Isotope x Scottish Watches Launch Hydrium Alba in Scottish Colours

Tomorrow (November 30^th) marks St Andrew’s day and so it’s only right that we celebrate our neighbours in the north. Scotland has a rich heritage in many luxury industries, although perhaps the loudest voice in watches north of the border comes from our friends at the Scottish Watches Podcast. You can even catch us on a handful of their over 400 episodes. However, more exciting even than hearing the dulcet tones of our editor on a podcast is the fact that Scottish Watches are releasing a watch in collaboration with Isotope, the Hydrium Alba.

It’s a version of Isotope’s premier diving watch featuring a dial in the traditional colours of Scotland, blue and white. That means it has a 40mm diameter case in micro-blasted stainless steel with a water resistance of 300m. It’s a great design with lots of large flat surfaces above which is a uni-directional rotating bezel that for this special edition is completely black, putting the emphasis on the dial.

And it’s quite a special dial, made from pure white enamel with a railway track minute scale around the periphery in blue. What’s particularly special about it is the fact that the Hydrium doesn’t have a flat dial, the index ring and central Lacrima are raised, making it incredibly difficult to create an even layer of enamel. Their success means that Scottish watches (meaning watches made in and about Scotland, not the podcast this time) are building a reputation for superb enamel – one of the prominent names in Scottish watchmaking being anOrdain.

Under the enamel surface of the Hydrium Alba is the Swiss Landeron Calibre 24. It’s a clone of the ETA 2824 with a 40-hour power reserve that’s built in small quantities for projects exactly like this, balancing reliable performance with accessibility. Exactly the kind of no nonsense watchmaking they celebrate on the podcast.

The Isotope x Scottish Watches Hydrium Alba is available for pre-order from November 30^th with deliveries beginning Jan/Feb next year. It’s priced at £840 and is limited to 100 numbered pieces. For fans of Scotland, fans of the podcast, fans of Isotope or even just fans of good watchmaking, this is a watch worth considering.