There is a distinct and delightful irony in the career trajectory of Lord Fauntleroy Snooty, Esq. To the uninitiated, the name might conjure images of landed gentry idling in tweed, but the reality is far more subversive. A Baby Boomer who first dabbled in art during the pre-punk era, Snooty’s resume reads like a fever dream of British eccentricity: from spraying packing crates for the Army at Greenham Common to a “substantial and suitably respectable” career in banking, only to retire and discover the anarchic joy of the Internet and urban street art.
It is this colorful, contradiction-laden biography that now finds expression on the wrist, resulting in one of the most unexpected collaborations of the year: the Isotope Hydrium Snooty Watch.
The watch itself is a physical manifestation of Snooty’s late-blooming artistic renaissance. After immersing himself in the modern scriptures of Exit Through the Gift Shop, Snooty re-emerged in 2013, trading ledgers for spray cans and setting his sights on the walls of Shoreditch and Hoxton.
His rise was swift and somewhat accidental; caught by the Financial Times and admired by the likes of Gilbert & George, his work began selling out in Ealing before migrating to Beverly Hills mansions and the glossy sets of Million Dollar Listing.
Now, against the advice of “several sensible people,” he has partnered with Isotope—a brand that perfectly mirrors his ethos of doing things properly while appearing not to care at all—to create a timepiece that is equal parts serious horology and mischievous pop art.
At first glance, the Hydrium Snooty is a riot of character. The dial features original art by Lord Fauntleroy Snooty himself, a printed landscape filled with Super-LumiNova details that come alive when the lights go down. The playful aesthetic is underscored by laser-cut hour and minute hands, but the true star of the show is the skeletonized “Snooty” seconds hand, ticking away with a rhythmic irreverence.
It is enclosed in a micro-blasted 316L stainless steel case treated with a robust Cerakote® coating, giving it a matte, industrial finish that feels ready for the streets of East London or the depths of the ocean.
Despite the whimsical face, the specifications betray a serious tool watch heritage. Isotope hasn’t cut corners here. The case measures a wearable 40mm (48mm lug-to-lug) and offers a substantial 300 meters of water resistance, secured by a screw-down crown and a Hydrium screw-down exhibition case back.
Inside beats the Swiss-made La Joux Perret G101 Soigné movement, a high-performance engine boasting a 68-hour power reserve and a custom Isotope Lacrima rotor. It is a fully capable diver that just happens to be wearing a disguise, discreetly misbehaving beneath the surface.
Priced at £1,490, this is a collector’s piece in the truest sense. Production is strictly limited to an “unnecessary” 20 pieces, a scarcity that has already fueled rumors of a quick sell-out reminiscent of Snooty’s 2015 Christmas Show submissions.
The watch arrives on a quick-release FKM strap—available in a vibrant Orange or a cool Ice Blue—finished with a branded bead-blasted buckle. Whether you view it as a future classic or, as the artist himself might jokingly suggest, an “expensive misunderstanding,” it is undeniable that the Hydrium Snooty captures a specific moment in time where street culture and luxury watchmaking collide.
With Snooty reportedly plotting a surprise appearance at Art Basel (or “Art Basil,” as the rumors go), this might be the only chance to secure a piece of his legacy before he vanishes again. Take one, say nothing, and enjoy the absurdity of it all.
