I Finally Bought a Studio Underd0g… Was It a Mistake? Mint Ch0c Chip Unboxing & Review

Hey everyone and welcome back to my YouTube channel. In today's video, we're going to unbox my first Studio Underdog watch and finally review one of their pieces to see if the most hyped micro brand is actually worth the money. So, grab a coffee and enjoy the video. [music] Studio Underdog is a British independent watch brand known for its bold, playful designs and a modern reinterpretation of mechanical watch making. The brand was founded by Rishad Benz, a British watch designer with years of experience creating watches for other brands and officially launched in March 2021 after initial design concepts were shared online and received very enthusiastic feedback. The first releases, such as the now iconic watermelon chronograph, featured vibrant colors and mechanical movements, immediately distinguishing the brand from more traditional watches. These early pieces used seagull handwound chronograph movements. Studio Underdog really stands out for its playful aesthetics inspired by food, nature, and visual culture rather than traditional watchmaking design language. Creative names like Watermelon, Mint, Chalk, Chip, Goofy, Panda, and similar fun titles are a big part of the brand's identity. At the same time, the brand aims to deliver solid build quality and good specifications. On my wrist today is my Seagull 1963, a watch that uses the same movement as Studio Underdog. Now, let's get into the unboxing. The packaging from Studio Underdog is very minimalistic and fully black. Inside, we find the paperwork for the watch. Here's the user manual, which explains how to operate the watch and how to use the 2-year limited warranty. Next is the certificate of authenticity, which also shows the testing report for the watch. It seems like the my piece is running quite precisely, but we'll check that later on the time graer. And here's the watch inside the black lever pouch. It's actually a very nice pouch. The lever feels soft and has that typical British touch. And here is the watch, my new studio underdog, Minhock Chip Gen 3, which I bought during the last drop for a total of $810 including import taxes. Let's get it unwrapped. And here it is in all its beauty. The mint shock chip is my favorite from the 01 series as it has a playful vibe without being as loud as the watermelon. The dial is fun and trendy, but it's nicely toned down by the base chapter ring and the dark brown strap. Overall, it's a very harmonious color combination. My first impression of the watch is very positive. It feels solid and robust in hand, like a quality build with its own unique design. The case looks quite traditional with a box style sapphire crystal on top and an open case back that lets us admire the legendary seagull movement. To set the watch, we first give it a good wind to power up the movement. After around 30 rotations, it should be fully wound, offering a 50hour power reserve. Next, we pull out the crown to set the time. Once done, we push the crown back in, and the watch is ready to go. The chronograph can be started and stopped using the top pusher and reset with the bottom pusher. The actuation feels smooth and easy with good resistance. Now, let's check the dimensions. The case measures 38.5 mm. The thickness including the crystal is 13.1 mm. Luck to luck is 45 mm. The strap starts at 20 mm. And the total weight of the watch is 70 g. On the wrist, the watch feels solid and sturdy. It does wear a bit boxy due to the fix sapphire crystal. The 38.5 mm case is perfect for my wrist, but because of the shape and the chronograph pushers, it wears more like a 40 mm watch. The case is the familiar studio underdog stainless steel case featuring a mix of polished and brushed surfaces. This adds just enough refinement to balance out the playful dial and prevents the watch from feeling toylike. It's [music] made from 316L stainless steel with polished and shameferred edges, rectangular pushers, [music] and a grippy crown with an engraved logo. The sapphire crystal on top is very boxy [music] and stands out quite a bit. The case back is also sapphire and sandlasted around the edges with engraving showing the serial number, 50 m of water resistance, assembly location, and caliber number. The strap is made from Italian Epsom lever and comes with quick release spring bars. It starts at 20 mm and tapers down to 16 mm. The buckle is made from 316 L stainless steel and is signed with the Studio Underdog logo. The dial is where this watch truly shines. Inspired by the nostalgic look of [music] mint chocolate chip ice cream, the base color is a soft mint green that feels fresh without being overpowering. There's a slight gradient effect towards a silver tone in the center of the dial and the grainy texture is created by a sandlasted base. Scattered across the dial are dark brown chips giving it an almost edible look. Playful, yes, but also very well balanced. Studio Underdog really walks a fine line here. The dial never feels gimmicky. Instead, it feels thoughtful and well executed. The matte [music] finish reduces reflections and helps with legibility, while the clean typography and minimalist layout remind you that this is still a serious watch. Underneath the fun design, the hands are coated in black and filled with super luminova. Inside the watch, Studio Underdog uses a manually wound chronograph movement, reinforcing the brand's enthusiast focused approach. The bespoke ST1901B seagull movement is a favorite among collectors, offering good reliability and strong visual appeal. The tactile pleasure of winding the watch adds an extra level of engagement. Personally, I really like this movement, but I still prefer it in my Seagull 1963 where I feel it fits better historically. For this studio underdog, I would have preferred a Swiss movement as the combination of traditional Chinese horology and quirky modern design feels a bit conflicting to me. That said, I'm very happy with the watch overall, and I might consider upgrading to one of their higher tier models in the future. Let's check the movement on the time grapher. The rate varies between minus2 and + 7 seconds per day which is well within tolerances and very good for this movement. The amplitude is somewhere between 330 and 338° and by that is excellent suggesting good lubrication, main spring strength [music] and an efficient escapement. The beat error in dial up position is also excellent although in other positions it can increase quite a bit. Overall this is a strong to excellent result. Now it's time for a loom shot. And finally, the watch score. This watch scores 68, which is a very strong result considering the price point of around $800. It scores highest in value for money, followed by weekend wearability, brand recognition, [music] and dimensions. Compared to the Seagull 1963, it wears better on the wrist, but it doesn't offer the same historical significance. Overall, you really can't go wrong with a Studio Underdog, and I can fully recommend buying one if you like the design. The Studio Underdog chocolate mint chip cookies is a watch that doesn't take itself too seriously, but still respects the fundamentals of good watch design. It's creative without being silly, fun without being disposable, and distinctive in a market that often feels repetitive. For collectors who already own the classic and want something that sparks joy every time they look at their wrist, this is an easy recommendation. It proves that watches can be playful, expressive, and still deeply appealing to true enthusiasts. And with that, we've reached the end of the video. Thank you very much for watching and I'll see you in the next one. Bye-bye.