Studio Underd0g Debuts Next Generation 02SERIES With Two New Colors

Microbrand powerhouse Studio Underd0g has managed to release some of the most memorable and instantly recognizable designs in the few short years since its launch in 2021. The field watch-inspired 02SERIES was the brand’s first stab at adding a time-only watch collection to its catalog back in 2023, and today, the brand is officially kicking off the line’s next evolution. The Dirty Dozen inspiration with tongue-in-cheek charm that has defined the collection remains steadfast, but the brand has added some serious upgrades in the spec department and is launching two brand new colorways to boot. 

02SERIES (Gen2)

Given that the brand launched to great success with its 01Series of chronographs (with the Watermel0n colorway becoming a delicious runaway hit in the enthusiast community), moving away from the bi-compax formula into simpler design territory was something of a risk, but one that’s paid off in dividends. The 02SERIES proved the British independent was not just a one-hit wonder, and three years later, the brand is pushing the format further, while retaining all the key details its fandom already knows and loves. 

While the 37.5mm diameter of the round case remains, for its second generation, the brand has managed to slim down the profile quite significantly, even while retaining the collection’s signature multilayer sandwich dial construction. While the initial case height of the 02SERIES was 12mm, the second generation has thinned out the case thickness by 5mm to 11.5mm. Excluding the bubbly sandwich dial crystal, the case height is just 9.4mm – a difference that will certainly pay off in the wearing experience. In spite of this downsizing, the line’s 100-meter water resistance remains intact. Additionally, each model is 46mm lug-to-lug with an 18mm lug width. 

New Colorways

Studio Underd0g is always quite cheeky with its model names, and I will formally introduce you now to the newest in the pack: Nightshade and Red L0lly. The former is the slightly more quirky of the new duo, opting for a deep, almost purple, backdrop paired with a red railroad minutes track, and large cream Arabic numerals outlined in red marking the hours. That isn’t to say Red L0lly doesn’t pack the heat. This colorway is a deep, dramatic red through and through, paired with silvery grey markers outlined in black.

For both models, the brand has done something quite novel in the dial department. Not only are the dials themselves sunray finished, but the second layer of crystal itself has been tinted to help achieve the dynamic hues. For these models, the lume has been used with more restraint than some of the other colorways in the series, going for just the hands and luminous markers rather than a fully luminous dial. 

In the brand’s SERIES 02 (Gen2), the familiar sherbert-hued Pink Lem0nade and frosty Steffany Blue dial variations are here to stay, fully lumed dials and all. But, in its next generation, the brand is bidding adieu to two old familiar favorites, Full Mo0n and Midnight. Across all four models, the minutes track and the dial typography have undergone a slight reduction, and the hands have been shortened to help accommodate the change in case height and boost overall legibility. 

The Movement 

The case proportions aren’t the only upgrades you’ll find in the next generation of the 02SERIES. Under the hood, we’ve got a brand-new movement to contend with. The previously used Sellita SW210 has gotten the boot in favor of the SW200-2 M Power+, and, as the use of the “+” has likely tipped you off to, the power reserve has gotten a boost. Still hand-wound in keeping with the vintage field watch vibes, this caliber has a weekend-proof power reserve of 63 hours (that’s 21 more hours than the original models). Additionally, a flip of the watch reveals some subtle tweaks on the caseback, with the backdrop being mattified, allowing the jellyfish relief to stand out more boldly. 

Final Thoughts

The independents and microbrands have been running the show in the past few years, and Studio Underd0g continues to work at the top of its game. For me, the independents are the most fun to watch over time, as they keep pushing to refine and innovate, even free from the safeguards of working under a large conglomerate. Given that the SERIES02 was already a smash hit from the brand and had previously sold out, I don’t think the brand will have any problem moving the sleeker, refined follow-up generation in the slightest and will likely attract new fans with its more trim profile. Each model in the Studio Underd0g SERIES02(Gen2) is priced at $1,200 and is available online now on the brand’s website or by appointment at the brand’s flagship D0ghouse. 

For more information, visit the brand’s website here.