Marloe?s two founders, Oliver Goffe and Gordon Fraser say they ‘aren’t watch people’. Given they?ve been making watches, first just outside Henley in Oxfordshire and now in Perth, Scotland, for six years, this seems a little odd. But it actually makes a shedload of sense. There?s a directness, a clarity and a thoroughly refreshing lack of bull and bluster from Marloe in an industry that sometimes seems to thrive on the opposite. 

The two founders aren?t scared of wearing their hearts on their sleeves either. There?s a definite enthusiasm for the achievements of the racing Campbell family at Marloe. They?ve already launched the Coniston range of four watches and now the Bonneville and Eyre are making their way off the blocks, all with a link to the achievements of the land and water speed record holders.
Both watches could – given the price – have easily featured a couple of undistinguished quartz movements. Instead, they use the tried and tested Miyota 8N33 handwinder. It?s a skeletonised 17 jewel movement with a 21,600 bph balance, 42 hours of power reserve and a parashock system. It?s a good-looking engine too, especially under the display caseback that has a deliberate slight magnifying effect.  

Both also feature an identical 40mm diameter, 10.5mm thick, highly polished stainless steel case. The lugs are a standard 20mm. The crystal is sapphire too and the whole plot is a decent 10atm water-resistant – as seems appropri...