With one of the most recognizable design languages in the watch world, Unimatic has now brought a stealthy, all-black aesthetic to its U4 field watch. The Italian brand’s most brutalist and simple design has now been transformed so that it’s almost unrecognizable. While high-contrast black and white dials are no stranger to the Modello Quattro, this is the first time the steel case gets the black DLC treatment.
Pure Industrial Minimalism
The U4, introduced back in late 2021, became a staple of their Classic series with its military-inspired, minimalist design and no-nonsense approach to legibility. This new U4-BLB takes that formula and pushes it into tactical territory.
The entire 40mm case is finished in brushed black DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon), a coating that’s not only significantly harder and more scratch-resistant than traditional PVD but also creates a non-reflective surface that’s ideal for low-visibility situations. The brushed treatment diffuses light rather than reflecting it, giving the case a subtle sheen without any distracting glare. It’s a cohesive look that extends to every component, including the oversized 8mm screw-down crown and its protective guards, as well as the NATO strap hardware.
The Sandwich Dial Advantage
Where the U4-BLB really stands out is its matte black sandwich dial construction. Instead of simply painting lume onto markers, Unimatic uses a two-layer approach. The bottom layer is coated entirely in Super-LumiNova BG W9, while the top matte black layer has the hour markers cut out to reveal the luminous material beneath. This technique — famously used in vintage military dive watches — creates dimension and allows for substantially more lume compound than traditional applications.
The “minimal phantom” hands blend into the dial when reading in normal light, letting the lume do the heavy lifting in low-light. A discreet date window at 6 o’clock maintains the dial’s symmetry without cluttering the overall design. It’s covered by a 2.8mm flat sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating on the inner surface, giving you clarity from any angle.
Reliable Workhorse Movement
Inside is the dependable Seiko NH35A automatic movement — a caliber that’s become the go-to for accessible tool watches, with a 41-hour power reserve, hacking seconds, and both automatic and manual winding capabilities. Like always, you also get 300m of water resistance, which gives the U4 more capability beyond the typical field watch.
Spec Sheet
Model: Unimatic Modello Quattro U4-BLB
Case Size: 40mm
Lug-to-Lug: 13.7mm
Case Material: 316L stainless steel with brushed black DLC coating
Movement: Seiko NH35A automatic
Water Resistance: 300m
Dial: Matte black sandwich construction with Super-LumiNova BG W9
Strap: Black heavy-duty nylon NATO with black DLC stainless steel hardware
Limited Edition: 99 pieces
Pricing & Availability
Priced at $870, the Unimatic Modello Quattro U4-BLB is limited to just 99 individually numbered pieces. Unfortunately, they’re all sold out, so you’ll have to look for one on the secondary market.
Recap
Unimatic Modello Quattro U4-BLB
Limited to just 99 pieces, Unimatic’s new U4-BLB takes their minimalist field watch and blacks out everything — case, dial, hardware — with DLC coating and a sandwich dial that’s loaded with lume for serious low-light visibility.
