The New Unimatic Modello Quattro U4S-NPB Reflects The Moods Of Piedmont’s Langhe Region

Autumn is a season of moods, as we see in everything from the famous colors of Indian summers in New England to the striking landscapes of Central Europe during “old women’s summers.” Italy’s regions also offer distinctive scenery and shifting colors. The landscape of Piedmont’s Langhe region inspired Unimatic’s Langhe collection, a set of 12 watches in tones that reflect the area’s muted palette, natural textures, and quiet character. Moss, Fog, and Truffle are available across four Unimatic models, pairing the brand’s minimalist approach with soft, tonal colors. I tried the Unimatic Modello Quattro U4S-NPB.

In previous articles, I’ve wondered how Unimatic can keep surprising us with new takes on existing models. The Milan-based brand continues to show how effectively its minimalist design language can evolve. Not every release will suit everyone, of course, but the variety in Unimatic’s steady stream of watches speaks to the strength of the approach developed by founders Giovanni Moro and Simone Nunziato. The new Langhe collection once again caught my attention with its blend of Italian landscape-inspired colors and familiar watches.

The story of the new Unimatic Langhe collection

Let’s find out more about the different moods and models in the new Langhe collection. It all begins with its three colors. Moss is a subdued green, Fog a dark gray, and Truffle a warm brown. Each watch also comes on a sturdy deer-leather strap.

All the straps are a few shades darker than their corresponding dials, highlighting the latter while staying on theme. The combination of satin-finished dials and textured leather brings the colors, materials, and finishes together in a cohesive collection.

The collection includes four base models — the Modello Uno dive watch, the Modello Due field watch, the Modello Quattro military watch, and the compact Modello Cinque, a watch with a very versatile character.

All four models use Sellita SW200-1 calibers, making them slightly slimmer than their Seiko-powered counterparts. Across the 12 watches, the differences come down largely to personal taste and the mood each colorway conveys. That was certainly true when I chose a model to review, and it seems to be exactly what Unimatic intended.

The different models of the Langhe collection

Before looking more closely at the Modello Quattro U4S-NPB I borrowed, let’s run through the other watches in the lineup. The Modello Uno has a 40mm stainless steel case with a 49mm lug-to-lug and a 12.8mm profile. Its 41.5mm bezel features a minimalist, textured aluminum insert with a single lume pip at 12 o’clock.

The Modello Uno is a clear expression of Unimatic’s minimalist style, with a clean bezel that stands out among these four models. The Moss green version is the U1S-NPB, the Fog gray is the U1S-NPF, and the Truffle brown is the U1S-NPT. I prefer the Truffle version, as its layered brown tones give it a distinctly retro feel.

The Modello Due takes a different approach. With its 38 × 47.5 × 14.6mm dimensions, the watch may sound quite chunky for its size, but the 3mm-thick domed sapphire crystal accounts for a fair portion of that. Straight lugs and an oversized crown give this modern field watch a distinctive profile. The classic styling works well in all three colors, though I especially like the vintage feel of the Truffle U2S-NPT compared with the Moss U2S-NPB and Fog U2S-NPF.

Great variety in the collection

The third model is the Modello Quattro military watch. It shares the Modello Uno’s 40 × 49mm stainless steel case but replaces the unidirectional bezel with a fixed steel one. It also has a slightly thicker 13.9mm profile.

A fully brushed finish reinforces the Quattro’s utilitarian, tool-watch character, while the colors give each variant a different personality. The Truffle U4S-NPT looks the most retro, the warmer Moss U4S-NPB feels more relaxed, and the Fog U4S-NPF has a moodier, more modern appearance.

The Modello Cinque differs from the first three models. This is Unimatic’s smaller, more versatile option, ranging from a rugged field watch, like the Modello Cinque U5S-BL Limited Edition I reviewed, to a sleeker and more stylish daily piece, like the Modello Cinque U5S-A Daan reviewed. The Langhe versions sit between those two styles. The green U5S-NPB is the most vibrant, the gray U5S-NPF recalls the refined U5S-A, and the U5S-NPT has a restrained, retro look that suits a drive along Piedmont’s winding roads.

All three versions have a 36mm stainless steel case with a 43.7mm lug-to-lug span and 13.5mm thickness. The Cinque is considerably smaller than the other models, making it a natural choice for smaller wrists. Still, its 22mm lug spacing matches its larger counterparts, giving it a reassuring presence on bigger wrists, too.

Shared elements

All 12 watches have satin-finished dials with a cool gray open minute track and large luminous markers in Unimatic’s familiar style. The brand’s logo sits on the lower half of the dial, and phantom hour and minute hands filled with Super-LumiNova C1 hover above. A reverse-lollipop seconds hand with a luminous tip completes the display. Water resistance is rated at 300 meters across the collection.

Each watch in the Langhe lineup has a special case back engraved with a motif that references the collection’s three moods. Behind that lies the Swiss-made Sellita SW200-1b automatic caliber, which runs at 28,800 vph, has 26 jewels, and provides a 41-hour power reserve.

The caliber’s accuracy is rated to within ±12 seconds per day. Compared with Unimatic’s reliable but more basic Seiko NH-powered watches, the Sellita-equipped models offer both increased performance and refinement. They are also slightly slimmer.

Specially chosen leather straps for the Langhe series

All the watches come on carefully selected deer-leather straps. The Moss colorway pairs its muted satin green dial with a Military strap.  Fog combines a softer satin gray dial with a gray Fumo strap, while Truffle pairs a satin beige dial with brown Tabacco leather.

Unimatic sent us the Moss Modello Quattro U4S-NPB for review. When I opened its Peli case, the strap immediately caught my eye. The leather is thick yet supple, feels premium, and helps the watch sit comfortably on the wrist.

The strap also has plenty of character. Its color and texture set this collection apart from other Unimatic releases, and there’s an appealing honesty to the combination. I usually prefer a bracelet, but here the relationship between the dial and leather strap gives the U4S-NPB much of its charm.

As mentioned, the dial is slightly lighter green than the strap, and this small contrast adds depth. As expected from Unimatic, the watch’s build quality is excellent. The result is a stylish, robust timepiece that feels equally suited to everyday use or an epic adventure.

Final thoughts on the new Unimatic Modello Quattro U4S-NPB

The Unimatic Langhe collection doesn’t shockingly reinvent the lineup, but its colors give familiar models a distinct character. That is the appeal of Unimatic’s Classic collection: a focused range of standard models complemented by a rotating selection of limited editions. Fresh colors and executions keep the lineup interesting and give Moro and Nunziato room to explore new ideas.

The idea for this new Unimatic Langhe collection is simple but relatable. The moody colors of Piedmont’s Langhe region serve as a great inspiration for a series of 12 watches that will surely find their way to enthusiasts in no time. The three Modello Uno references retail for €1,050 / US$1,240 (ex. taxes). All the Modello Due, Modello Quattro, and Modello Cinque variations cost €950 / US$1,120 (ex. taxes).

For either of those prices, you get a watch inspired by the landscapes of northwestern Italy, with a distinctive look that doesn’t need to be revolutionary to work. Unimatic has delivered another appealing variation on its established formula. All that remains is to choose a favorite. Mine is the Modello Quattro U4S-NPB.