Oracle Time joins forces with Isotope for two living dials
Russell Sheldrake- Isotope has teamed up with luxury publication Oracle Time for a two-part collaboration.
- With vitreous enamel dials, they both bring vibrant colour and texture to the wrist.
- Contrasting and juxtaposing each other in a dynamic duo.
We’ve spoken about these guys before, and the team over at Oracle Time have done it again with another collaboration, this time with the British brand Isotope. For this latest collaboration, the publication and watch brand have produced two distinctly different watches by pairing different dials and cases together. These two models share a base, the Mercury from Isotope, a standout silhouette for them with its sleek, integrated lugs, and unmarked dials. An evocative starting point for the creative minds at Oracle Time to work from.
The Isotope x Oracle Time Mercury Vitreous, as the name suggests, contain two different executions of vitreous enamel dials, one in a rich orange and another in a cool mint green. Many of you, I’m sure, will already be aware that the process to produce a vitreous enamel dial consists of a textured metal base, which then has multiple layers of transparent enamel placed on top, with high-temperature firings taking place between each one.
This process means that you need to be extremely specific with the number of layers you apply in order to reach the desired shade, whilst maintaining the wonderful texture underneath. Out of the two of these watches, I must say I prefer the volcanic orange model, the contrast between the black DLC case and that rich, shifting colour it surrounds is incredibly powerful. However, I certainly appreciate the decision to give the steel case of the green dial a full sandblasted texture as it juxtaposes the glistening mint dial and allows it to fully shine.
Both of these watches are paired with rather comfy FKM rubber straps in either black or grey to match the case. While inside to keep them ticking is what Isotope call the I-7 calibre which is a modified version of the ETA/Peseux 7001 manual winding movement. While it still carries 42 hours of power reserve, the movement choice helps keep this watch thin at just 10mm from crystal to caseback.
The pair of these watches feel like they go together very nicely. There is something about the ying and yang nature of them that draws me to them as a duo. While there certainly work well in isolation, there is something rather convincing about them as a package deal.
Isotope x Oracle Time Mercury Vitreous pricing and availability
The new Isotope x Oracle Time Mercury Vitreous go on sale on September 15th and are limited to 25 pieces each, with members of the OT Club getting priority access. Price: £2,775 (inc. VAT).
| Brand | Isotope x Oracle Time |
| Model | Mercury Vitreous |
| Case Dimensions | 38mm (D) x 10mm (T) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel, bead-blasted Stainless steel, black DLC |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Vitreous enamel, orange Vitreous enamel, green |
| Lug Width | 20mm |
| Strap | FKM rubber, matching case, butterfly clasp |
| Movement | I-7, base ETA/Peseux 7001, manual wind |
| Power Reserve | 42 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes |
| Availability | Limited edition of 25 pieces each |
| Price | £2,775 |