Old Radium Bronze Pilot - Ox Blood Red

In 1942, the UK Ministry of Defence asked Isotope to produce watches for the armed forces, a request they readily fulfilled. The result of their efforts was a watch that was as beautiful as it was robust. It quickly earned the nickname ‘Old Radium’, as soldiers affectionately called it because of its charismatic luminous hands and hour markers.
 That’s what might have happened if it weren’t for the fact that Isotope was founded in 2016. However, this gives the brand the advantage of being able to rewrite its history in hindsight. The ‘Old Radium’ is an ode to the brave pilots who fought against the odds of World War II, which were often not in their favor. They fought for what was right with their magnificent planes, and the ‘Old Radium’ could have been a welcome companion on their missions. The design is a subtle blend of simple functionality and vintage elegance.
 Several elements give the ‘Old Radium’ its charismatic character, starting with the case. With a diameter of 40 mm, it can be worn as easily over the sleeve as under, proving its worth in all facets of an active lifestyle. While stainless steel would be period-correct, bronze offers a more exciting proposition. Opting for CuSn8 bronze, one of the highest grades of this alloy available, the case has a warm tone, close to that of rose gold. This alloy is known for being very pure and consists of 92% copper, 7.5% to 8% tin and around 0.30% phosphorus. It will patina at a lower rate than lower-grade bronze, but eventually reveals its unique appearance.
 The dial is highly legible, as you would expect from a pilot’s watch. It features the Isotope’s signature black teardrop , with a grained finish, as does the area around it. This detail is placed slightly higher to give the dial some depth. The area around the teardrop is available in Ash Grey, Olive Green and Ox Blood Red , each giving a different touch to the ‘Old Radium’. The Arabic numerals, as well as the sword hands, are filled with Super LumiNova in a colour reminiscent of the aged radium of vintage watches, hence the name ‘Old Radium’. A date window adds another practical touch to this Isotope, which, thanks to its black background, blends well with the rest of the dial. The dial is protected by a sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating.
 While bronze cases add character to a watch, this unique alloy can also cause allergic reactions when worn directly on the skin for long periods. To prevent this, the ‘Old Radium’ features a titanium caseback. A sapphire crystal insert allows owners to view the Swiss-made Landeron caliber 24. This robust movement is the perfect engine for a sophisticated gentleman’s pilot’s watch, with automatic winding and a 40-hour power reserve at 4Hz/28,800 VpH. The ‘Old Radium’ is water-resistant to 10ATM, unique for a pilot’s watch. The finishing touch is the comfortable strap made of soft Italian leather. It comes with a buckle engraved with the Isotope name in CuSn8 bronze alloy.
 ATTENTION: For the 1st batch, there are only 10 watches of each color available for shipping now. The 2nd batch will be ready to start shipping in October/November. Once the 2nd batch starts shipping, prices will increase by 10%
 Bronze is a copper alloy and oxidizes when in contact with oxygen, forming a natural patina, which gives your watch a unique character. Over time, your Old Radium Bronze will become darker due to oxidation: patina. This is a natural process and does not imply any quality issues.
 Bronze is a living alloy and is not hypoallergenic - data suggests that over 10% of the world's population is known to be allergic to nickel. Therefore, a bronze watch case may irritate your skin.