The author, Jeffrey Donenfeld, standing at the Ceremonial South Pole, Antarctica while working at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.

Marloe Watch Company is a new company, starting in 2015, but specializing in vintage-inspired, heritage-rich timepieces. Based out of Oxfordshire, England, they now produce four varieties of wristwatches, each with their own story. Their latest piece is the Haskell – inspired by British Antarctica adventure, this watch features a classic design, and most notable, an incredible etching of the continent of Antarctica on the caseback. Given the time I’ve spent living and working in Antarctica (more on that on my site), I was very excited for the opportunity to wear the Marloe Haskell, available online for £995.00 inc. VAT.

On the 1st November 1911 Captain Robert Falcon Scott set out on the Terra Nova Expedition to reach the South Pole. Eleven weeks later the naval officer became the first British explorer to ever reach the pole, but sadly perished on his return journey.  The world was informed of the tragedy when Terra Nova reached land in New Zealand over a year later. Within days, Scott became a celebrated hero and national icon.  The Haskell was inspired by such British exploration, and is named after a the Haskell Strait, the ocean passage which Scott crossed as he set off from Ross Island in Antarctica.

A deep, almost indigo blue radiates outwards with a metallic sunburst texture, ever changing with each new light. The scallop ring features a lightly brushed finish with light grey printed train-track and dot ring; lots of contrast and clarity. Polished applied hour indices, Arabic numerals and date complication framed with an applied polished block complete the metallic aesthetic beautifully. Mirror polished, custom profile hands complete the set, with an infill of BG-W9 lume. All hands feature identical counter-weights, for that one moment each hour when they all line up perfectly – a small detail within a dial full of them.  The 1-piece case features a gently barrel shaped profile, looking strong and purposeful, yet elegant. At 9.6mm high, the Haskell offers exceptional comfort and discretion.

 First Impressions

This is certianly the nicest, coolest, most complete unboxing experience of any watch yet. The box is a heavy black cardboard box. Opening the top, I’m immediately struck with the high quality presentation. A full color booklet of beautiful photos and commentary on the Haskell line is presented first, followed by a felt-wrapped wooden presentation box. Inside, the Haskell is presented elegantly on grey woven canvas, flanked by a leather Marloe patch. Great presentation.

Fit and Finish

The Haskell is a solid watch. It’s case is polished well, and the crystal fits perfectly. Of particular note, the gasket sealing the crystal with the case is white – enhancing the bright color of the metal, and complimenting the white markers and painted hand indicators. I love that detail.  The Antarctica engraving on the caseback is great as well – strong and distinct, with a slightly rounded shape.

The face is precise and bright, with the chromed numerals standing out. Completing the look is the chrome ring around the date window, and grooved winding crown. This is a manual winding watch, so the grippy grooves in the crown really do serve a real purpose.  The buckle features an off-center Marloe M logo – a nice touch, and I love the bit of style the off-centered logo gives.

On the Wrist

On the wrist, the Haskell is solid and substantial – you know you’re wearing a real watch, not just a toy. However, it’s conservative size, rounded features, and high polish make it comfortable as an every day wear.

The style is spot on for a number of different circumstances. Its leather strap and nice dial make it hip and sport enough to wear on weekends. Its polished case and reserved styling make it able to be workin in the office. Ands it’s battery-less manual winding movement, rugged construction with a reliable ETA movement and contemporary field watch layout mean it will serve as a stylish and worthy companion on an expedition.

Maybe it’s not the ultimate bulletproof expedition watch, but it’s certainly one offering solid good looks. Think maybe the perfect watch to wear to a ranch or field-themed destination wedding weekend, camping trip with your instagraming friends, or trip to the country with the family. A handsome, worthy companions.

Standout Features

The best feature of this watch is certainly the Antarctica engraving on the back – bold, interesting, and unique. Since I’ve been to Antartica twice, and love to talk about it, this is a fantastic conversation starter – and it goes great with my bottle of McInlay’s Shackelton Whiskey.

Feedback

The only piece of feedback on this one is the markings on the hands – the little flecks of white paint are minimal. Sure, they look handsome, but for visibility, I’d love to see a bit more white paint on the hands – given the high polish of those hands, I need just a bit more to look at when glancing for the time.

Should You Buy It?

Looking for a handsome every day wearing watch, with a cool design inspiration, a solid movement, and handsome looks? This is a great watch. At over $1000, it’s not an inexpensive buy – but it’s well built, versatile, and should stand the test of time. You’ll need to get used to winding it every day, which is a fun habit to get into, but once you do, this will keep good time for many years. Looking for a super rugged, built like a tank true expedition watch to drag through everything? Maybe this isn’t the one for you. For that, my go-to is my trusty Suunto Core Black/Black.  marloewatchcompany.com

Watch Overview

• Brand & Model: Marloe Haskell
• Price: £995.00
• Who we think it might be for: Looking for a handsome every day wearing watch, with a cool design inspiration, a solid movement, and handsome looks? This is a great watch.
• If I could make one design suggestion, it would be:  The only piece of feedback on this one is the markings on the hands – the little flecks of white paint are minimal. Sure, they look handsome, but for visibility, I’d love to see a bit more white paint on the hands – given the high polish of those hands, I need just a bit more to look at when glancing for the time.
• What spoke to me the most about this watch: That Antarctic Heritage.

Specs

• 40mm diameter
• 9.4mm thick
• 20mm lug width
• ETA 2804-2 manual mechanical movement
• 28,800 BPH
• 42hr power reserve
• Hacking function
• Quickset date complication
• Sapphire crystal with AR coating
• 100m / 330ft water resistance
• BG-W9 luminous treatment