One of the latest limited series watches from UNDONE collaborates with a major name in modern design and fashion. These are the UNDONE X STAPLE Ying-Yang watches, developed in partnership with Jeff Staple. Born Jeff Ng, Jeff Staple gained fame in the 1990s and founded Staple Design in 1997. Later, Staple Design was renamed Reed Art Department, still led by Staple. He also founded Staple Pigeon - a full clothing line, and oversees creative operations in the US for Hypebeast - a publication and store dedicated to modern fashion. Mature, experienced, educated, and with good taste, Jeff Staple is one of the most ideal personalities UNDONE could have chosen for a design collaboration, resulting in a product that is not only inspiring but also appealing.
The UNDONE X STAPLE Yin-Yang watch is poetic, visually light, and appropriately branded. Based on the 40mm UNDONE Basecamp collection, the UNDONE X STAPLE [PIGEON] Ying-Yang watch is most easily recognized by its 'double pigeon head' pattern on the dial. In line with the dual element theme, the dial features both Arabic numeral hour markers and graphic markers (UNDONE claims this is another version of a California dial), as well as two colors of luminescence.
Classic Submariner-style hands are done in Staple's signature pink color (appearing red at first glance), and the 'lightning' seconds hand (also pink) adds additional personality (along with readability) to the composition. The bidirectional rotating bezel is adorned with Staple's personal slogan 'positive social contagion', and the numeric markers on the bezel range from 75 to 97. These numbers signify 1975 - the year Mr. Staple was born, and 1997 - the year he founded Staple Design. On the back of the case, there's an exhibition window with a pink tint and an additional pigeon image over the view of the automatic movement.
The 40mm case (15mm thick) is water-resistant up to 100 meters and made of steel. The STAPLE case features a matte black PVD coating and is capped with a domed Lexan polycarbonate crystal (a rarity for wristwatches). Inside is a Japanese automatic Seiko Instrument caliber NH35A movement, operating at 3 Hz with a 42-hour power reserve.
Both UNDONE and Staple Design sell these watches, available in various forms depending on the owner's strap preferences. The most exclusive model is the limited edition of 300 pieces on a bracelet, known as the UNDONE X STAPLE Yin-Yang Limited Edition, which comes with a matching black steel bracelet (on quick-release spring bars) and an additional black and white Staple Pigeon strap with NATO-style printing (and a keychain). There are also two non-limited versions available on a leather strap or an all-black NATO-style strap.
What I most like about the UNDONE X STAPLE watches is the resulting project. Of course, it is impressive that UNDONE is working with an important fashion figure, and it's also a great pleasure for Jeff Staple's (and Staple Pigeon's) fans to have a new wristwatch product to advocate for. However, the true measure of interesting watches is the ability to appreciate them without knowing anything about the people who conceived them. The unique Yin-Yang style dial and fresh take on a classic wristwatch dial are simply fun and engaging.
Of course, to truly enjoy the overall design, one must have some inclination towards ordinary pigeons, but it's rare to find 'co-designed' watches like the UNDONE X STAPLE that feel so cohesive when viewed outside the context of their creators.
The price of the UNDONE X STAPLE Yin-Yang watch is $649 USD for the limited edition of 300 pieces on a bracelet and $519 USD for the two non-limited models on straps.
