Commercial Commission: Marloe Watch Co
A Watch Like No Other
The Dart is the result of a considered commercial collaboration between Great British watchmaker Marloe Watch Company and contemporary British artist Bert Fowler. Rooted in shared values of craftsmanship, restraint and thoughtful design, the project brought together mechanical precision and artistic storytelling to create a limited-edition timepiece inspired by life on the British coast.
Designed as a homage to coastal living and the Devonshire town of Dartmouth — where Bert lives and works — The Dart celebrates place, heritage and modern British design. Produced as a limited edition of just 250 watches, the project reflects the power of collaboration between artist and maker, resulting in an object that feels both functional and deeply personal.
Artist-Led Design Inspired by Place
Bert’s artistic contribution sits at the heart of The Dart. Known for his beautifully pared-back line work, Bert brought a quiet clarity to the design — celebrating Dartmouth not through literal illustration, but through suggestion, balance and restraint.
The dial features Bert’s line art ship motif alongside the coordinates of the mouth of the River Dart, the estuary that has shaped the town’s maritime identity for centuries. Dartmouth’s layered history — from medieval castles and hidden coves to the Britannia Royal Naval College and the annual Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta — provided a rich narrative backdrop. It was also the location where Bert Fowler originally launched his work, grounding the project in authenticity and lived experience.
From Sketch to Timepiece
The collaboration began with a chance meeting between Bert and Marloe co-founder Oliver Goffe during a visit to Dartmouth. A shared appreciation for considered design quickly led to further conversations, research trips and desire to create something together.
Bert’s approach mirrors his wider artistic practice: beginning with discovery, followed by revision, reduction and refinement until only what is essential remains. This process informed every decision — from dial composition and line weight to colour placement and spatial balance — ensuring the artwork and the engineering worked in harmony.
Design Simplicity, Underpinned by Complexity
While the dial appears deceptively simple, The Dart is a study in depth, proportion and visual flow. Subtle chamfers guide the eye inward, leading from the crystal through layers of colour, texture and typography. A vivid flash of Bert’s signature aquamarine — a recurring colour in his Dartmouth artworks — appears beneath the upper ring, adding depth without distraction.
The watch hands echo Bert’s line art technique, using varied line weights to define hierarchy and movement. The result is a dial that is intuitive to read, visually balanced and quietly expressive.
Craftsmanship Inside and Out
The case design draws inspiration from coastal architecture and maritime structures built to endure harsh environments — slim and elegant, yet robust and purposeful. Beneath the surface, the automatic Miyota 9039 mechanical movement powers the watch, visible through an exhibition caseback that celebrates the beauty of engineering as much as the exterior design.
For Bert, the contrast between the outer artwork and the inner mechanics was key: “The outside of the watch is like a piece of art. The inside mechanical movement is like poetry — rare, handsome, reliable and made to last.”
A Contemporary British Design Collaboration
The Dart stands as a compelling example of how artists can collaborate meaningfully with commercial brands, contributing not just surface aesthetics but concept, narrative and identity. It is British design at its best — carefully considered, rooted in place, and created through mutual respect between disciplines.
A watch born from a sketch by the coast, The Dart invites its wearer to carry a piece of that landscape with them — a reminder that time, like tide, waits for none.