While a relatively small group of brands dominate the headlines, watch connoisseurs know to dig deeper. It is there that a wealth of smaller brands can be found that make exciting watches. Among them are José and Joana Miranda, the duo originally from Portugal but now calling England their home, and It was there that they founded their brand Isotope. I still remember meeting José many years ago in a London BBQ place to see his very first watch, he hasn’t sat still since and has subsequently built up Isotope as a notable boutique brand.

Isotope’s collection has grown extensively and includes not only a very interesting GMT watch, but also quite a few diving watches; among them is the Hydrium X. Isotope launched this model as the Hydrium X “Will Return” limited edition. That original timepiece was inspired by the sign shopkeepers used to hang in their window when they had to go out. The latest limited edition in the Hydrium X collection has a different approach, as it combines two colors that are traditionally used to designate each sex; blue and pink. As a result, you get what Isotope likes to call ‘Blink.’
Using both colors in a single watch is quite revolutionary, in particular for something that is a very serious diving watch with a water-resistance of 1000ft (or 300m). The Hydrium X comes with a 40mm micro-blasted 316L stainless steel case, a domed sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating, and a screw-down crown...