Introducing: The Massena LAB x Revolution Uni-Racer 1949
What We Know
Massena Lab and Revolution have teamed up for a real deep-cut release for folks in the know and it’s an eye-catching reference to one of the best chronographs ever made.
Based on the same platform as Massena LAB’s other Uni-Racer models, the watch is a 39mm wide and 13mm high manually-wound chronograph powered by a Sellita Caliber SW510 Elaboré movement. That movement, with nine o’clock running seconds and a 30-minute totalizer at three o’clock, runs at 4Hz with 58 hours of power reserve and is cased in stainless steel with 50m of water resistance.
That “deep-cut” reference I mentioned is all in the dial, a stunning and unusual black sector dial with a base-1000 tachymeter. But that’s not what makes it so special. The sector dial is a luminous pumpkin hue (which Massena LAB says is a brand-new color mix of Super-LumiNova) with Roman numerals at 12 and six. The chronograph and subdial hands are white, while the hour and minute hands are blued and filled with the same pumpkin lume.
The basis for the design is a rare – currently unobtainable – pièce unique Patek Philippe ref. 130 chronograph from 1949. Some may recognize it as being featured in John Goldberger’s Patek Philippe Steel Watches book. To the best of my knowledge, the watch currently resides in one of the most historically important vintage watch collections in the world and is one of the most outside-the-box Pateks I’ve ever seen. What better basis for a cool limited edition?
Yes, that’s right, this is a limited edition of 120 pieces set to release from Revolution on its website on Friday, July 28 at 10 AM EDT for $3,750.
What We Think
I love a good mix of old and new and that’s what Massena LAB does best. Mixed with the watch knowledge between collector and founder William Massena and Revolution’s founder Wei Koh, they’ve dug up a really interesting reference on which to base this new release.
Of course, it’s not a 1:1 recreation. While I love the old Patek ref. 130, it was a pretty diminutive chronograph and would be out of place today. In fact, I’m not sure where you’d get an affordable movement to case in a 33mm size – let alone how many people would be buying a watch that size. So this watch makes a lot of sense as a nod to the vintage but in a modern, wearable format.
The case is also more angular than the ref. 130, with pump pushers instead of rectangular pushers, and I would have loved to see the case created with a bit more shape and thinness to the lugs. It’s also a little pricey compared to other Sellita Caliber SW510 movement-powered watches on the market, but with all the other little touches, it’s a tempting proposition. So tempting that I’m going to be thinking about it quite a bit between now and it’s release on Friday.
The Basics
Brand: Massena LAB
Model: The Massena LAB x Revolution Uni-Racer 1949
Diameter: 39mm
Thickness: 13mm
Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel
Dial Color: Glossy black dial with a luminous sector dial
Indexes: Roman numerals and base-1000 tachymeter
Lume: Specially formulated color of Super-LumiNova
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Strap/Bracelet: Black deerskin strap, made in Italy with Massena LAB stainless steel buckle. 20mm lug width.
The Movement
Caliber: Sellita Caliber SW510 Elaboré
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph
Power Reserve: 58 hours
Winding: Manual
Frequency: 4Hz
Jewels: 23 jewels
Additional Details: Closed, stainless steel case back with circular graining and “One of 120” engraving. M LAB signature and Revolution star logo.
Pricing & Availability
Price: $3,750
Availability: Friday, July 28 at 10 AM EDT
Limited Edition: Yes, 120 pieces
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The Hodinkee Shop is an authorized retailer of Massena LAB. For more on the Massena LAB x Revolution Uni-Racer 1949, visit Revolution.
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