Summary
The final production samples landed in September exactly when we said they would, they're sitting on my bench right now, and they look fantastic. Read on for everything we learned from them, what changed since the prototypes, and where production stands today.
👋 Derrick here from Novel Carry, with our first production update on the ISO.
These look amazing, they came out exactly like we expected, and we are so stoked to get these in your hands. Below is everything we learned from these samples, plus an updated look at where production stands and when you can expect your ISO pre-order to ship.
What's new in this update
- Final production samples approved in both titanium and aluminum
- Finishes locked, including our first look at the purple anodizing
- A permanently bonded assembly and a larger shielded bearing
- First look at the Urban EDC Chaos Seigaiha collaboration
- Full production order placed early on the back of pre-order demand
The finishes are locked
Both materials are represented in this sample round.
The titanium is stonewashed. You can see the markings the wash leaves across the surface, and the result is a really smooth texture that still has a bit of grip to it from the polishing. It's the kind of finish that only gets better as it picks up character.
The aluminum is bead blasted, which gives a very consistent feel across the whole face, and is then Type II anodized. If you want a reference point for what that finish feels like in hand, think of the back of an iPhone. Type II anodization not only applies color, it also protects the surface from scuffs.
We also got our first real look at the purple anodized aluminum, and it's exactly the color we were chasing.
| Titanium | Stonewashed natural. Smooth surface with light wash markings and a touch of grip from the polishing. |
| Aluminum | Bead blasted and Type II anodized in Natural, Black, or Purple. Even matte feel, with color that resists scuffing. |
What changed since the prototypes
If you followed the early prototype videos, you saw a version of the ISO that could be taken apart. The final units cannot, and that is a deliberate decision.
Here's why: when the center post is a slip fit so the coin can come apart, it introduces a small amount of slop into the assembly. The two halves aren't held perfectly parallel, so they rub against each other, and you can actually hear it. It's a small thing, but it's the kind of small thing you'd notice every single day for years.
So we reworked the assembly to be permanent and rigid. On the final samples, I can squeeze the two halves together with everything I've got and they do not budge. That's the standard we wanted before signing off.
The shielded bearing carried over from the prototypes, because keeping dust, grime, and pocket lint out of the bearing matters more than almost anything else on a product like this. But we did make one upgrade: we moved from the smaller bearing to a noticeably larger one. That larger bearing provides more stability, which should lend toward a much longer service life.
| Prototype | Production | |
| Center post | Slip fit, user removable | Permanently bonded |
| Fit between halves | Slight play, audible rub | Zero play, dead solid |
| Bearing | Smaller shielded bearing | Larger shielded bearing |
Urban EDC collab: Chaos Seigaiha pattern
We've been working with Urban EDC on a special version of the ISO, and this is the first look at their Chaos Seigaiha pattern engraved into titanium.
It is not quite finished. There's a gap in the pattern I'm not happy with, and we're going to fill that in so the engraving carries all the way through. But the texture is there, it's made via micro milling instead of laser engraving, and the grip it provides is excellent. Paired with the finger grooves we designed into the ISO from the start, it's a completely different feel in hand that I think you are going to love.
Big thank you to Young Soo and the Urban EDC Supply team for collaborating with us on this one.
Timing for the Urban EDC release is still to be confirmed. Their units are running in the same production batch as your pre-orders, so we'll have dates for both at the same time.
Where we are on the timeline
The pre-order campaign has been running for several weeks, and honestly it blew our forecast apart. Orders came in at close to triple what we planned for.
Because of that, we placed the full production order a couple weeks ago, which is a few weeks earlier than we originally scheduled. We didn't want to wait on the samples to start the clock. Our production partner is already sourcing materials and moving them into the factory so they can start cutting as soon as possible.
The next real timeline update, with firmer dates, will come in late October or early November. We'll keep you posted the whole way through.
Pre-order pricing is open through October 10th. Orders are expected to ship late November to early December, and every ISO is backed by our Limited Lifetime Warranty from the day it ships.
Thank you
Thank you for the support on this one. The response has genuinely floored us, and shout out to Fidget Focused on YouTube for the great coverage. We have a few other things in the works that we can't wait to show you.
Keep an eye on your inbox for updates.
- Derrick
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