FRONT — microbrand guide
ISOTOPE X SCOTTISH WATCHES Hydrium Alba
With its instantly recognisable lacrima (the teardrop on the dial) and rugged style, the Hydrium is a modern microbrand icon and in their partnership with Scottish watches, Isotope have built the cleanest, sharpest version yet. The podcast hosts being more patriotic than William Wallace, the so-called Alba, named after an ancient name for Scotland is in their flag colours of white enamel and blue highlights. Finished with a 120-click bezel with a black insert and backed by 300m water resistance, it’s as practical as it is crisply cool.
TOLENTINO Undici/11
The debut timepiece from Neopolitan watch brand Tolentino ticks all the boxes you’d want from a professional-level diving watch. The rugged case has 200m water resistance; the rotating diving bezel has an ultra-hard ceramic insert, and the screw caseback and safety clasp combination means you don’t need to worry about a worst-case scenario. The fact that it’s also a looker, with its contrasting minute marker and, in this case, high-contrast blue bezel, means you’re not just buying it for the specs. Though at this price point, it’s tempting for those alone. THE DETAIL 40mm stainless steel case with 300m water resistance • Landeron automatic movement with 40-hour power reserve • £840, limited to 100 pieces, isotopewatches.com
THE DETAIL 40mm stainless steel case with 200m water resistance • Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement with 41-hour power reserve • €990 (approx. £865), tolentinowatches.com
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NEUCARL
Sept Mai Berlin Edition
Designed to echo the colourful vibrancy of the German capital, the Berlin Edition of Neucarl’s seminal Sept Mai has all the architectural touches and curvaceous, tactile case that’s made the brand’s debut such a success. A combination of deep black, white and electric blue makes for a bright, eye-catching design in more ways than one. Finished on a canvas strap with blue contrast stitching and backed by a workhorse Swiss movement, it’s a retrofuturistic classic in the making.
THE DETAIL 41mm stainless steel case with 50m water resistance Swiss manual-wind movement with 42-hour power reserve • £878, neucarl.com
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