Islander Red October V2 and Thunderbolt: Two Watches That Actually Surprised Me

Look, I've been doing this for 25 years, and not much surprises me anymore. But when the production samples for these two watches came in, I had one of those moments where you just stop and go "holy crap, that's better than I expected."

We're talking about two very different watches here. The Islander Red October V2 is basically a sequel people have been asking for since 2020, and the Islander Thunderbolt – that one came out so good the photographer refused to give it back.

The Red October Returns

Back in 2020, I made 200 pieces of the original Red October, and they sold out in a matter of weeks. People kept asking when I'd make more, but I can't – it was a limited run, and that means something.

But here's the thing – I can make something different enough that the original owners don't feel like I devalued their watches. That's what the V2 is. It's got the same gorgeous radiant blue dial as the ISL-18, same yacht master vibe with the polished center links, just with different execution.

The big changes are Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6, and 9, plus a clean no-date dial and the standard Islander lighthouse caseback instead of the limited edition submarine engraving. These aren't tiny tweaks – they give the watch a completely different personality from the original.

The NH38 is a true no-date movement, which means you pull the crown one click and set the time – no ghost position where nothing happens. You get 40 hours of power reserve, hand-winding capability, and hacking seconds, all standard stuff but reliable as hell.

That polished center link bracelet is what makes the whole package work. It takes a good diver and makes it feel more refined without going full dress watch, and the blue dial catches light differently depending on the angle thanks to that sunburst finish.

The clasp is the same one I've been using for years, and I know some people complain about it. Fair criticism. It's a cost-cutting measure, plain and simple, but if you want to upgrade, our CLASP-01 or CLASP-03 will fit – both are machined six-position micro-adjusts.

The Thunderbolt – This One's Special

This one's named after the P-47 Thunderbolt built by Republic Aviation right here on Long Island, specifically in Farmingdale where our shop is located. The company's long gone, but the watch won't be.

It started as the ISL-133, which was a nice watch – 40mm case, black mother of pearl dial, leather strap, nothing spectacular. Then I thought, what if we blast the whole thing, add an H-link bracelet, upgrade to a micro-adjust clasp, and throw in the blue rotor?

Result? It absolutely smokes.

The fully blasted case and bracelet give it this matte, almost tactical look, and then the mother of pearl dial hits the light and throws colors back at you. That contrast is what makes it work. The dial isn't just black – depending on how light catches it, you see blues, greens, purples shifting across the surface. Makes the whole watch feel alive.

The bracelet tapers from 20mm down to 16mm and is fully blasted to match the case, sized with screws instead of pins. And that clasp – it's a tool-less push-button micro-adjust that lets you dial in the perfect fit in seconds, no tools required.

The exhibition caseback shows off that signature Islander blue rotor through a sapphire crystal window, and the edge of the caseback has all the details etched around it – model number, water resistance, the works. Sapphire crystal on both sides, which is a nice touch at this price point.

One thing I'll admit – this watch has one of my own pet peeves built right in. You can't tell dial orientation in the dark because there's no lume pip at 12 and no unique marker to guide you. I didn't want to add anything that would mess with the clean dial design, though – those twelve sticks around that mother of pearl dial look perfect as-is. So yeah, I'm a victim of my own design philosophy on this one, but I'm willing to live with it.

Wrist Presence

I wear both on a 6.5-inch wrist (6.75 above the bone), and the Red October wears exactly like you'd expect from SKX007 sizing. The 42mm case sits comfortably without feeling oversized, and that 46mm lug-to-lug works on most wrists without overhang.

The Thunderbolt surprised me more than I expected. 40mm sounds small on paper, but it doesn't wear that way at all. The 47mm lug-to-lug combined with the blasted finish makes it feel substantial on the wrist – more presence than the specs would suggest. It's lighter too at 160 grams versus 180 for the Red October, which makes it comfortable for all-day wear.

What's Next

The Red October V2 is an unlimited run, which means no artificial scarcity and no countdown timers. If people want it, we'll keep making it – simple as that.

The Thunderbolt is kind of a test run to see how people respond. If it sells well – and I think it will – I'll introduce other dial colors down the line. This black mother of pearl version came out so good that I'm already thinking about what else we can do with the platform, maybe some different finishes or complications.

Between the two? I actually might prefer the Thunderbolt, though don't tell anyone. That blasted case paired with the shimmering dial creates something special that photographs can't quite capture. But the Red October V2 nails the yacht master aesthetic without the Rolex price tag, and that appeals to a lot of people who want that specific look.

Both watches punch way above their weight class, which is the whole Islander promise. You shouldn't need to spend $1,000+ to get sapphire crystal, ceramic bezels, and reliable automatic movements in a well-designed package. Buy what you love, and make sure what you love is actually well-built enough to last.