Giuseppe Marasco MarkLE is a watch brand founded by passionate Vietnamese artisans with a mission to blend the rich cultural heritage of Vietnam with the precision of Swiss horology. As the first brand in Vietnam to incorporate the ancient Cloisonné enameling technique into watchmaking, MarkLE creates timepieces that are not just functional but also serve as intricate works of art. Each watch combines handcrafted enamel dials with genuine high-end Swiss movements, resulting in a fusion of tradition and modernity.
One of MarkLE’s standout collections is the “Famous Landscapes” series, which celebrates the iconic beauty and historical significance of Vietnam’s most cherished landmarks. Let’s explore two captivating designs from this collection.
MarkLE uses Sellita caliber SW300 movement. The Sellita SW300 is a Swiss-made automatic movement that is widely recognized for its durability and accuracy. It is often used as a reliable alternative to the ETA 2892, making it a popular choice among many different watch brands.
Ho Chi Minh City: A Metropolis of Contrasts
The watch face featuring Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon, reflects the city’s dynamic blend of historical legacy and modern vibrance. Ho Chi Minh City, the largest metropolis in Vietnam, has evolved over 300 years from a “fortress in the forest” to a bustling urban hub.
The dial is an exquisite miniature painting, depicting renowned architectural landmarks such as Bitexco Tower and Landmark 81, the tallest building in Vietnam—symbols of the city’s rapid development. Complementing these modern icons are historical gems like the Notre Dame Cathedral, Ben Thanh Market, and the Independence Palace.
To achieve this intricate artwork, artisans use nearly 100 fine gold Cloisonné wires to outline the architectural features. These outlines are then filled with vibrant enamel colors and fired multiple times in a kiln at high temperatures. Each piece undergoes meticulous polishing to reveal a masterpiece that captures both the ancient charm and the modern energy of the city.
Collection of Enamel Watch Dials with the theme “TRANH DONG HO”
Dong Ho paintings are a traditional type of Vietnamese paintings. What makes Dong Ho paintings come alive and special is that they are hand-printed from carved wooden boards, combined with letters, colors and stories to create a rare uniqueness.
Similarly, with the theme of Dong Ho paintings, MarkLE brings a new material, created by the ancient Enamel Cloisonné technique. At the same time, bringing a new position, MarkLe brings the theme of Dong Ho paintings on the watch dial. Combining modernity with a bit of ancient traditional “flavor”.
Thich Minh Tue
Thich Minh Tue is a Vietnamese Buddhist monk.
Thich Minh Tue decided to “follow the Buddha’s teachings” by keeping the 13 ascetic practices of primitive Buddhism and begging for alms everywhere in Vietnam.
Illustrating the image of Thich Minh Tue with the Cloisonné technique is truly a feat. From the gait, the bare feet and especially the costume (Phận Tảo Y)… are the details that MarkLE cares about and pays the most attention to.
MarkLE Galaxy Collection
Another interesting collection is the Galaxy collection where you can see also really good lume on hands and indexes and an incredible dial.
Final consideration
MarkLE is for sure an interesting brand with great craftsmanship where the passion of communicate the tradition and story of Vietnam using enamel dials and technique is really important.
Personally the collection I like the most is the famous landscapes.
But the project is not based only on using impressive techniques but also good quality Swiss automatic movement, making their watches really complete.
