AN IKON IN 25 UNITS: A NEW RADIUM IS BORN

RADIUM IKON is our first entirely new case since we started in 2014, though we’ve made improvements to our base case and created a 38mm version of the base case.

With the design of the case, we shoot an arrow back into history. The case consists of a flat plate resting against the wrist, from which a sleeve with a “protective cap” rises. The purpose of the “cap” is to resist frontal impacts, and you might recognize such caps from old car and bicycle lights. They are still in use on traffic signs today. As far as we know, RADIUM IKON is the only watch that features such a cap, and in our eyes, it gives an already distinctive watch an even more historical touch.

At the start of the project, we didn’t know what the watch would be called, but since the design was brutal and uncompromising in relation to an old-fashioned production method where function and form are 100% interconnected, we named the project “The Ugly Duckling.” In hindsight, the design is now seen as the core of our identity, hence the name “Ikon,” which represents what we aspire to.

The dial is new for this model. Its design is more compact than modern watches, with a lot of “air” around the outside of the indices. This gives the watch a less “bold” feel and references old military wristwatches, which were both smaller and often had more “air” toward the bezel.

The red “dot” at six o’clock is there to indicate that this is the bottom of the dial, not the top. For example, when you see the watch on your nightstand while lying down and perhaps aren’t fully awake, being able to quickly orient north/south is important. Additionally, we like that the red dot refers to old cockpit clocks, where a red dot on the watch indicated that you are viewing “elapsed” time, meaning time already passed.

The watch is powered by a Swiss self-winding SW200 movement, is 41mm in diameter, and has the same footprint as our 41mm SL (short-lug). Sapphire crystal. Very lightweight, as you’d expect from Radium watches.

Even though the watch is new, it doesn’t look new. On the contrary, it looks ancient, and the aluminum material has been exposed to synthetic surfactants (surface-active agents) that have darkened the case. The outermost coating has been partially polished away by us, and when you start wearing it, you will develop a wear patina unique to you. Typically, it will get slightly lighter in areas with wear and darker in the nooks and crannies that never get worn. After a month or two of use, this will become evident.

The case back is engraved with “25 pieces 2024.” We will produce 25 pieces per year.

The four holes around the bezel? They are the ends of the screws from the case back. They are screwed straight through the case. Not refined or hidden, it is what it is. This is RADIUM IKON.

We hope and believe you will come to love RADIUM IKON.