Studio Underd0g 04SERIES: Four Watches That Are Ready For Date Night

Love is in the air, and Studio Underd0g is making sure you never miss a date. With a playful campaign centred around the art of dating, the British independent watchmaker introduces its new 04SERIES Calendar, featuring four colourful interpretations, its first automatic movement and a rather unconventional take on keeping track of time.
Dating can be complicated. There are first impressions to make, plans to organise and, most importantly, dates to remember. Studio Underd0g has decided to have a little fun with the whole affair, using the language of romance to introduce its latest collection. But while its campaign may be about finding the perfect date, the watches themselves have a more practical job: keeping track of the ones that matter.

Meet the 04SERIES Calendar, a significant new chapter for the British independent watchmaker. Known for its colourful chronographs and wonderfully irreverent approach to watch design, Studio Underd0g now steps into calendar complications with its first-ever calendar watch. The collection also introduces the brand's first automatic movement, developed in partnership with Seagull, marking an important evolution in its mechanical ambitions.

A calendar with a sense of humour

At the heart of the 04SERIES is an unconventional arrangement of three indications. The most distinctive is undoubtedly the weekend indicator, which takes pride of place around the perimeter of the dial. A series of chamfered windows marks out the Saturdays and Sundays of each month, aligning them with the corresponding dates. It is a wonderfully simple idea, but one that gives the calendar a personality of its own.

Complementing this is a retrograde pointer date. Rather than allowing a conventional date hand to complete a full rotation, the indicator travels across its scale before snapping back to the beginning. This arrangement also serves a practical purpose: it prevents the hand from crossing the moonphase display. Speaking of which, the moonphase indication completes the calendar's trio of complications, tracking the lunar cycle through its waxing and waning phases. The weekend indicator is manually adjusted at the beginning of each month, making the wearer an active participant in setting the calendar. It is an engaging detail that reinforces the brand's philosophy of making serious watches that don't take themselves too seriously.

A new movement makes its debut

The mechanical story is equally significant. Studio Underd0g returns to its longstanding movement partner Seagull for the development of the automatic ST-2115B calibre, created specifically for the 04SERIES. The collaboration builds on the relationship established through the hand-wound chronograph movement used in the brand's 01SERIES.

The development involved two years of work and 34 bespoke components, bringing the three calendar indications together within a single movement. Operating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, the calibre delivers a power reserve of 42 hours. Importantly, the watches are hand-assembled at Studio Underd0g's workshop, The D0ghouse, in Maidenhead, Great Britain. The movement can also be admired through the watch's display caseback, offering a glimpse of the mechanics behind this rather unconventional calendar.

Four colours, four personalities

The 04SERIES arrives in four dial variations, each with its own distinctive combination of colours and character. Housed in 316L stainless steel cases measuring either 37mm or 38.5mm, the collection offers a more classic silhouette while retaining the colourful personality that defines the brand. The dials feature a two-layer construction and a satin-polished finish that adds depth to their contrasting tones.

Cloud10

A little brighter than its name might suggest, Cloud10 pairs a silvery-blue dial with striking red accents. The contrast gives the watch a lively appearance without making it overly flamboyant. It is perhaps the most versatile interpretation of the collection, balancing a relatively understated base with just enough colour to keep things interesting. The brand describes it as one better than cloud nine, and we can see why.

Arabian Sky

Inspired by the warmth of golden hour, Arabian Sky brings together a golden-toned dial and contrasting blue details. The combination feels particularly rich, with the warmer dial colour providing an interesting backdrop for the calendar indications. It has a slightly more sophisticated personality than its colourful companions, making it an appealing choice for those who prefer their watches with a little warmth and character.

Shepherd's Delight

For those who believe a watch should never be shy about its colours, Shepherd's Delight is the boldest expression of the four. Its red dial is complemented by purple accents, creating a striking visual combination. The brand describes it as tomorrow's forecast, told in red, and the name captures the dramatic character of this particular variation rather well.

0vercast

Rounding off the collection is 0vercast, which takes a slightly moodier approach. Its grey-toned dial is paired with contrasting accents, creating a palette inspired by overcast skies with a welcome splash of colour. It is arguably the most understated of the four, although understated is perhaps a relative term when it comes to Studio Underd0g.
All four watches are available with leather straps by British strap specialist The Strap Tailor, complementing their respective dial colours.

Our Take

The 04SERIES represents an interesting turning point for Studio Underd0g. Until now, the brand has largely built its identity around playful chronographs and field watches, winning over collectors with unexpected colour combinations and a refreshingly uncomplicated approach to design. With the introduction of its first calendar watch, it is demonstrating that it can venture into more mechanically ambitious territory without abandoning the personality that brought it here.

What we particularly appreciate is the weekend indicator. In a category where calendar complications can sometimes feel unnecessarily busy, Studio Underd0g has found a way to make the information genuinely engaging. The retrograde date and moonphase add further mechanical interest, while the four colourways ensure that the collection remains unmistakably its own.

The new automatic movement is another important step, particularly given the two-year development process and the bespoke components involved. It signals a willingness to invest in the mechanics behind the design rather than relying on colour alone to make a statement. The 04SERIES may be a more grown-up Studio Underd0g, but thankfully, it hasn't lost its sense of humour. And if a watch can remind us that the weekend is always worth looking forward to, we think it has already understood its brief.