Since ISOfrane went out of business in the 1980s, knockoff cartier mens w69005z2 watches versions have trickled onto the market, trying to fill the void, while the occasional new old stock” straps would pop up on auction sites for obscene amounts of money. But now, the real ISOfrane is back.Resurrected by the Synchron watch group, who happen to be the same people behind the rebirth of another ‘70s icon, the DOXA dive watch, the new ISOfrane straps are true to their heritage while bearing several improvements. The new strap looks almost identical to the original, with its trademark angle-cut end, longitudinal channels and slotted tang adjustments. On closer examination, the new ISOfrane is thicker but softer, with a beefier, screwed-in buckle in place of the cartier mens w69005z2 watches stamped steel one on the original. The back of the strap still retains the horizontal texturing that keeps it from sliding around on a wet neoprene sleeve.Available at present in only one size – 24mm – the new ISOfrane is a fitting accomp to many of todays retro-styled divers, and its recent re-introduction happily coincided with Omegas re-issue of the Ploprof, which it fits perfectly. The new ISOfrane is slated to be available in other sizes in coming months and none of them will come cheap. But if youre looking to channel that ‘70s diver vibe, there is no substitute. Get your own here.
While there is seemingly an endless supply of limited watches (irony is not lost on us, believe us), on occasion one catches our eye for being something unexpected and out of the ordinary. Such is Omegas recently introduced Seamaster Aqua Terra XXL Small Seconds Limited Edition. We confess that when first hearing the name of the watch, the image on the right is far different than the watch we imagined.This white enamel-dialed watch is massive at 49.2 mm in diameter and is being made in a limited edition of 88 watches in 18kt white gold as well as 88 watches in 18kt rose gold. Each watch is water cartier mens w69005z2 watches resistant to 150 meters and is an officially certified chronometer. We especially like the ornate blue steel hands that incorporate the Omega logo. Omega claims that they are based on an original design that they patented in 1924.For more information, click here.Though dive watches debuted in the early 1950s (see here and here) one could argue that their golden age was the 1970s. The sport of recreational diving was booming then and watch companies large and small scrambled to make their own dive watches, not only for divers, but for those landlubbers who wanted to project the image of adventure and masculinity.While many ‘70s divers came on steel bracelets, rubber straps became the new rugged cartier mens w69005z2 watches chic accessories for trips to St. Tropez and Bonaire. But, choices were limited. There was the ever-popular but brittle Tropic strap (original versions now fetch upwards of $100 on the collectors market) and then there was the legendary ISOfrane strap. Made of a pliable rubber compound, the sturdy and long ladder” version of the ISOfrane was standard equipment on such classic ‘70s divers as the Omega Ploprof, among others.
