Summary
Production is well underway. Titanium is in final assembly, aluminum is getting its color, the packaging is approved, and we now have factory dates for both batches. Both ship windows are holding right where we told you they would be.
👋 Derrick here from Novel Carry, with our second production update on the ISO.
In Update #1 we promised firmer timing by late October. This is that update. Below is a look at what's happening on the production floor right now, the packaging your ISO will arrive in, and the dates we're working toward for each batch.
What's new in this update
- Titanium coins are in final assembly
- Aluminum coins are in the anodizing stage
- The Urban EDC Chaos Seigaiha units are fully assembled
- Packaging approved, with two improvements made along the way
- Factory completion dates for Batch 1 and Batch 2
On the production floor
Machining and stonewashing are done on the titanium run, and those coins are now in final assembly. That means pairing each set of halves, setting the magnets, and bonding the bearing axle in place.
If you read Update #1, you'll remember we made the ISO a permanent assembly so there's zero play between the halves. For production, that bond is made with a structural adhesive we've adopted across our lineup for exactly this kind of job. Once it cures, the assembly is locked solid for the life of the coin.
Aluminum is right behind it. Natural, Black, and Purple are in the anodizing stage now, which is where they get their color and the protective layer that keeps them looking good in your pocket. We'll share photos as soon as they're out of the tank.
| Item | Where it stands | Status |
| Titanium | Machined and stonewashed. Now in final assembly. | In progress |
| Aluminum | Machined and bead blasted. Now in anodizing. | In progress |
| Urban EDC Chaos | Pattern finished and fully assembled. | Complete |
| Packaging | Pre-production sample approved. Moving to full run. | Approved |
Urban EDC collab: assembled and waiting
Last time we showed you an early sample of the Chaos Seigaiha pattern with a gap I wasn't happy with. That's been sorted, and the collab units are already fully assembled at the factory, ahead of the rest of the run.
Release timing for the Urban EDC version is still being finalized with Young Soo and the team. Keep an eye on your inbox, and on Urban EDC Supply, for details.
Packaging is approved
We just signed off on the pre-production box, and I'm really happy with it. It's made from thick, rigid board with a gloss black Novel Carry logo, and it has real heft when you pick it up. It feels like it should be holding something worth opening.
Reviewing the sample also gave us a chance to make two improvements before the full run. We added a finger cutout to the foam insert so your ISO lifts right out instead of having to pry it loose, and we trimmed the box down to a snug 60mm square so the coin isn't swimming in extra space. Neither change affects the schedule.
First look at the pre-production ISO box.
| Original spec | Final box | |
| Box size | 85mm square | 60mm square, sized to the coin |
| Foam insert | Coin cutout only | Added finger cutout for easy removal |
| Inside | Coin | Coin plus a First Run thank-you card |
That First Run card is our small way of saying thanks to everyone who backed the ISO before it existed. Every coin in the first run ships with one.
When will my ISO ship?
Here are the dates we're working toward. Our production partner is targeting November 18 to finish Batch 1, with titanium prioritized to wrap up first. From there, the coins travel to us in Charlotte, get checked, and head straight out to you.
Batch 2 is already in production and is targeted to finish at the factory around December 10.
Not sure which batch your order is in? The batch tracker on the ISO page breaks it down by finish and order date.
One honest note: international freight and customs are the one part of this we can't fully control, especially heading into the holidays. We've built that into the windows above, and if anything moves, you'll hear it from us first, not from a tracking page.
The response keeps growing
Titanium in Batch 1 sold out weeks ahead of what we planned, Batch 2 is already in production, and we've placed a third production run to keep up with demand. We also snuck a couple of new finishes into that run, and we can't wait to show you.
For a two-person shop in Charlotte, that's been genuinely humbling.
Pre-order pricing is open through October 31st. New orders are currently landing in Batch 2, expected to ship late December to early January, and every ISO is backed by our Limited Lifetime Warranty from the day it ships.
Thank you
Thank you for your patience, and for backing the ISO early. Watching these come together has been the best part of our year, and we can't wait for you to feel one in hand.
Our goal is for the next ISO email you get from us to be your tracking number.
- Derrick
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ISO Production Update #1: Final Samples Are In Hand