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Isotope Goutte d’Eau

Manufacturer: Isotope Watches | Price: £244 GBP (Seiko NH35) | £328 (Sellita SW200)

Introducing the Isotope Goutte d’Eau. A compressor style dive watch designed to endure the hardest of Finnish winters and for diving under the ice with the Ice Freediving World Champion, Johanna Nordblad. The Goutte d’Eau ensures the toughest challenges are met either above or under water. The watch design takes inspiration from the teardrop lines of the 1937 Talbot-Lago Goutte d’Eau T150-C SS Coupe, which is regarded as one of the most beautiful cars ever created.

Specifications

  • Dimensions: Case Diameter – 40mm, Thickness – 13.2mm, Lug to Lug – 44mm, Lug Width – 22mm
  • Movement: Seiko NH35 or Swiss Sellita SW200, Hackable & Self Winding
  • Case Material: Brushed 316L Stainless Steel
  • Bracelet: Brushed 316L Stainless Steel, Solid End-Links, Screw-Pins, Milled & Signed Clasp with Divers Extension
  • Crystal: Sapphire, AR Coating    
  • Bezel: Inner Rotating Compressor Style (Operated by Crown at 2 o’clock)
  • Water Resistance: 20ATM / 200m / 660ft
  • Lume: Swiss Super Luminova® BGW9
  • Crown: x2, Signed, Screw Down      Caseback: Screw Down Stainless Steel, Display Caseback (Orange Edition)
  • Warranty: 2 Years     Where to Buy: Isotope Watches (Currently Available to Pre-Order)
  • Options: Movement: Seiko NH35, Swiss Sellita SW200 | Date, No Date
  • 2 Versions: Isotope Goutte d’Eau Orange Edition, Isotope Goutte d’Eau Nordblad Special Edition

Isotope - The Company

Isotope Watches is an independent, enthusiast driven brand based in England offering a 1:1 service, combining original designs with traditional solutions and a boutique approach. The company was founded in 2016 by José and Joana Miranda. The Isotope brand name is derived from science; isotopes are different forms of a single element and in horology, the Isotope brand represents the individuality and originality that defines them as a company. Isotope have aligned their “i ” in the logo with the seventh hour, considered by numerology experts to be the worlds favourite number and a universal symbol of good fortune and unification. It is also very significant across all cultures and religions worldwide.

The Case

The diameter of the Goutte d’Eau’s case is bang on 40mm. The lug to lug is 44mm and the overall thickness, including the sapphire crystal I measured at 13.2mm. The entire case, bezel and crown are all brushed 316L stainless steel. The Goutte d’Eau also has a water resistance rating of 200m / 20 ATM, thanks to the screw-down caseback & crown.

The finish of the case is superb, with its entirely being brushed. The proportions of the watch are, in my opinion, perfect for my 7″ wrist. The case shape is a little unusual but I like it, I like it a LOT! Additionaly, as the samples I have here are prototypes I was informed by José from Isotope that both crowns will be screw down and 1mm larger for the final production models.

Bracelet / Straps

The bracelet supplied with Goutte d’Eau is of fantastic quality. Some might describe it as a “chunky mofo”. To be honest I’d agree, it certainly is chunky for a 22mm bracelet that doesn’t taper whatsoever with the milled clasp coming in at whopping 24mm. However, it doesn’t bother me in the slightest! I actually like it, as it gives the watch a rather masculine look & feel whilst on wrist. It might be wide as previously mentioned, but it isn’t overly thick that it gets in the way.

Movement

The chosen movement for this prototype of the Goutte d’Eau is the Sellita SW200-1 automatic. An excellent calibre that is a 28,800vph, 4Hz smooth sweep, 26 jewel movement with self winding and of course, hacking. Checking the accuracy after running the Goutte d’Eau for a nearly a week, mainly on my wrist and occasionally in my Barrington Watch Winder, I was more than happy with the accuracy, with it showing an average of +6.3 seconds per day.

The movement has an anti-shock system that will protect its inner workings during a ton of different activities or impacts. The movement also has a 38 hour power reserve meaning a fully wound Goutte d’Eau will last for almost 2 days while off the wrist or not in a winder. The Sellita SW200 movement is by far my favourite movement compared to its competitors. It’s very accurate from my experience, very quiet, reliable and easy enough to get serviced when the need arrives.

Dial & Bezel

The Goutte d’Eau has an inner rotating compressor style bezel and operated by the crown at the 2 o’clock position. The dial is of the sandwich variety, and very nice it is too! All the hour markers are also pumped full of lume and the markers at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions are of a small tear drop shape to match the main tear drop shape in the middle of the dial. The crowns, both of which are screw down will be enlarged by 1mm for the final production models.

The logo and text on the dial are very nicely printed and perfectly legible with a great choice of font. The hour and minute hands are also great and although reletavily slim, they do match the overall aesthetic of the dial. I do like the seconds hand too, with its colour that matches the contrast colour of the 0 – 20 minute markers on the bezel. It also reaches out all the way out to the minute track.

Conclusion

The Goutte d’Eau with the SW200 movement is an absolute bargain at the pre-order price of only £328. The build quality and attention to detail is very good.
 
Option wise, if it was me personally, and my hard earned cash, I would pick the orange edition with the SW200 movement and no date option. I would actually buy this one if I hadn’t recently blown what was left of my watch budget. Maybe I can pick one up at a later date from José @ Isotope Watches.
 
José – Fabulous job! An excellent watch at a bargain pre-order price of only £328 hence why I can’t give it anything less than a full fat 10 out of 10!
10/10
10/10 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
 
A huge thank you to José from Isotope for sending out the Goutte d’Eau so quickly.
 
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