British brand Isotope, in collaboration with Revolution, have announced the release of the Mercury. Inspired by the multiple meanings of Mercury, this 150-piece limited edition watch takes on the form of a liquid metal, an American Art Deco streamliner train, and a Roman god, all through its original design and cutting-edge polishing techniques.
Isotope x Revolution Mercury. Credit: Isotope.
Known to find creative inspiration in art, architecture, history and culture, Isotope’s founder José Miranda, along with his wife Joana, founded Isotope in 2016 with a vision to creating reasonably priced watches that maintain a distinct sense of character.
Missing a subversive dress watch until now, Isotope sought to fill a gap within their own catalogue with the invention of the Mercury. This time, inspiration has been taken from their own teardrop logo as the team began toying with the inclusion of liquid metal droplets in their designs. Famously known for its fluidity at room temperature, the composition of Mercury is reflected in the Isotope logo on the watches dial, serving as the noon marker, the logo features a primary droplet which is on this occasion accompanied by a smaller residual droplet. The “lacrima” logo is also present atop the crown which has been knurled and polished.
Isotope x Revolution Mercury. Credit: Isotope.
Taking its stylistic cues from Henry Dreyfuss’ Mercury train, a set of high-speed passenger trains operated by the New York Central Railroad in the mid-20th century that aimed to make train travel more attractive, the Mercury watch shows off similar sleek, aerodynamic planes that are especially stunning when paired with its curved corners. Presented in a 38mm mirror-finished 316L stainless steel case, the Mercury has been painstakingly comprised of three parts and polishing has been utilised to accentuate its curves and domes. Demanding enough you might think, but that’s without even mentioning the mirror dial itself...
Crafting a flawless convex mirror dial had never been attempted in watchmaking, and despite consulting numerous dial makers, the unanimous response was, ‘it can’t be done’" – CEO José Miranda.
Isotope x Revolution Mercury. Credit: Isotope.
Having provided detailed instructions to his engineers for well over half a year, the team finally arrived at the perfect polished finish. The convex main dial, flat subsidiary seconds dial insert, and upper ring were created via three separate stamping moulds which work together to create a striking mirror finish, for the first time in watchmaking.
Isotope x Revolution Mercury. Credit: Isotope.
Mercury, son of Zeus and the God of good tidings who served as a herald amongst gods, was another muse for the team behind the Mercury watch. Designed with a laurel wreath in mind, the hands of the Mercury mimic this symbol of victory and achievement that is commonly used across Roman and Greek mythology. Presented with a leaf at the tip of the minute hand, as the hands converge at each hour a large laurel leaf is formed. Due to their unique and delicate form, each leaf had to be crafted and polished entirely by hand.
Isotope x Revolution Mercury. Credit: Isotope.
- Regular price
- $260.00 AUD
- Regular price
-
- Sale price
- $260.00 AUD
- Unit price
- per
- Regular price
- $260.00 AUD
- Regular price
-
- Sale price
- $260.00 AUD
- Unit price
- per
- Regular price
- $260.00 AUD
- Regular price
-
- Sale price
- $260.00 AUD
- Unit price
- per
Equipped with hand-wound calibre I-7, a modified ETA/Peseux 7001 produced by Landeron, this adapted movement has found itself at the heart of timepieces by a wide range of prestigious brands from Blancpain, and OMEGA to NOMOS. Offering a power reserve of 42-hours, the Mercury also has a respectable water resistance of 100 metres.
Available now on isotopewatches.com and shop.revolutionwatch.com, the Mercury is a limited-edition of 150 pieces.
Technical Specifications:
- Brand: Isotope
- Model: Mercury
- Price: £1,990 / USD 2,400 per watch (excluding taxes)
- Material: 316L Stainless Steel
- Movement: Calibre I-7, Swiss Made, modified ETA Peseux 7001 17 Jewels, mechanical hand-wound, 42-hour power reserve
- Complications: Hours, minutes, flat small seconds frame
- Crystal: Anti-reflective domed sapphire crystal
- Dial: Pure mirror-finished convex dial
- Size: 38mm / Thickness: 10mm
