Horological Meandering

Unboxing the Undone Basecamp

Apr 29, 2019,11:15 AM

Here's a fun watch that won't require a second mortgage. I just received my new Basecamp from Hong Kong-based Undone. They are probably best known for their customizable chronographs using Seiko mecha-quartz movements. They've recently branched out with mechanical divers' and Peanuts (Snoopy) collaboration watches.

The Basecamp is their newest model released only a couple of weeks ago. Powered by a Seiko Instrument Inc. mechanical movement, the SII cal. NH35a which is Seiko's ebauche for the cal. 4R35 (hacks and can be hand-wound). It has a screw-down crown and 50 meter water resistance. The highly domed crystal is not acrylic (Plexiglass), but rather Lexan (Polycarbonate).

This watch takes the design cues from many other famous watches and mixes them together. Let me try to call them out.

The dial is from the Bell & Ross vintage BR V series where even the date calendar is at the 4:30 position. The hour and minute hands are obviously from the 1655 Rolex Explorer II. The difference here is that the freccione Orange Arrow Hand is the12-hour hand and NOT a 24-hour GMT-hand. The bezel insert is an homage to the one on the Blancpain Fifty-Fathoms BUND 3H. Finally, the hex-nut looking crown can arguably be derived from the AP Royal Oak Jumbo. However, while these iconic designs are taken from other watches, they look good together IMHO.

There was a small amount of customizability in that I chose whether the case was in black PVD or not, the color of the date wheel, and the strap option (you get many to choose from). I also bought an extra strap. The leather straps have a quick-release mechanism for easy strap changes.

I'm impressed with the packaging in that it is compact and very vintage-looking. The cloth box protects the watch and has a slot for a spare strap. No need for a box the size of carry-on luggage.

All this for under US$300 (plus US$40 for the second strap). And shipping from HK to the USA was free.