Massena Lab Uni-Racer 'Safari'
Massena Lab Uni-Racer 'Safari', Massena Lab , $3,495, Model: Uni-Racer Reference: UR-001-SAF Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, 30-minute chronograph, tachymeter Material: Stainless steel Dimensions: 39mm diameter; 13mm thickness Crystal: Scratch-resistant dome plexiglass crystal Caseback: Stainless steel Dial: Deep green fumé dial with tan and red details Lume: Yes, Super-LumiNova on hour markers and hands Caliber: Manually wound Sellita SW510 elaboré Power Reserve: 58 hours Water Resistance: 50 meters Bracelet/Strap: Charcoal deerskin leather strap Lug Width: 20mm Manufactured: SwitzerlandMassena Lab Uni-Racer 'Safari', Massena Lab , $3,495, Massena LAB returns! The vintage-inspired Uni-Racer is recreated in a 35-piece initial-production run that flips the script in a '70s-inspired shade of saturated chartreuse. Why We Love It
The Uni-Racer 'Safari' is available for purchase today but will ship in 4-6 business days. Massena LAB, the horological concept studio founded by watch-industry authority William Massena, has returned to the Uni-Racer. Inspired by the Universal Genève Uni-Compax, a rare vintage chronograph that's a favorite in the HODINKEE Shop, the new Massena LAB Uni-Racer "Safari" updates the 1960s design with a larger 39mm × 13mm steel case and a modern manually wound movement inside, all while staying faithful to the fit, finish, and appearance of the popular vintage chronograph. Only 35 examples of the Uni-Racer "Safari" will be produced, and the watch is exclusively available from the HODINKEE Shop and Massena LAB. Massena consulted with a number of former Universal Genève employees while working on the new Uni-Racer, which helped him recreate the case of the original Uni-Compax in nearly identical fashion. The round case is polished vertically, has pump pushers, and connects to faceted, downturned lugs. The crystal of the Uni-Racer is made of acrylic glass, an intentional choice meant to recapture the warmth of the vintage examples. Massena LAB and its partners were able to adapt the design of the acrylic glass so it can ensure up to 50 meters of water resistance. The center of the crystal also features a small, engraved "M" (for Massena), a signature that's similar to what you might find on a vintage watch. Inside the watch is a manually wound Sellita SW510 M workhorse movement, with a 58-hour power reserve, that has been finished to Massena LAB's exacting standards. The watch is completed by the addition of a charcoal deerskin leather strap, a perfect choice given the watch's mid-century design background. The strap has a unique pin-buckle exclusive to the watch that recalls vintage Universal Genève buckles, but featuring a requisite Massena LAB twist.
The Backstory
The Universal Genève Uni-Compax that inspired the Massena LAB Uni-Racer had a short lifespan in the mid-1960s, from 1963 to 1965. Its "big-eye" dial execution was bold and unconventional, providing a distinctive style and enhanced legibility for the chronograph functionality. Its individual look has attracted collectors for years, leading to a continuous increase in the cult desirability and value of the vintage examples, which have become rarer and rarer over time. It is in deep appreciation of the original Universal Genève Uni-Compax that Massena LAB has revived the design for the modern era, a process that took nearly three years of work.
Features
Model: Uni-Racer Reference: UR-001-SAF Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, 30-minute chronograph, tachymeter Material: Stainless steel Dimensions: 39mm diameter; 13mm thickness Crystal: Scratch-resistant dome plexiglass crystal Caseback: Stainless steel Dial: Deep green fumé dial with tan and red details Lume: Yes, Super-LumiNova on hour markers and hands Caliber: Manually wound Sellita SW510 elaboré Power Reserve: 58 hours Water Resistance: 50 meters Bracelet/Strap: Charcoal deerskin leather strap Lug Width: 20mm Manufactured: Switzerland
About This Brand
Massena LAB is a collaborative creative studio that designs and develops unique and original timepieces with the preferences of contemporary watch collectors in mind. Founded by William Massena, a watch industry veteran (and Talking Watches alum), in 2018, Massena LAB has quickly found its niche, producing popular limited-edition watches and clocks with makers such as Habring², UNIMATIC, and MB&F. The company has also begun to produce a small selection of watches under its own name. With a keen eye for detail and a penchant for smart collaboration, every Massena LAB timepiece stands out as something truly special and collectible.
