Isotope Introduces The Hydrium Professional Nordblad Dive Watch With ISO 6425 Certification 

Though Isotope usually embraces a enjoyable and playful design language, the model can be fully able to producing watches on the extra critical facet of the spectrum. That mentioned, even at their most utilitarian and conservative, Isotope’s fashions nonetheless retain a sure lighthearted high quality to their designs, and whatever the particular assortment or colorway, they at all times showcase the model’s distinct aesthetic DNA. As its newest launch for 2023, Isotope has collaborated with famend ice diver Johanna Nordblad to create probably the most purpose-built and function-forward model of its Hydrium dive watch that has been put ahead so far. Referred to as the Isotope Hydrium Professional Nordblad Restricted Version, this extremely utilitarian rendition swaps out the intense and playful colours of different fashions from the Hydrium sequence, and exchanges them for an ultra-legible show and true ISO 6425 certification. 

Johanna Nordblad is a world record-breaking freediver from Finland, who after struggling a extreme leg damage in 2010, found ice diving as a approach of mixing one in all her biggest passions with the therapeutic properties of chilly water. Swimming underneath the ice on a single breath of air is inherently slightly harmful but in addition extremely fascinating (you’ll want to try Johanna ice diving with the Hydrium Professional Nordblad within the video beneath), and Netflix even created a BAFTA-nominated documentary about Johanna Nordblad titled “Maintain Your Breath: The Ice Dive,” which takes viewers on a journey via the day that Johanna grew to become the world champion. 

Along with being designed in collaboration with Johanna Nordblad, Isotope additionally takes issues one step additional on the subject of verifying the real-world capabilities of the Hydrium Professional Nordblad Restricted Version, and the brand new mannequin is the primary from its Hydrium Professional sequence, that are watches that meet the requirements for correct ISO 6425 certification. Whereas the 300-meter depth score and on-paper specs are equivalent to different Hydrium fashions, the extra function-forward design of its show provides superior legibility, and it nearly appears like a futuristic model of a Blancpain Fifty Fathoms that comes from some alternate actuality or alien planet.

From an exterior case perspective, the brand new Isotope Hydrium Professional Nordblad seems to be largely equivalent to different Hydrium and HydriumX dive watches, which implies that it options the identical 40mm micro-blasted stainless-steel case with a screw-down crown, 120-click unidirectional rotating bezel, domed sapphire crystal, and a screw-down caseback with a flat sapphire show window. I’m personally an enormous fan of this enjoyable and chunky case that Isotope makes use of throughout its varied Hydrium and HydriumX dive watch fashions, and in order for you my full ideas on the case and the way it wears on the wrist, you’ll want to try my full hands-on evaluate of the Isotope HydriumX “The Choose,” which you could find proper right here. 

Whereas the precise case of the Hydrium Professional sequence seems to be equivalent to different Hydrium and HydriumX fashions, one key replace to the exterior facet of the watch is with reference to its bezel insert, which now provides a considerably extra practical total design. Though it’s nonetheless crafted from scratch-resistant artificial sapphire, the black-colored insert now options luminous markings each 5 minutes with Arabic numeral cardinal factors, plus a totally demarcated luminous scale for the primary fifteen minutes. Whereas the insert nonetheless options Isotope’s signature lacrima (teardrop) emblem for its zero marker, the extra luminous markings allow the bezel on the Hydrium Professional Nordblad for use for extra exact timing capabilities, which is one thing that was lacking from a number of the model’s earlier dive watch fashions. 

Similar to its bezel insert, the dial fitted to the Isotope Hydrium Professional Nordblad Restricted Version provides the same function-forward design with a matte black floor and crisp white markings. The one pop of coloration is the intense blue “Nordblad” textual content beneath the “Hydrium Professional” signature, and this similar colourful spotlight is echoed on the seconds hand, which seems in Isotope’s prolonged lacrima form, with a white luminous phase close to its tip. Giant printed baton markers with outstanding Arabic numerals on the poles supply a transparent orientation of the time, and in contrast to many different Isotope watches, the dial fitted to the Hydrium Professional Nordblad lacks the big lacrima motif that always occupies the central part of the show. Moreover, slightly than having the stylized HydriumX handset that’s impressed by the well-known “Will Return” store indicators that hold in retailer home windows around the globe, the Isotope Hydrium Professional Nordblad options the model’s “i” fingers, as they in the end supply superior at-a-glance legibility.

Past the dial, fingers, and bezel insert, every part else seems to be proper in keeping with the remainder of the higher Hydrium sequence, together with its Swiss Landeron 24 computerized motion, which is predicated on the core structure of the ETA 2824 and runs at a frequency of 28,800vph (4 Hz) with an influence reserve of roughly 40 hours. Fairly embellished with perlage, Geneva stripes, and a signed rotor, the Landeron 24 is a stable choice for a function-forward diver at this worth level, and my restricted private experiences with this motion have all been fairly optimistic. As I point out in my hands-on evaluate of the Isotope Previous Radium Bronze Tobacco, the Landeron 24 actions that Isotope makes use of are correct no-date calibers, that means that they don’t have the irksome “ghost” place once you pull up the crown to set the time. Moreover, similar to the HydriumX “The Choose,” the 22mm lugs of the brand new Hydrium Professional Nordblad are fitted with a black tropic-style FKM rubber strap that gives built-in quick-release spring bars and is accomplished by a signed stainless-steel pin buckle.

Very similar to a good portion of the model’s watches, the brand new Isotope Hydrium Professional Nordblad might be produced as a restricted version of 100 items, and it will likely be accompanied by an official retail worth of £900 GBP (which works out to about $1,110 USD, on the time of writing). Isotope’s costs routinely get transformed to your native forex on the model’s web site in real-time, and this explains the slightly uncommon and actual values that may typically seem, relying in your particular transport location. Whereas the brand new Isotope Hydrium Professional Nordblad is barely dearer than a lot of the different fashions from the gathering, the precise distinction in worth could be very minimal, and that is seemingly a direct results of the extra oversight and testing required for ISO 6425 certification. Though Isotope’s funky and colourful design language isn’t at all times everybody’s cup of tea, the brand new Hydrium Professional Nordblad provides a considerably extra utilitarian and conventional total look, whereas nonetheless showcasing a lot of the identical distinct design DNA that defines all Isotope watches. For extra info on the Isotope Hydrium Professional Nordblad Restricted Version, please go to the model’s web site.