Finally, a Japanese Manhole Inspired Watch with a Cloisonné Enamel Dial

Having none myself, I’m always a bit impressed when it comes to those who have artistic talent – and that goes doubly for those who can appreciate the everyday beauty around them. This is especially true when those two virtues combine to form a beautiful little timepiece, like the Altmann × Isotope Osaka Cloisonné Enamel, a new collaboration between English watchmaker Isotope and designer, illustrator, and typographer Björn Altmann.

The first, and perhaps only, thing you will notice about this watch is its dial, which is based on a municipal manhole cover featuring Osaka Castle. Now, you may be asking yourself, why Japanese manhole covers? I can assure you that you are not alone in that. Apparently, after a Wikipedia deep dive, it is something of an urban art form and a show of civic pride throughout Japan. In fact, more than 15 million manhole covers across the country feature some sort of carved, imprinted, or painted design. This was a niche interest of Isotope founder José Miranda, which eventually led Miranda to Björn Altmann’s book Manhole Covers of the World. This, in turn, led to this collaboration you see before you today.

The intricacy of the dial does not stop with its source material. The dial itself is made in grand feu cloisonné enamel, using fine silver wires and multiple rounds of firing to build out the design and color. The process took close to a year to develop, and in the end only five dials were successfully completed, which helps explain why the final release is limited to just five (!!) watches in total.

Beyond the dial, the watch keeps things fairly straightforward, having been based off the Isotope Mercury platform. The 38mm stainless steel case is just the right size for this watch (any larger would make the manhole-inspired dial look like a strange Oreo on the wrist), with a domed sapphire crystal and a screw-in sapphire exhibition case back. 

The watch is powered by Isotope’s Calibre I-7, a Swiss-made modified ETA Peseux 7001 manual-wind movement, promising a 42-hour power reserve.

The Altmann × Isotope Osaka Cloisonné Enamel is available beginning March 24, with prices starting at £3,600 – honestly a bit of a steal if you ask me, given its rarity. Each watch will include a signed copy of Manhole Covers of the World by Björn Altmann. Isotope