Studio Underd0g & Time+Tide have paired up once again, and it smells like something’s burning…
Tom AustinIt’s no lie that the watch world is built on storytelling. Over the years, specific watches, ranges, and even brands have emerged from long-forgotten tales, which can raise questions about their relevance and accuracy. Often, those stories can be somewhat economical with the truth to fit a narrative, or even, in some cases, just plain wrong; however, that changes when the story unfolds in real time for everyone to see. Better still, some of the best stories emerge completely by accident.
That’s precisely what happened in 2023 when Studio Underd0g founder Richard Benc and Time+Tide founder Andrew McUtchen decided it was a great idea to pull an April Fool’s prank on the watch community. Taking Studio Underd0g’s propensity to play with its food a little too far, they staged a fake launch of a new watch with a pizza-inspired dial. And oh boy, did that backfire. The clear, overwhelming hunger for the gag watch that didn’t [then] exist meant there was only one direction this story could go. Nearly a year later, the Hand Delivered “pizza watch” became a reality.
That was just the beginning, because unlike previous Underd0g releases, the only way to get hold of one of these pizza watches was to get one hand-delivered, in person, by Richard or Andrew. It was a release that unfolded over the best part of a year, with both pizza delivery boys travelling far and wide across the globe throughout 2024, delivering pizza pies, pizza watches and full-blown pizza parties to events across the UK, Melbourne, Geneva, Chicago, San Francisco and New York. What started as a goofy joke had become a global phenomenon a year later, even generating a charity auction sale of US$17,000 for the final “Pizza Unique” piece. It was proof, if anything, that those stories that emerge by accident are indeed the best ones.
With such organic origins, how on earth do you begin to follow it up with the next chapter? Well, in the most Studio Underd0g way possible, of course. Once again, we here at Time+Tide and our friends at Studio Underd0g have joined forces once more to release a pair of pizza-themed watches that frame the next part of the story, and pay homage to the simple part of pizza culture that brings us all together: the humble slice.
Burnt to perfection
Some time has passed now since the final pizza watch was sold; some would say too long, long enough for something to be forgotten about. And as anyone who has ever forgotten about a pizza at the back of an oven before will know, not only does it make Italian chefs extremely upset, but it also starts to crisp up and darken at the edges. Enter the Burnt Pepper0ni, a new collaboration between Studio Underd0g and Time+Tide, which has been intentionally burned to perfection.
The Studio Underd0g 01SERIES is a familiar sight on these pages at Time+Tide, and for good reason. Since its original launch in 2021, its playful approach to watchmaking has created a stir, showing the world that watches don’t need to take themselves so seriously. But at its core, it’s much more than just a plaything.
Simplistic in its overall design, the 38.5mm stainless steel case is now in its third generation. Slimmed down from the original by 0.7mm, and featuring a new, larger crown, it shows that the brand isn’t just creating fun dials; it focuses on the entire package. This new Burnt Pepper0ni model is unique, as it’s the only 01SERIES finished with a black PVD coating, evoking the smoky, charred look of a pizza crust scorched by unbearable heat.
The proportions of the Gen 3 01SERIES are perfectly honed, with slim, tapered lugs that are carefully brushed and low-profile chronograph pushers that make you almost forget it’s a chronograph. Then, capping it all off, there’s a double-domed sapphire crystal up front, which gives it that vintage glassbox style, paired with a screw-down sapphire exhibition caseback at the rear, helping towards a reasonable 50 meters of water resistance.
As usual with any Studio Underd0g, the attention to detail is thorough. A close look at the Burnt Pepperoni’s dial shows a textured, dégradé surface that fades from burnt orange to almost black at the edges, just like the cheese on an overdone pizza as it reaches that intense, sizzlingly deep orange tone. The six-sliced dial is scattered with the charred remains of pepperoni slices, mushroom and basil leaves, and yes, the olives are still there as hour markers, albeit a bit crispier than before.
The lighter tones have also been darkened, too, around the outside edge of the tachymetre scale and the recognisable bug-eye 30-minute sub-dial. Just enough to look like they’ve been under some intense heat for a while, but still remaining legible. Largely, this is due to the crackle-black hands, which also feature burnt-orange lume and bright-orange detailing.
Keep it classic
The second serving at this round of pizza parties is slightly different, and its meaning runs a little deeper. Time+Tide’s journey with the original Hand Delivered in Pepper0ni and Hawaiian flavours took us across the world, with demand in the United States surprising everyone. It’s no secret that Americans love a good slice, but in New York City, the cheese slice is something else entirely. It’s as iconic as a yellow cab, as much a part of the streetscape as steam rising from a subway grate. Folded in half and eaten standing up, it’s simple, fast, and unmistakable. And with the recent opening of Time+Tide’s latest Watch Discovery Studio in the heart of Manhattan, what better way to mark that connection than with a dial that pays homage to the most recognisable slice in the world?
Housed in the same 01SERIES stainless steel 38.5mm case, but this time in the more classic, brushed and polished bright steel finish, the Classic Cheese model features a dial that represents the humble cheese pizza. Containing nothing but a base, sauce and cheese, the textured six-sliced dial is graduated from the centre, from a cheesy yellow middle, outwards to a warm, toasted orange. Look closely, though, and you’ll see that one of those slices is missing.
And it’s not missing because it was forgotten to be painted, either. In fact, the layered dial of the Classic Cheese was actually pre-sliced physically from the dial before assembly, leaving that portion blank at 3 o’clock. It’s a subtle ode to something steeped in New York City culture, helping to frame those next steps for Time+Tide and, of course, Studio Underd0g, who will be joining us in our cabinets at our brand new NYC Watch Discovery Studio.
Both watches, aside from the case finish and dials, are built to the same excellent specifications we’ve come to expect of the 01SERIES, featuring the manually-wound Seagull ST-1901B chronograph movement with its neat swan-neck regulator system. This allows for finer adjustment of the 50-hour movement, as reflected in the brand’s stated accuracy, now regulated in-house to -10/+15 seconds per day, at Studio Underd0g’s ‘D0ghouse’ Manufacture site.
The exposed movement beneath the sapphire caseback has long been an attractive feature of the 01SERIES, with its understated decoration and varied colours and details on show; it’s always been a pleasant experience to view – especially as it’s manually-wound, so there’s no awkward rotor spinning around and robbing it of its character. The black case of the Burnt Pepper0ni adds depth and dimensionality in this area, drawing your attention to the intricacies of the movement, and even matches the bespoke blackened mainplate of the movement as well, further emphasising the chronograph components of the calibre.
The theme of high quality and detail doesn’t end there, as both watches come complete with beautiful leather straps from The Strap Tailor, long-standing partner of Studio Underdog. The Classic Cheese arrives with a tonal, light-brown pebbled leather strap, complete with a signed pin buckle, while the Burnt Pepper0ni comes with a fittingly dark black leather strap, and matching black PVD-coated pin buckle. Additionally, the Burnt Pepper0ni is supplied with a black PVD-coated Milanese mesh bracelet, which is tapered, supremely flexible, and finishes off the crispy look perfectly.
Studio Underd0g x Time+Tide Burnt Pepper0ni and Classic Cheese pricing and availability
The Studio Underd0g x Time+Tide Burnt Pepper0ni and Classic Cheese will be available beginning February 26th, 2026, exclusively at our Time+Tide Watch Discovery Studio in New York City. It will then arrive on March 5th in Melbourne, and the first UK run will launch at British Watchmakers Day on March 7th. Price: US$825/£625/A$1,400 (Classic Cheese), US$925/£700/A$1,550 (Burnt Pepper0ni)
| Brand | Studio Underd0g x Time+Tide |
| Model | 01Series Gen 3 Classic Cheese 01Series Gen 3 Burnt Pepper0ni |
| Reference | 01MPT (Classic Cheese) 01BPB (Burnt Pepper0ni) |
| Case Dimensions | 38.5mm (D) x 12.9mm (T) x 44.5mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel (Classic Cheese) Black PVD-coated stainless steel (Burnt Pepper0ni) |
| Water Resistance | 50 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Burnt Pepper0ni or Classic Cheese dégradé |
| Lug Width | 20mm |
| Strap | Strap Tailor Leather strap, case-matching pin buckle Additional black PVD-coated Milanese mesh bracelet (Burnt Pepper0ni only) |
| Movement | Seagull ST-1901B, manual-winding |
| Power Reserve | 50 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph |
| Availability | Beginning February 26th 2026, Time+Tide Studio Exclusive |
| Price | US$825/£625/A$1,400 (Classic Cheese) US$925/£700/A$1,550 (Burnt Pepper0ni) |