A Repost of Rod's Uber Long UTS 1000m V2 Watch Review - In 3 Parts

[RBrylawski]

A Repost of the Introduction Thread of my UTS 1000m V2 Watch (with some modification to make it IWL appropriate) - From May 20th 2014

Part 1

For some time I’ve felt my collection was perhaps too dressy, lacking diversity. How could it not be? I buy very nice, but conservative pieces over and over. So two watches had to go (New Rule: To get something…..something has to go!). And as much as I liked my Frederique Constant FC-710 and Montblanc Star GMT Chrono, they just weren’t getting much wrist time. With the Grand Seiko, their prospects for wrist time grew even dimmer.

I decided it was time for a real “Tool Watch.” Something “Badass,” but not so “Badass” I couldn’t wear it to work, or out to dinner. Plus my collection didn’t have a true diver. Not that I dive. I don’t. Heck, my watches don’t even get wet. But I’ve found myself looking at diver’s and thinking I needed (well OK, wanted) one in my collection.

I was absolutely convinced my itch for a diver would be scratched by an Omega PO 8500. When you add what I paid for the Grand Seiko and this new piece, I could have bought one. But what’s the fun in that when I could scratch two itches with two completely unique but really great watches?

I first learned about UTS from a WatchTime Magazine article and I’ve been utterly fascinated since. I did a lot research and while this brand doesn’t have the legacy of a long established Swiss or German house, it’s pretty cool how the line came to be. So sit back, maybe pour a glass of wine and suffer through another long introduction post of my new UTS 1000M V2 Pacific Horizon Diver. I hope you find my research about the company, their watches and my review all with pictures interesting!

So Who Are Nicolaus Spinner and Stepehn Newman?


Herr Spinner in His Workshop Hand Making UTS Watches

In 1998, Engineer Nicolaus Spinner who owns a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) manufacturing firm in Munchen (Munich to most of us) Germany,a watch enthusiast in his own right, built a watch he called the Commander. Herr Spinner (as he is commonly referred to) looked high and low for a watch with qualities he simply found lacking in other brands. So what does a guy who owns an engineering firm do? Well he decides he can make exactly the watch he wants. So off to his workshop he went, he ordered some Swiss components, CNC machined his own watch case and the Commander was born. Here is a picture of the Commander.



The Commander wasn’t a diver per se. But he made it in a case that would put most divers to shame with a manual winding movement, a screw down crown and water resistance to 3000 meters. Herr Spinner didn’t actually set out to create a new watch brand. Nope, he just wanted a watch for himself, built like a tank, truly waterproof and something he’d want to wear.

Being a bit excited about his new creation, Herr Spinner did what any parent might do. He posted pictures of his new purpose built baby on his personal website, where it caught the eye of an American Engineer and watch lover himself, Stephen Newman.


Stephen Newman - CEO of UTS North America (and a really great guy!)

Stephen, a tech entrepreneur who started software companies and launched internet start ups was a watch guy himself. Rumor has it he took apart mechanical clocks his parents bought and put them back together as a kid. On Herr Spinner’s website, he was fascinated not necessarily by the Commander, but by a manual wind chronograph Spinner had just created. So he contacted Spinner and offered to buy the watch. That’s as they say how history was made. Soon a partnership was formed with the goal of turning the watch into a business. Today, Stephen is the President and CEO of UTS North America. He’s the face of UTS in the US. Since there’s actually no store in the US you can try one on or buy one from, if you want a UTS of your own you’ll have to call or email. I recommend calling. This way you’ll have the pleasure of speaking with Stephen, who is one heck of a great guy to buy a watch from!

[RBrylawski]

Part 2

Since its inception, UTS has developed a dedicated following around the globe. “UTS” stands for “Uhren Technic Spinner” which roughly translates to Practical/Useful Watches, made by Spinner. In fact, every single UTS watch is completely hand made by Herr Spinner. There’s no team of watchmakers in his shop. No sir, there’s Nicolaus Spinner hand making each and every watch he sells. UTS makes about 200 watches a year with each model limited to 200 pieces. It doesn’t get much more limited edition than that!

Each watch is assembled in his factory outside Munich where Spinner, who in partnership with his brothers also produce machinery for other industrial clients. Here’s where every single UTS watch is built by Herr Spinner.



If there’s one thing UTS is known for its rock solid watch cases. Spinner personally mills each case on his own CNC machines from a solid block of high grade German 316L Stainless Steel. Many large watch companies can’t do that. Most use industrialized stamping to make their cases where heated metal is forced into molds and dies. The UTS process is completely hands-on and way more labor intensive. A UTS case is not only Rock Solid, but has a really cool high-tech look. UTS watches have an undeniable family resemblance, with UTS trademark lugs securely attached by hex screws. Spinner also applies the brushed finishes to every watch by hand.



Just How Many UTS Watch Models Are There Anyway? The 3000M case became the first UTS Dive watch. And Diver’s are what UTS is most known for. In fact, UTSwas the FIRST watch company to ever put a Sapphire back on a 1000M rated diver 10 years ago! Today, UTS produces the 1000M dive watch (GMT and non GMT), the 2000M Dive watch, with a helium release valve, and the 3000M Dive watch with a bidirectional bezel connected by hex screws turning on ceramic ball bearings. On the 3000M watch, the crystal is held in place by a stainless steel ring attached to the case by seven additional hex screws. And if those don’t go deep enough for you,there’s the new 4000M (both GMT and non-GMT) which is TALL – Really TALL at 17.5mm! Here's the 1000M and the 4000M.





Another cool Dive model is the 600M, a Chronograph powered by an ETA 7750, for which Spinner invented a new locking system for the chronograph pushers. Instead of screwing them down to lock, they unscrew upward.






While all UTS watches have incredible waterproof ratings, not all UTS watches are technically divers. There’s the Adventure GMT, without a rotating bezel, but it’s still rated at 500M. It’s also big at 45mm. It has to be big to handle the Automatic Valgranges movement A07.171 with GMT complication. There’s also the manual wind Adventure with a Unitas 6497 movement. And just in case you were sitting there thinking UTS just isn’t WIS enough for you, there’s Spinner’s crème dela crème! The 1000M Tourbillon Dive watch with a manual winding STT 13.75 movement developed by Atelier (now owned by Bovet). It also has an impressive power reserve of 110 hours. And you can see the decorated movement through a Sapphire case back. Pretty amazing for a dive watch! It has a nice but my no means inappropriate price tag of $45,000!



Unmistakably Bauhaus, Right? How does one describe the style of a UTS watch? Bauhaus seems most appropriate. But what does that really mean? So being a curious fellow, I learned Bauhaus is a style developed from a school of applied arts, established by Walter Gropius in Germany from 1919 to 1933. The ....’s disbanded the school in 1933. Evidently Modern Design wasn’t very popular with them? Some might say Bauhaus is similar to Art Decco in concept. But Bauhaus is more purposely simple in design while highly functional in use. Some might feel UTS watches are not highly adorned. Tome, UTS makes rock solid, built like a tank, functional, really cool watches, without unnecessary adornment.

What Does UTS, “Badass” and Hollywood Have in Common? Its cool owning a watch featured in a big budget movie, right? Look at the Rolex and Omega connection to James Bond movies. Well guess what? “UTS” is no stranger to Hollywood either! In the most recent Bruce Willis movie, “A Good Day to Die Hard”(released in 2013), one of the most “Badass” characters in the movie (“Mako”) wore the very same 1000M V2 watch I just bought! Here’s a picture of “Badass Mako” wearing it.



The director of the film, John Moore also wore a UTS 4000M GMT while filming the movie. Here’s a picture of him with his UTS on.

[RBrylawski]

Part 3

So I Introduce My Brand New “Badass” UTS 1000M V2 Pacific Horizon. This watch is exactly what I was looking for. It’s a great looking, bullet proof “Badass Tool Watch” that adds exactly what my collection was missing! It’s not for the faint of wrist. On the metal bracelet, it comes in at a whopping 255 grams (155 grams on rubber). But with the unique lug shape, it’s actually quite comfortable and sits very nicely on my 7 ¼” wrist. One thing’s for sure, if you have one of these“Badass” puppies strapped on, you won’t forget you’re wearing a watch!

The packaging UTS arrives in is well, “Tool-Like.” It comes in a very nice, oh so appropriate indestructible Pelican Case. Inside the case was my watch on metal bracelet, a Hex Screw Driver, a rubber band with nice UTS logo buckle and a simple manual. It’s not fancy but it was purposely presented that way. It would have been silly if my UTS came packaged in a fancy-dancy lacquered wood box with velvet lining. Yes it would!



The 1000M V2 is not as mammoth as one might think for a watch weighing this much. It has a 43mm bezel and it’s just 14.5mm tall. As you move up the depth ladder (2000M – 4000M), you move up the height ladder too. The trademark lugs attached by Spinners patented Hex screws are not only cool looking, but they help position the watch perfectly on my wrist. But if you ever want to turn your watch into a pocket watch, just remove the lugs and presto, you’ll have a pocket watch. The case as I’ve already mentioned is brushed not polished. I really appreciate how it’s finished with a purpose built “Tool Watch” look. The original 1000M had a solid dial, but the V2 adds more visual depth, with a solid outer ring and a beautifully done Sunburst inner dial. The writing as one would expect is minimalist with UTS and Munchen in smaller type centered below 12. The date change wheel is thankfully color matched and is located in a very small window between 4 and 5. The only other text is Professional Diver with 1000M – 100Bar below. The watch is without question made in Germany, but no UTS watch has ever said it on the dial.



While you can order a UTS 1000M on a rubber band, if you spend just a few dollars more, you’ll get the solid, VERY well made and hefty SS link bracelet as well. I’m pretty sure I’ll be sporting my UTS pretty exclusively on the metal as it just completes the“tool” look. Each link is brushed just like the watch (no fancy polished pieces – no sir) and it’s thick at 5mm. Now that I’ve worn the bracelet for a day, I think it’s amazing, really well made and comfortable. Even the tri-fold to the clasp is decorated, which is a very cool touch.



What’s Under The Hood? As mentioned earlier, Herr Spinner uses rock solid, mostly ETA movements in his watches. And not just base movements, no way. He orders only “Top Grade” movements and my 1000M V2 is fitted with (yes I know there are some who might balk at spending over $2K for one) the venerable, tried and true, very serviceable, “Top Grade”ETA 2824-2, adjusted personally by Spinner to 5 positions. The rotor proudly says “UTS Munchen” spinning on top of a nicely decorated movement. Of course I haven’t had the watch long enough to assess its accuracy. But Top Grades are supposed to be +/-4 seconds/day with a maximum daily deviation of +/-15 seconds/day, so I have to believe it will be very good.

I ordered my 1000M with a Sapphire case back. To ensure it can’t leak, it’s not only very thick at 4mm, its sealing system is major league. While I could have ordered my watch with a solid case back, for me, a BIG part of the joy of having a mechanical watch is being able to admire all those itty bitty parts working in unison bringing me the time of day. There aren’t many dive watches offering this and certainly far fewer with 1000M depth ratings.



There’s Lume Right? What’s a “Badass” dive watch without “Badass lume?” UTS doesn’t disappoint here. There’s a generous coating of Blue Super-LumiNova on the hands and markers. There’s also a round marker at 12 on the bezel with ample lume as well. It’s certainly the best lume on any watch in my collection. Here’s a picture of mine.




Almost Done! Sighs of relief can be heard throughout IWL! If you're still here, you are to be congratulated! Yes you are!! But what’s a watch review without the requisite wrist shots, right? So I’ll leave you with some shots of my new“Badass” UTS 1000M V2 Pacific Horizon. I’m sure this new addition will get a lot of wrist time. Especially during the muggy, hot summers we have in Florida.



A final note: Since I had never seen a UTS watch in the wild, I was hopeful it would be as promised, but I wasn’t really sure what it would truly be like on my wrist. To say the attention to detail, high quality finishing and just overall “Badass Wrist Presence” has exceeded my expectations in every single way, is an understatement.

Thanks for taking the time to read about my new UTS watch and why I’m so pumped to own one!

NOTE: This review ultimately led me to the publisher of WristWatch Magazine, who asked me to reduce this review to 750 words (no easy feat mind you). And so I did that and here is a PDF of the actual article published in the August 2014 issue of the Magazine.

UTS Watch Article.pdf

[CFR]

I also remember this post. How could I forget? You made me google/search the brand.

Thank you for the repost, Rod.

[RBrylawski]

I also remember this post. How could I forget? You made me google/search the brand.

Thank you for the repost, Rod.

Thanks C! I don't think anyone could forget this review. It most likely was and could still be, the longest, most picture laden watch review in the other islands history. And now it could take that honor at IWL!

[Seriously]

Was the Commander marketed in quantity ? or was it just a (the) one-off ?

I like UTS , looked at them before after seeing them in threads, but I think it's another brand that will elude me

[meijlinder]

Another great review Rod. Didn't read it on wus since I mostly stayed in Russian or Chinese forum. Thanks for reposting. Lots of great info and don't think it's possible with too many watch pics

[RBrylawski]

Was the Commander marketed in quantity ? or was it just a (the) one-off ?

I like UTS , looked at them before after seeing them in threads, but I think it's another brand that will elude me

The Commander was the first watch, and is no more. There is however, a current model called the Adventure, which is Manual Wind running a Unitas. Here's a link to it: http://www.utswatches.com/adventureunitas/

[RBrylawski]

Another great review Rod. Didn't read it on wus since I mostly stayed in Russian or Chinese forum. Thanks for reposting. Lots of great info and don't think it's possible with too many watch pics

Thanks so much!

[Seriously]

I'll have to message them - No online shop presence either