In September 2019, we wrote a piece titled Changing of the Guard. When I think back to that time it really felt as though Marloe was starting a new chapter. The watch that had launched the brand, the Cherwell, had recently sold out and been retired, as had our second and third collections - the Derwent and Lomond. We had three new and exciting collections in the Coniston, Morar and Haskell, with more models in the pipeline. Even now I feel a tinge of excitement reminiscing on that time.

Three-and-a-half years later and we find ourselves approaching the next chapter. Recently, the successor to the Lomond, the Atlantic, sold out and was retired. We sold our last Limited Edition Dart watch earlier this month, the Solent and Haskell collections are running out fast and we only have one model remaining in our original and beloved Coniston collection, the Coniston White. All these models will also be retired once stocks are depleted, and so we find our archive growing almost weekly.

The winds of change have been in effect for a few months already with the release of some brand new collections that we hope will remain with us for years to come, including the Astro, Tay, Coniston Auto and Sceptre – designed with the experience and learnings from those earlier, retired collections. Not a day goes by here at Marloe Watch Company where we don’t think about, discuss or revisit our retired ranges, and they will always have an impact on our new designs.

Speaking of which, we’re on the brink of releasing our most cohesive design to date, the GMT. A watch not only beautiful in design, but one that is powered by a ground-breaking Miyota movement in the 9075 – a calibre that is sending shockwaves through the watch industry as the only non-Swiss ‘true’ GMT movement on the market. Our GMT will be released next month (April) and we truly feel this is a stake in the ground for Marloe and a marker to be measured against.

We’re also working on the Solent Timer, the successor to the Solent, and hope to launch the new collection this autumn. The Haskell, which has served us, and many, so well over the years, will be replaced by the Daytimer, which should be ready in time for Christmas. And let’s not forget the Morar v2, the heir to the original Morar, and a project which has consumed Gordon for the past 6 months or so. Only recently did he reveal the concept to the rest of the team; needless to say, it’s going to be well worth waiting for. And wait we must, as that one won’t be with us until 2024.

This new chapter isn’t exclusive to our watches, however – we’ll very soon be opening a new office close to Henley, where we’ll be recruiting watchmakers and apprentices to bring repairs, servicing, and ultimately, assembly, in-house. We also hope to grow the team in several other areas as we navigate our way through this new and exciting chapter, not to mention throwing the odd event for our customers.

So as the winds of change take effect, I’ll borrow a turn of phrase that Stephanie used so eloquently back in 2019 to welcome in the new models and say goodbye to the old – there is a quiet handshake, a smile, a nod, a handing over of notes to the successors, and a grateful thank you for what they’ve done for the company.

And for those of you who have a Dart, Solent, Coniston or Haskell on your wrist as you read this, thank you for being part of our journey.