James Thompson, known professionally as Black Badger, is a materials designer whose route into the watch world came through experimentation and creative collaborations—not conventional watchmaking. In a 2020 interview with Rob Nudds for Fratello, he explained how an intentionally eccentric name, a longstanding interest in unusual materials and projects with watch brands shaped his work.
Who is James Thompson, or Black Badger?
Thompson is a designer and materials experimenter. He describes his work as finding new uses for materials that already exist, rather than making watches himself. As he put it in the Fratello interview, “I’m not a watchmaker. I work in a very specific way.”
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His distinctive name reflects the playful identity he built around his early work. Thompson recalled making cosmetic parts for paintball and being drawn to an eccentric, Area 51-like aesthetic. He wanted a name that felt “a bit goofy” and “out there,” with what he called a WWII squadron feel. The Black Badger name grew on him over time.
How did Thompson find his way into watches?
Thompson says his interest in new and unusual materials came first; work connected to watches followed from that interest. He moved from Canada to Sweden in 2002, seeking a challenge and a different design environment. Rather than approaching watches as a traditional watchmaker, he brought a materials-focused perspective to the field.
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In the interview, he described Black Badger as “like a materials orphanage”: a place for materials that might otherwise be overlooked, where he could explore different applications for them. That approach helped distinguish his contribution to watch projects. He discussed MB&F as a formative collaboration and talked about the creative input he brought to a project.
What does Black Badger do for watch brands?
Thompson’s work centers on material choices and their use in design. He has collaborated with watchmakers and brands on projects that draw on his experience experimenting with materials. A 2024 profile by The Fourth Wheel lists collaborations with MB&F, Sarpaneva, Schofield, Linde Werdelin, Hautlence and Bamford Watch Department. Those collaborations illustrate the range of his industry work; they do not make him a watchmaker.
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An earlier 2013 WatchPro interview described Thompson as a Canadian designer living in Gothenburg and working with carbon and Corian in rings, bangles and other objects. It also covered his hands-on approach to learning and the launch of Black Badger Straps with Gary Pemberthy. Those details describe his work at that time, not necessarily his current business or product lineup.
What is James Thompson’s role at Arcanaut?
Arcanaut’s official About page identifies Thompson, also known as Black Badger, as a brand owner and Chief of Materials Development. The company says he joined as a part-owner in 2020. His role puts his materials expertise within a watch brand, while remaining distinct from traditional watchmaking.
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Arcanaut’s official site currently presents its experimental ARC II watches. Model specifications, availability and prices can change; consult the live product pages for current details rather than treating a profile or interview as a current catalogue.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why the interview is useful
The 2020 conversation, conducted on June 1 and published by Fratello on June 18, offers Thompson’s own account of how he built a professional identity around materials, experimentation and an intentionally playful name. It is especially useful for understanding why Black Badger’s watch-industry contribution is best framed as materials development and collaboration—not watchmaking.
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Read the Fratello interview with James Thompson, the 2013 WatchPro interview, The Fourth Wheel’s 2024 profile of Black Badger, and Arcanaut’s official About page.
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