Recently I?ve been experiencing the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon as it exists in our world of watches. Isotope is a brand that I?ve long been aware of, but only recently had the pleasure of seeing first hand. Since then, I feel that I?m seeing their watches more and more on social media and interesting new releases are coming thick and fast. Of course, it?s mostly that I?m just registering seeing them more often, yet the new Isotope Hydrium Blue Night leaves me thinking that my own cognitive bias is also coinciding with a rich vein of form for the brand.

A couple of months back I wrote about a breath of fresh air in the microbrand dive watch scene – the Isotope Hydrium ?Will Return? diver. At that time there were two watches forming the new Hydrium series, with a ?Burnt Tangerine? accompanying the ?Will Return?. That duo becomes a trio with a Limited Edition run of the Hydrium ?Blue Night? which is now available for preorder. There?s a lot of similarity to be seen in the case and bezel, but I?m going hands on with what ends up feeling like a very different watch.
Starting with the recurrent components, the Hydrium series uses a micro-blasted 40mm stainless steel case. Paired with a 48mm lug to lug length would normally make for a compact and easily wearable watch, but the bulky profile and brutishness of the finish challenge that assumption of broad accessibility. The thickness of just under 15 is spread between a heavily domed sapphire crystal, blasted rotati...