In collaboration with Portuguese watch journalist Miguel Seabra, British brand Isotope Watches has returned with a stunning iteration of its dual-time GMT 0°, the Isotope GMT 0° Terra Maris, inspired by casual elegance and where land meets sea.
The Release
The Isotope GMT 0° Terra Maris comes in the standard GMT 0° case, which measures 41.5mm across, 44.7mm lug-to-lug, and 14.2mm thick. The case is brushed throughout with a sloped bezel and a faceted midcase and partially vacuated lugs. At three o’clock, a screwdown crown helps to ensure 200m water resistance. The semi-recessed screwdown caseback features world cities with timezones, including Lisbon instead of London, and teardrop aperture. The lugs measure 24mm, and the watch comes with a fitted custom bracelet and a brown leather strap with contrast stitching and a matching buckle. The watch is powered by a Swiss Landeron movement, with 28 jewels, 28,800 vph, and accuracy of -/+ 12sec per day.
The sandwich dial of the Isotope GMT 0° Terra Maris is inspired first by Seabra’s conception of casual elegance: jeans with suede shoes, a white shirt, and a brown blazer. The color scheme is further suggestive of Seabra’s home of Cascais, the westernmost point in Europe, where land meets sea. The main sandwich dial features a beige-to-black gradient, darkening as it extends out from the center. 31 apertures are cut out for the date, with a black disc underneath. Simple baton hour markers are cut out and lumed (unique to this model). The central blue disc rotates to display the second 24-hour time zone, with a lumed indicator and “Terra Maris” engraved opposite. The hands are partially hollow with lumed ends. All lume is Super-LumiNova™ C3.
Our Thoughts
The Isotope GMT 0° Terra Maris is the eighth variant of the GMT 0°, and the third with a boldly colored dial (following red and yellow). Where all the other options were solid dials, the Terra Maris adds intrigue with the beige-black gradient and the blue GMT disc. Having handled (and owned) one of the black models, it has two main drawbacks. First, the 24mm bracelet and strap limit swapping for your own unless you’ve already got some for a Panerai. Second, the date is almost impossible to see at a glance, as it’s a sandwich display with very small apertures (above, on the bracelet, the date is the 12th).
I’m really loving this dial, though. The contrast of warm and cool, land and sea, terra and maris, is compelling and certainly elevates this model above the others. I love the incorporation of the tear drop as the GMT disc and numbering, plus the lumed GMT indicator on the disc. The unique bracelet and case, in spite of their size, wear incredibly well on the wrist, and this one is sure to keep your attention throughout the day.
Availability
The Isotope GMT 0° Terra Maris is priced at £1,030 and limited to 49 pieces. IT is available now via the Isotope website.