from The Strap Tailor. This final touch keeps the overall look cohesive while also adding a nice interplay of light and dark.
While this model is undeniably colorful and playful, the daytime look is also fairly neutral, and I imagine it would be pretty versatile in pairing well with a variety of ensembles. However, the lumed-out nighttime look is certainly bolder and commands wrist attention. The green here appears to be more electric and neon than the gradient dial, as one would expect from the glow of lume.
The real kicker here is a very narrow window to grab one of the new Special Edition 02SERIES Mantis models for your collection. Tomorrow, September 1, the model will be sold for just nine hours, from 3pm to 12am BST or 9am to 6pm EST. In addition, a small allocation will also be reserved for those booking an appointment at Studio Underd0g’s in-house facility, The D0ghouse. However, once the order window closes, the Mantis will be discontinued.
Despite the exclusivity, the model is priced the same as the other permanent editions in Studio Underd0g’s catalog at $1,200. For more information and to snag yours before the sales close, head over directly to Studio Underd0g.
