UK-based Uniform Wares has made a name for itself with modern watches designed with sterile dials (no text) and slick looks that are based on classic timepiece design principles. For a while, Uniform Wares has teased a move to a complete “Swiss Made” production, and now at the end of 2014, the re-vamped collection of all Swiss Made Uniform Wares products is available. Yes, it does mean a slight hike in Uniform Wares watches prices, but it should also mean a hike in overall quality and finishing.
The brand is still dedicated to their own brand of high-end quartz, so we are still talking about mostly sub $1,000 prices. Having said that, these new C-Line C41 Chronograph watches top out at about $1,600 (around 1,000 GBP) depending on the model. The Uniform Wares Swiss Made collection will currently be distributed between two model families (the M-Line and C-Line collections) which each have a range of models contained within. I believe that, for a while, some of the legacy Uniform Wares models continue to be available.
At present, the current flagship models will be within the Uniform Wares C41 Chronograph collection of watches. There are actually nine distinct models available when you combine the various strap options for the PVD black and gold C41/SRG-01, PVD gold C41/SGO-01, and steel with PVD gray bezel C41/SRG-01 pieces. Each of the three versions are available with a matching rubber, leather, or Milanese mesh metal bracelet.
At 41mm wide, Uniform Wares hopes to maximize appeal in what they consider to be a unisex model. I really like the classic shape of the Uniform Wares C41 Chronograph married to the clean multi-level dial. You also get a rare two-register quartz chronograph with a Swiss Made Ronda movement. The lighter dialed Uniform Wares C41 Chronograph models should prove to have really fantastic legibility thanks to the applied black-colored hour markers and matching hands. While I am not typically a fan of sterile dials, I tend to make exceptions for Uniform Wares timepieces that for me almost single-handedly give merit to the aesthetic concept.
When it comes to straps, the story actually gets a bit deeper, as there are more options than meet the eye. There are many animal skin options available when it comes to the leather straps available for not just the Uniform Wares C41 Chronograph pieces, but other Uniform Wares watch models. Currently available are Cordovan leather, alligator, stingray, and Nappa leather strap options in addition to the rubber and Milanese bracelet options.
Some of the features that come with the new Swiss Made Uniform Wares watches include double AR-coated sapphire crystals, much more detailed dials, and and overall improvement in finishing and materials. Uniform Wares watches always felt very solid for a quartz watch collection, but now they should be getting even better. Uniform Wares reports that one of the reasons for moving to a Swiss production partner was to help ensure production quality as well as consistency – that is more difficult to find in many of the available Asian production partners.
Simple three-hand M-Line and C-Line Swiss Made watches will have starting prices of 240 GBP (about $385 USD), and will go up to 980 GBP (about $1,570 USD). The C41 collection watches range in price from $1,200 USD – $1,570 USD. Furthermore, for the time being, Uniform Wares will make all of their Swiss Made watches exclusively available for purchase on their website. uniformwares.com