You’ll never guess the watch of footballing wonderkid Erling Haaland…
Borna BošnjakTop footballers have the financial muscle to indulge their wildest horological dreams. But I’m often surprised at how predictable their picks tend to be. When perusing the wrists of the stars of the Premier League or Serie A, the likes of Rolex and Patek Philippe invariably make regular appearances while a Royal Oak or Richard Mille may serve as the occasional benchwarmer. But Erling Haaland is different. The hottest young football commodity in the world (possibly bar a certain Hublot-wearing Frenchman) continues to make headlines worldwide after scoring a frankly ridiculous 82 goals in 86 Bundesliga appearances before the age of 22. But the Norwegian striker isn’t just exceptional for his footballing brilliance, but also for his idiosyncratic wristwear.
Right now, Haaland is being courted by the super-clubs of world football ahead of a potential transfer next summer. And while his next club isn’t 100% confirmed just yet, the whispers are growing that the striker will be signing for Manchester City. Playing for Pep Guardiola must be a huge drawcard for any top player, but one suspects the fact that Haaland’s father, Alf-Inge Haaland, also played for City may be a clinching factor in the player’s decision. Why does all this relate to watches? Well, when it come to choosing his wristwear, Haaland also plumps for something with a strong personal connection.
Scandinavian exclusivity
MICROMILSPEC is a Norwegian microbrand that was established in 2019, as a boutique manufacturer of made-to-order watches. Focusing on the military, first responders and other special clients, their watches aren’t available to the public, with the brand instead honing their modern, angular aesthetic, subject to extensive customisation. The manufacturing and assembly of all the pieces is handled by Swiss partners, while the design and development takes place in Oslo. As fans of their nation’s top player, the brand reached out to Haaland to create a one-of-a-kind watch in his honour, the MICROMILSPEC × Haaland “Goldenboy”.
Cased in forged carbon and complete with a black titanium bezel and rubber strap, the 42mm size seems appropriate for someone of Haaland’s 6ft 4″ stature. The octagonal shape is reminiscent of MICROMILSPEC’s other models, but this time with sleek chronograph pushers and a semi-guarded crown featured on the right hand side. This is also where we note the first of many of Haaland’s personal touches, in the form of a logo of Borussia Dortmund, his current team.
Dial-side, the personal customisation really shines. First of all, the only real pop of colour on the watch, the yellow completing the Schwarz-Gelben colourway. The 30-minute counter takes the shape of Haaland’s shirt number – “9” as befits the traditional striker. At 6 o’clock, is the player’s signature “lotus” celebration, through which he expresses the importance of meditation. More subtle touches include the truncated icosahedron (a word that I just learned), which most would usually call a football. Along the rehaut, engraved dates represent Haaland’s personal achievements and milestones.
Turning the watch over, we’re once again met with the zen-posed striker on the stainless-steel caseback, which hides the Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier VMF 3022/12. The movement features a power reserve of 42 hours, while retaining an impressive height of just 6.07mm. For MICROMILSPEC, they’ve omitted the date window and 12 hour counter at 6 o’clock to implement Haaland’s personal touches, and avoid potential clutter on the complex-patterned dial.
| Brand | MICROMILSPEC |
| Model | MICROMILSPEC x HAALAND |
| Case Dimensions | 42mm x 12.7mm |
| Case Material | Forged carbon with titanium bezel and stainless steel caseback |
| Water Resistance | 100 metres |
| Dial | Truncated icosahedron pattern with platinum screw head hour markers |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Strap | Natural rubber |
| Movement | Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier VMF 3022/12, 42-hour power reserve |
| Price | Piece unique |