The Haskell Black Edition

The Haskell Black Edition

When we first launched the Haskell in October 2017, we knew it was going to be an important watch in our young history; our first Swiss Made watch. It’s the flag in the snow for MWC. We worked from humble beginnings with the ambition of achieving this milestone, and when we reached it with the First Edition Haskell, we knew we had to celebrate this achievement at some point. That point is now. 

Black Edition

We named the Haskell after the Haskell Strait, a stretch of frozen water adjacent to Ross Island that Captain Scott and his team needed to cross to begin their quest to reach the South Pole before any other. The ship that carried them to the Antarctic was the Terra Nova.

Terra Nova ShipThe Terra Nova Ship

The Black Edition Haskell is a celebration; of achievement, of reaching your goals, of creating something of significance and importance - and we're incredibly proud of it. Taking its colour cues from the Terra Nova ship, along with some nods to the people it carried, the Black Edition is a very special low-run edition in the Haskell fleet.

The colour scheme of the Black Edition is uncomplicated. We didn’t want to create confusion or dilute the purity of the three main colours; black, gold and white. There’s much to be found as inspiration for colour in the Terra Nova Expedition, but the main influence for us was the ship herself; with the blackened hull, wooden decking and white sails. Simplicity is key in all things we do, and the Black Edition dial certainly takes that mantra to the purest form.

Black Edition Haskell

The dial is the watch. It’s everything. The Black Edition Haskell has an updated dial design to give subtle depth, dynamics and contrast. Firstly you’ll note that the dial is black, directly inspired by the blackened hull of the Terra Nova ship. We have used a multi-layer printing technique for the main numerals, which feature a thin border of gold around a central mass of BGW9 Superluminova. By layering up the luminous compound, we have achieved a brightness and longevity of glow far superior to a single layer. We have used the same gold hue on the chapter ring, firstly as the minute and second numerals and check marks, but also to frame the entire dial in a single line, a reference to the line running the length of the Terra Nova’s hull. We have printed subtle, almost imperceptible longitude and latitude lines on the main dial, taken from the map used during the Terra Nova Expedition. In a rare diversion, our logo is not underneath the 12 marking. Instead we have placed our name in its entirety along the southern hemisphere of the dial; a nod to the tradition and style of decorating the aft of a ship with its given name.

Expedition Map

The date window is a circular form subtly recessed into the dial surface and angled slightly, leading the eye in and allowing an unbroken flow around the dial. The aperture is also slightly larger than previous Haskell watches, making date reference easier. It sits in place of the “6” numeral and maintains the balance and symmetry so highly sought in watch dials.

The hands are a new design for the Black Edition, with a shape that brings to mind the bronze map compasses of yesteryear, allowing charting and computation of vast distances. The hands are technically a “syringe” style but we’ve put our usual MWC twist on them, creating easily identifiable hand positions in almost every environment. Bead blasted in a black nickel finish, the hands are tipped with the gold hue and generously filled with BGW9 Superluminova. The seconds hand is a polished black nickel finish with a round BGW9 filled aperture to tie in with the date window, and a tip of gold. It’s a new direction for the Haskell but one that takes all the experience from the First Edition, and creates something that is completely unique, yet undoubtedly a Haskell. 

Black Edition Haskell

Casebacks are our hidden calling card and we make a big deal about them. For the Black Edition we have celebrated the people of the Terra Nova Expedition and referenced, with subtlety, the human endeavour of the crew, from labourers to the pole party members themselves. In the centre of the domed surface is our take on the mission patch logo; a penguin standing atop the earth. Our penguin is looking outwards now towards 5 stars, each one representing a fallen explorer from the Terra Nova Expedition pole party. Around the perimeter of the dome are 60 dots, each one representing a crew member of the ship and shore teams. The numbered edition of 100 pieces is engraved within the central area, and around the flat of the caseback is our usual model information along with the Black Edition logo.

Black Edition Caseback

The Black Edition is fitted with a deep lustrous black Italian leather strap with matching black stitching. Black on black - it matches the feel of the Black Edition perfectly. The strap is embossed on the reverse with our logo, featuring a soft nubuck leather lining making the strap sit beautifully against the skin, and is fitted with our bespoke polished and engraved stainless steel buckle. 

The Black Edition is very special design for us, and we are acutely aware of how powerful a message Scott and his team sent; the perils of being an explorer, finding out how colossal and powerful mother nature can be at her worst, but how beautiful she is at her best.

We shall stick it out to the end, but we are getting weaker, of course, and the end cannot be far. It seems a pity, but I do not think I can write more - for God’s sake look after our people.

Extract from Vol.III of the Diaries of Robert Falcon Scott.

Only 100 of these very Special Edition timepieces have been made, and you can find our more here. The Black Edition is priced at £845 and will be the first watch to ship in our brand new Marloe Watch Company watch box.

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11 comments

  • A suitable companion for my white Lomond. Looks fabulous.

    David Shaw
  • Yet again another beautiful, well thought out design from marloe… The attention to detail is superb… A great addition to the Haskell collection and one which I’m sure will reach classic status.. Lovely in every way.. Great job guys… Stunning

    Alan Lewis
  • Lovely looking timepiece will try to own one.

    Barry Galinski
  • A truly beautiful watch

    Donald Clyne
  • It looks fantastic! The story behind the design is really interesting: I love how each feature of the watch has been born out of an aspect of that incredible journey.

    Alec Grieve

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