Studio Underd0g’s Second-Generation 02Series Becomes An Even More Seriously Fun Collection

Three years ago, Richard Benc and his Studio Underd0g brand released the 02Series collection. The design was based on the iconic Dirty Dozen field watches, with the addition of Studio Underd0g’s typical playful sauce, of course. That resulted in four versions, all of which shared the same layered dial construction. Except for the matte black Midnight variant, they all had seven layers of Super-LumiNova beneath the sapphire dial. Now, the 02Series returns, including the fully lumed Pink Lem0nade and Steffany Blue versions. But instead of the earlier black- and white-dial versions, there are now two new sunburst dials in purple and cherry red. In addition, the case and the movement have both received updates.

Three years doesn’t seem like an awfully long time between updates. However, a lot has happened since then. At the beginning of this year, Studio Underd0g announced that it acquired the Horologium workshop, where its assembly and testing take place. Richard Benc renamed it The D0ghouse. This move gives him greater control over the production processes and opens the door to scaling output to meet demand.

At the same time, Sellita introduced its updated SW200-2 Power+ movement, the successor to the SW200-1. The most important improvement is the increase in power reserve from roughly 40 hours to 65. So, let’s see what these changes mean for the updated Studio Underd0g 02 Series.

The Studio Underd0g 02Series 2.0

First of all, let’s talk about the case. I don’t think anyone complained about the 37mm stainless steel case on the first 02Series. The second generation now has a slightly larger 37.5mm case, but it’s also half a millimeter thinner, giving the watch an 11.5mm profile. Keep in mind that this includes the 2.1mm-thick double-domed sapphire crystal. Sure, the 02Series has a hand-wound movement, but that’s still very nice and slim for a field watch. Also, the 46mm lug-to-lug span remains.

As mentioned, the Studio Underd0g 02Series also comes with an updated movement. The previous version housed a manual-winding Sellita SW210-1 with a 42-hour power reserve. The second-generation 02Series features Sellita’s new SW200-2 M Power+ hand-wound movement, which offers an increased power reserve. Sellita says it’s 65 hours, but Studio Underd0g mentions a 63-hour power reserve in its press release. The movement runs at 28,800 vph and features 26 jewels.

The caliber sits behind a stainless steel case back featuring an embossed jellyfish. As more than 50% of jellyfish species are bioluminescent, this animal is a nod to the seven layers of Super-LumiNova on the Pink Lem0nade and Steffany Blue versions. It’s also a kind reminder that the 02Series is water resistant to 100 meters.

Colorful and layered dials

I think Studio Underd0g 02Series collection was the first to feature this layered dial construction. After that, we also saw it on the Brunswick 38 cocktail watches in collaboration with Fears. The inspiration for the two new dial options of the 02Series came from that very same collaboration. The Manhattan was the first watch to feature a sunburst finish underneath the dial’s transparent sapphire top layer. The new cherry Red L0lly and purple Nightshade dials share that same idea.

If you’re more into full-lume dials, you’ll be happy to know that the Pink Lem0nade and Steffany Blue versions have returned. All dials feature contrasting printing and proudly mention that they are all assembled in Great Britain. The purple Nightshade even features a bright red minute track and outline around the luminous numerals for an extra bit of color.

The 02Series 2.0 in the hand and on the wrist

I have to say, the new-generation 02Series by Studio Underd0g feels very sturdy in the hand. I’m not sure if that’s because Richard Benc now owns the premises where the watches are assembled, but they feel very grown-up, unlike their looks. And that’s not a criticism; these watches are still as playful and original as you expect any Studio Underd0g watch to be.

If I had to pick a favorite out of the four, I’d go for the Red L0lly. The cherry-red sunburst base underneath the sapphire dial somehow looks soft and sharp at the same time, and I like the off-white printing and lume on the hands. If I had to pick one of the lume dials, the Pink Lem0nade would be my choice. It’s the one that best represents Studio Underd0gs fun and playful way of adapting classic designs to the here and now.

The new slim and sturdy 37.5mm case sits very comfortably on the wrist, and the polished bezel stands out nicely against the circular-brushed lugs. It’s also nice that those lugs feature drilled holes, which make it very easy to swap out the included calfskin straps for other 18mm options. Those holes also add to the utilitarian character of the 02Series field-watch-inspired design.

The updated Sellita Power+ movement inside means you won’t have to manually wind it as often as the previous generation. In addition, accuracy is very acceptable, at around ±7 seconds per day. These improvements and the new sunburst dials show that the second-gen 02Series is an even more seriously fun than the first.

Available now

The latest Studio Underd0g 02Series is now available on the brand’s website and by appointment at The D0ghouse, starting July 7th, 2026. The watches cost €950, which is €100 more than the original 02Series models. However, with all the recent price hikes and the improvements offered, that still seems like a reasonable price to pay.

What do you think of Studio Underd0g’s new 02Series collection? Let us know in the comments below.