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Yes, it does give off a little bit of Baltic Hermetique vibes, now that you mention it. Gordon, one of the two founders of Marloe, and the designer of the company, has a background in industrial design I belive, which translates well to wristwatch designs.
To me, the Tay gives off a maritime vibe, which – in addition to a smaller size – made it a no brainer. I was also quite invested in the brand by the time I got the watch; it's not been the case more recently, but the guys at Marloe have been great at making videos about the brand, the challenges they've faced, and their process of manufacturing watches, which has been very interesting to see.
With all the tools and services available to make decent websites, it surprises me that brands still have sites like this in 2025. It doesn't help how good the product is when this is the first impression you get…
My first thought was that they simply just flipped that marker to distinguish it from its inspiration, or to make more room for the text above, but it just comes off a bit wrong.
If I had a penny for every time I've seen a watch that looks interesting, just to notice an incredibly ugly logo – or just as bad – oversized logo! There are so many brands that get this so wrong. I could almost put the San Martin logo in the ugly logo category, but they get away with it simply because they've got the proportions of watch vs logo size right. Plus, San Martin makes me think of George Martin of LALD, so there's that! :D
The BB54 is at a price point, especially if buying pre-owned, where I might be able to afford one given a bit of time. I've seen a few Youtubers point out the "retroness" of this model, and I feel every argument for or against this is valid. It's "within reason" for me, but I'm not 100% convinced how much I like the grey numbering and details on the bezel, against the golden details and lettering on the dial. The BB58 on the other hand, has golden details on the bezel, but on that watch I don't like the red "triangle" on the bezel.
Maybe if the BB54 had less golden details, or alternatively included a golden coloured "pearl" on the bezel to include some golden detailing like it's inspiration, the Tudor Oyster Prince Submariner reference 7922, it would have been a no-brainer.
The fact that the BB54 has a bit of history attached to it, is also an argument for why this is a great watch. I also think they've got everything proportionally correct with the design – plus the fact that I've always liked Tudor's "Snowflake" hands. Trying one on might be the way to go if I get serious about the BB54. Ulike Rolex, you might actually find these on display, even in smaller towns like where I live (or live close nearby).
I will definitely keep an eye out for any 36mm Brosnan/Craig 300m's. And you're right, a 36 mm watch might seem small on paper, but feel just right on the wrist. Going with a fabric strap or a Milanese mesh strap rather than a chunky bracelet might make the watch look more proportionally right even on my teeny tiny wrist.
Quite clever indeed! The red markers doesn't look bad in the picture above either. I would have thought that detail would have been hard to pull off, but it seems WMT have done everything very well here!
Yeah I really come and go on that red triangle. Sometimes I think it adds something, something I think it looks too much.
Yes, I think they're usually in stock too, unlike Rolexes. I think my next purchase would be likely to be a Tudor as they're so nice. I have to make sure I don't try one on or I might get tempted! :D
I don't have a big wrist either but it looks just right, and on its original bracelet which is super comfortable.
Here we are on our hols together a few months back:
Yeah it's really fun: the only slight issue with the 'magnet'/'bomb' function using the date wheel is that at midnight every night all the markers gradually turn red by themselves :D
It's those few little details that has made me go a bit back and forth re. the BB54. Who knows, by the time I have saved up enough to get one, they might have released a version where they have toned down those details – or the design might have won me over!
In any case, be it a Tudor BB54, an Omega AT or a vintage Omega watch – it will take some time to afford one, so I just have to use that time to see what pops up.
That watch looks great on your wrist, @mtm! I guess the advantage with an original Omega bracelet is that you are unlikely to find something as comfortable. From what I understand, they take great care in making good bracelets as well – not only watches.
Hahaha! I guess you just have to forgive a few quirky details when you have such a watch in your collection! :))
It's 37 mm, with a lug-to-lug of just under 42mm, so not the most practical diver, perhaps. I saw one comment in a blog post calling this a "desk diver"! :))
Maybe a watch like this could have featured in a Lazenby era or late-Connery era watch collection?
It comes in three variants and looks very nice to me.
Click the image for link.
Also like this Rolex Explorer inspired one. Ian Fleming of course, had a Rolex Explorer 1016.
You're right about the graphics, they make all the difference for me. It's why I got a Nivada SuperAntarctic, I just thought the dial looked so great.
(more than a Rolex homage; they made this watch in the 50s and it went to the Antarctic)
The Smiths is just made in China anyway, may as well get a Thorn or Baltany, both made just as well.
I rather like the Hruodland too.
The dial text is nonsense but I find it rather endearing.
Also love the fact that they share how this reissue came about. Having a watch brand actually taking notice of what their customers actually want, isn't always the case.
I also follow an American watch brand named Vaer on Instagram, and they use customer surveys as a way to decide which models and variants they put into production. For smaller brands this is probably the best way of getting customers to purchase more watches.
I've also been looking at Smiths and the Smiths PRS-25 Everest, but I've seen more than a few complaints online about the guy who runs it, who's apparently very difficult, and the customer support likewise. That has put me off Timefactors and Smiths. Do you own this watch yourself @Univex?
Really like the look of that Hruodland too, @mtm. I have a real soft spot for cream/light brown details on watches. Reasonably priced as well, I think. Also like the look of their Retro Diver model.
I've really gone down the rabbit hole with watches lately. When we sold the old family home last year, I found an older Certina Quartz dress watch in the attic, which I took to the local watch shop earlier this week for service. I'm having a nice leather strap fitted to the watch as well, and it will be a nice addition to my Marloe Tay "everyday watch". Not at all a Bond watch, but still fun to have.
My next watch purchase will be interesting though. I think if I want to get another watch, I do want it to be a step up in quality, so I've narrowed it down into three categories (for now):
I absolutely love it, it feels real quality and I just love looking at it! Also the strap is the most buttery smooth I have, it's lovely to wear. I got it second hand so the price wasn't too high, and it came pretty much barely worn.
Oh wow, that's a great find! Certina is a very decent brand, Swiss and they make really nice watches. They make a dive watch which lots of people rave about.
Ooh yeah, all great choices. I'd like a Rolex too, maybe someday!
I've not seen that Chronostop before, that's really cool! I know what you mean though, sometimes a more modern watch with a vintage feel is a bit safer as you might not have to pile so much into them to get them working again :D
Nice! When I've read or watched reviews of watches in the same price category, the straps or bracelets of the watches have often been highlighted as some of the weak spots. Usually that's where they go cheap in order to keep the prices down.
That being said, the leather strap of my Marloe Tay is also really good and soft. It also have this worn leather look, so wear and tear won't be so noticeable.
I might look at the secondary market too, if I want to get a Nivada wristwatch. I've seen them mentioned a few places, so they seem to be popular.
Yes! If buying new, I prefer mechanical or automatic movements, but finding a nice looking quartz watch out of the blue was fun! I'm sure I will wear this one a lot.
Unfortunately I haven't found a serial number on the watch, so I've been unable to find out the production year. The box included a receipt from the last service in the 90's, but looking up serial numbers of Certina watches online, the numbers does not add up. Most likely there was a typo from the watch repairman. It doesn't really matter, but it would be fun to know how old the watch actually is.
I think with a vintage Rolex, it's really a matter of how much I want to miss out on in terms of functionality, practicality and cosmetic condition. A no-date watch will be cheaper, but you miss out on the "Bubbleback" look with date-models which – although it wasn't something I liked initially – has grown on me considerably. A manual wind watch obviously require the daily winding – but on the other hand you will be handling the watch on a regular basis too, which isn't a bad thing. I might also have to buy a watch with some noticeable signs of wear, which I have to be alright with.
The fun thing with the Chronostop is all the versions they made – including ones to be worn under the wrist! You could almost imagine Bond at some racetrack, wearing a watch like this while driving.
The Chronostop watches, being a bit less known than other products by Omega, are sometimes a bit cheaper. They might not be for everyone, but they have a bit of character to them which appeals to me at least!
Keeping old watches ticking is definitely a factor to consider when buying. Some movements might be easier to service too, so that's why it's important to do a bit of research before deciding on an older watch, no doubt. There is something about having a proper vintage watch that appeals to me too though, to be honest.
Yeah, I’ve got a Smiths Everest Gilt dial from Timefactors. I’ve talked with the owner, Eddie Platts, a number of times, as I’ve since ordered a jubilee bracelet to replace the oyster one (I also wear it on a Tudor style nato strap, black with a yellow strike). Eddie was always very nice, actually. And the watch is super reliable. It has a japanese movement, the Miyota 9039, 24 jewel automatic, 28,800 BPH.
I wear it casually in Summer or in my travels, to keep safe my Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 42mm (the one from QOS). I also have some Longines (a lovely Dolce Vita, which I love), a Speedy and the canonical Submariner. But my main watch, the one I wear the most, is the Omega. I have it since 2008. Best watch ever, IMO.
Btw, @mtm, glad to have you answer one of my posts, finally . Keep it up, man, I tell ya, we should become friends, smoke the proverbial piece pipe and whatnot. Good will is all I have. Besides, these are good times to be Bond fans, right?
I'd rather talk about watches.
Care to publicly say what you want me to apologise for? So all can know? My comments were all public, in the open, transparent, you see? Maybe if the entire community agrees with your complaint, I will apologise.
I strongly disagreed with the way you posted and responded in the forums (heck, you have close to 20.000 posts, that says it all), and you privately acused me of bullying you.
I have, countless times, extended olive branches. I have no problem with you. I enjoy your art, and you have actually changed your machine gun type of response of which I was critical of.
So, why not be friends? You insist on me apologising for something I did not do. Being critical of you is not bullying you, my friend.
You said you suffered emotionally with my open criticism of your behaviour, and yet, as a self proclaimed victim, you ruled the forums and were ever present. No sign of ptsd there. I left. I left many times, for long periods of time, always distraught by your constant opposition. You ruled the grounds, still do. And yet proclaim yourself the victim? Why do that? Mods agreed with me. Were they bullies too? Are we all?
These are forums, and some things are read as agressive, like mechanically answering to multiple posts like you used to do. I mean, again, your presence in the community became overwhelming, IMO, there are mods and old time members who haven’t got a quarter of the post count you have.
I said you were constructing an absolutist regime in here, an autocracy,but that was, as everyone else understood, just a behaviourist metaphor. People were afraid to speak freely then. And many members left because of it. It’s all there in the records.
This was not insidious of me, as you have said. Speaking up for freedom and for good will towards others in public discussions plataforms is the opposite of insidious. It is a public duty.
But are you a valuable member? Yeah, I’d reckon you are, as you have actually changed your ways quite a bit. Have we disagreed with our forums dynamics? Yes, we did, it’s been years since then. So why keep that sadistic position of wanting me to bend a knee and apologise, again, for something I didn’t do? I was never a bully. The mods weren’t bullies. We were all just trying to tell you how to better behave and manage your, let’s call it enthusiasm ;)
All of this in sake of transparency and good will, like it should be. Again, here’s my hand for a handshake, @mtm.
I’ll apologise for this: for the roughness and intensity of my criticism regarding your past behaviour. If I was a little intense, it was because I love these forums. I’ve been in Bond forums since 1999. It’s home to me. Good to have you here. And good to see you’ve found your rhythm. A better one, for you, for us all. Now, is this enough for you?
You are an amazing artist. A knowledgeable Bond fan. All and all, someone I would easily see as a friend for years to come.
Now, about watches… which we both like, as we do cars, and art, and Bond films (so much stuff is common ground to us, and you still won’t shake my hand).
Cmon, have some good will. So we can enjoy the forums and the road to Bond26.
So, again: friends? :) Are we good?
Oh, and what vintage omegas did you say you have? Would love to see them? Dress watches? Divers? Do you service them? Or keep the patina?
PS: so sorry mods, for the overly long sidetracked post. It was intended to be in sake of transparency. So that everyone could see my good will towards @mtm, and my extended arm for a handshake and possible friendship. The world is brimming with bad will and wars, with a deficit in human values, … Why not be friends, all of us who have Bond as common ground?
That's quite a collection, @Univex! There are a lot of great Longines watches out there too; I'm yet to do a deep dive into their catalogue, which models to keep an eye out for, etc.
Interesting to see your experience with Timefactors has been so different from those I've seen writing about them online. Obviously these comments only present one side to the story. I do subscribe to the Timefactors newsletter, so I do get the chance to see what they have available. I understand they only produce a limited amount of watches, and are only open for orders for a limited time each time a new collection of watches are going into production.
@Torgeirtrap, old friend, check out the Longines Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve (ref. L16484782). Such a lovely watch ;)
As for Eddie and Timefactors, I firmly believe that if you respect one’s life work and you contact or engage someone in good faith, they will give you their best. And Eddie is a true entrepreneur, and a good guy who has his hands full. There are many who don’t respect what it takes to take something off the ground as he did. The watch is really really nice and it gets many compliments.
I know that the Smiths that went up the Everest didn’t look like an Explorer, but IMO the truth deserves this kind of man made providence. I’ve had an Explorer right next to my Everest Gilt, and the Everest looks better. Those numerals in the new Explorer are hideously modern and somewhat of a paradox in that particular model. And the gilt in the Everest is beautiful to look at. I don’t care if it’s made in Hong Kong with a Japanese movement. It’s beautiful, reliable, relatively cheap, and I do like the history that comes with it. Getting it was also part of the fun, as I had to be ready to buy it in a seconds notice, just as the store opened online. Oh , and I’be bought it for about 400€ and I’ve since seen it for sale online in secondary markets for up to 2000€. Not that I’d ever sell mine ;)
Do consider a deep dive into Longines, their history and quality are top notch.
Cheers, my friend
Very true – I don't know what was said or written in the correspondence between these customers and Timefactors, so there might have been a good reason for Eddie and Timefactors to be less helpful for all I know. I know people who work in customer service for different companies, and they have seen and heard all kinds of things in their jobs!
It's cool that you've had the chance to compare the Everest Gilt to an actual Explorer. With the Rolex Explorer, I gravitate more towards the older models and dials compared to the newer ones, as I do agree regarding the numerals – or, more specifically, I kind of like them but at the same time don't. I think when I see the Explorer in an image by itself (or a rendering) I don't like the look of those numerals, but on a wrist, and/or on a photo in the right kind of setting – a lifestyle image for example – I do kind of like the numerals. And in a strange way, I find that being a bit "conflicted" about these modern looking numerals, and therefore the watch, makes the watch a bit more interesting, if that makes sense.
In all other cases though, I can just look at the dial of a watch and go «Yes, I love that» or «No, I hate that».
For me, the movement of the watch is kind of secondary – which might make me consider the Smiths at some point. I say that with the caveat that (1.) if buying a vintage watch, the movement becomes important in terms of how easy it is to keep working and (2.) at that price point, if it's a Miyota movement, a Seiko movement or similar doesn't really make much difference to me, who is not a collector with years of knowledge. And (3.) if buying a more expensive watch, I obviously want the price to reflect the specs of the watch – including the movement.
The process of getting a watch should be part of the fun too, like you mention. When I got my Marloe Tay, I essentially kept track of the process from the point Marloe Watch Company first mentioned a smaller diameter watch in a video, all the way until they released it. In the meantime I could just as easily have got any other watch in the same price range, but I wanted to wait and see what they came up with. And I love the look of that watch and the way it wears.
I will definitely take a closer look at Longines too. I happened to watch a video on Youtube earlier today, which was a discussion about vintage watches and all the things that are worth taking into consideration if buying one. One of the guys in the video mentioned that Longines have a lot of old parts for older models in their factory, and that you can get your watch repaired there with original parts. I'm very sure that is very expensive to do, but I really like that a company even does this!
Longines do have a museum-like storage with all their pieces available. When my wife ordered my Dolce Vita, as it was an older model unavailable in stores, she ordered it straight from the brand, and they were lovely about it. She bought herself one as well, with intricate gorgeous complications.
I think so too! The Tay is also small enough, and certainly not flashy, which makes it a watch for any occasion.
How cool! How did your wife go about ordering the Dolce Vita directly from Longines?
She wrote to them, old school ;)
Unbelievable. As with most of your posts, I'm not reading all that 'my friend' as I'm sure it's yet more character assassination whilst painting yourself as the extremely reasonable and friendly white knight. Had a quick look at the start of it, and you refused to apologise for stuff like this:
Yes, you joined in with the bullying very happily when a prominent forum member started it, I can link to it but I prefer not to even look at it again. You've questioned my psychology, you've called me names, you've followed me around for years, and just like now you constantly bait me, 'my friend'.
So if you're not going to apologise, I say now: leave me alone. Stop trying to bait me, stop trying to make out like I'm the one who's done all of the above to you. I don't like you, just stop.
I'll reply or not reply to what I want and will likely go on skipping your posts, but I'm not going to follow you around to make crappy comments like this all the time. Now you've had to spoil this thread where I was just having a really nice simple talk with Torgeirtrap with your endless psychodrama. Just leave me alone.
Do you know how many members left the forums because of you? I wasn’t the only one.
Don’t want my olive brach, good will and my hand for a handshake? Fine. I did my best. None of it was baiting as you say. It was all good will on my part.
I do hope people get to read this soap opera and take their own conclusion. It’s all very transparent, I’d say.
Almost in your 20.000 post count I see. Oh well. Keep it up, will ya. If one didn’t know better, one would say you own the place.
I’ll leave you alone now, wouldn’t want to burden you with my attempts at peace and friendship.
Have a good life. I mean it. I wish you all the best. I know you said you don’t like me (it’s right up there for everyone to read). But I really have no problem with you, apart from what I’ve alread openly criticised. So, I’ll leave you alone.
You see, as much as I love these forums, I don’t own them, nor do I manage them.
So, bye then.
Here's a description of bullying: Now read that engagement back and see if you can spot anyone saying that, and anyone else backing it up.
I'm sick of your obsession with me which has lasted years, and these passive aggressive attempts to make yourself look virtuous. Just leave me alone.
I'm sure you'll want the last word, as with most of your posts I won't be reading it.
I'll chime in here. No doubt @mtm will ignore it. But then that's the beauty of a forum. You can choose to engage, or ignore.
The bullying event that @mtm highlighted as above was at the time...over two years ago told to you that it was a joke...a prank...nothing sinister. Yet you decided that it was a good time to get all high and mighty. It wasn't a joke for poor old you. It was as you stated. Horrible.
You used the fact that I as a moderator should not be part of such things, and I was abusing my power. Trust me I'm not going to go back through posts that long ago to make sure I'm correct. But your stance was very much of that opinion.
Since that time, you've never responded or engaged with me. Some might say that's lucky.
Do I care, have I left, does it matter. Well I guess not. The world keeps spinning and I'm still here.
So @mtm rather than demand someone leave you alone do what you do to me...ignore.