Maen Watches 

Who is Maen Watches?  

With 2 Dutch owners, Maen watches came into the scene in 2017. Out of a simple feedback routine the watch brand was born. Maen is the old spelling In Dutch for the word moon, which makes sense as it is the earth natural’s satellite which has been used for centuries when it comes to timekeeping, but it also brings a romantic aura to the brand, nothing feels more sophisticated than the night.  

Why Maen?  

We have been asking this question lately as the brand has hit the social media scene in full force for the past years. Maen is a brand that brings high quality pieces with attention to details, some of the brands focus on their price points or unique dial flavours, but the Dutch house is more about refinement, it is all about the fit and finish of the product rather than an entry level watch. It does bring good value as this type of offering would be absurd in terms of pricing with bigger brands but not here. 

Who are they for?  

Well, if look at their main offering, or at least what was happening a few years back, Maen was the only microbrand we can think of that was offering small divers, more specifically the Hudson at 38mm, so clearly they were ahead of the curve. The small details like red triangles and glossy dials can be seen everywhere today, but back then, it wasn’t that common, it was a novelty and a note that this is a brand for a crowd that was focusing on vintage pieces. well-made ones.  

What are the key design elements?  

Everything vintage, and more specific, Maen looks back at that golden era of watches between the 60’s and 70’s. We are always thinking if people knew back in those days that they were living and using future classics, who know maybe it would be the same for us too, but one thing is certain, the nostalgia and attention to detail from Maen, its something that is dialed up to a ten. Is not a brand that is trying to copy references, but instead they are a future proof design with vintage inspired touches that make the watch in our opinion, more approachable and charming. From mushroom pushers to red triangles in the bezel, there is always a small nod to classic watches. 

How do they work?  

It is not easy to start a microbrand, specially at the price point that Maen operates, but since 2017 they steadily built a cult following. The quality of the watches has been rooted to their core since the inception of any products, and it shows as every time you handle one or meet a person who is an actual owner, it is the first thing that comes to light.

There is no mistake that this is a luxury product, there is more than what you might need in terms of specification, with long power reserves, manual wind calibres and micro adjustments just to name a few, there are no foreign materials on the dial, rough surfaces and missed aligned bezels, it all adds up to a great experience. 

The Hudson  

This is one elegant diver, with a case size of 38mm, the Hudson not only works well in a variety of wrist but also can be used as a base for the brand to offer GMT version of their most popular model. With a lug to lug of 46mm and a thickness of 12mm, this diver has a lot going on for it, the looks are reminiscent from those no crown divers that we all know and love.

The 5-piece bracelet its well executed, tappers nicely and brings again that refinement that we are used to. The Swiss-made movement keeps things moving well and with an Incabloc system, the watch is not only elegant but also can be used as everyday tool. Dials are usually sandblasted and keeping legibility as a top priority, a complete package.  

The Skymaster 38    

No vintage inspired watch brand would be completed without a chronograph offering, but we have to say that it is probably the hardest one to execute, specially at 38mm. The Skymaster, is by all mean one of the most good-looking watches period, the tricompax layout in close proximity brings that nostalgia recipe back into the game with champagne dials, long hands and a 12-hour bezel depending on the model chosen.

The worst enemy for a chronograph is the thickness and to make under 14mm is already an achievement from Maen. Also to supply the Skymaster with a manual Swiss movement is not something that you hear often, and while competition opts for a mecaquartz or Seagull movement to make things affordable, the Skymaster still operates is a very reasonable price bracket under 1700 EUR, it is an outstanding value proposition. 

The Brooklyn  

Simple, small, and elegant, the triple calendar from Maen is a must to those who want to impress. With a case of 36mm, a jubilee style bracelet and six different dials to choose from, this is now the entry level to the brand, which doesn’t mean that is compromised in built quality. With this model, 

Maen came out of the comfort zone and offers green, cooper salmon dials, a bit funkier than before, it is also one of the first instances that they use a Miyota base calibres offering a lower price point and more complications, the value is increasing here. The lancet style hands bring a good layout that matches day and date complication perfectly, it Is a very well executed offer.

The Manhattan 37 and 39  

Integrated sports watches are everywhere, they are the perfect companion for an everyday watch and Maen wanted to capitalize into the space with their Manhattan collection. As per every offer of the brand, the Manhattan is not copying a reference but using a style to execute the owner’s vision. The watch comes with a 37mm and 39mm case, it is a rectangular which has been talked about a lot with the latest release from Patek Philippe, but we have been lucky to handle both watches and the Manhattan feels more retrained.

The dial comes with a Geneva stripes pattern, again unusual but beautiful, and as every steel sport integrated watch, the case and bracelet feel as one piece, well executed and extremely thin at 9.3mm, this version houses a Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement keeping it compact. Now, coming to the 39mm version which could sound large, has something packed its sleeve, the Manhattan 39 is only 6.3mm thinness thanks to its manual ETA 7001, it is a sleek beauty.

The Manhattan 37mm x IFL  

This is one of the new novelties from the brand, a collaboration with IFL bringing the dial of the Manhattan to new heights. Now the watch comes with a hand painted dial making it effective a unique piece, the colours splash the black background well and we were lucky to see it live at WindUp in NYC and Watch Pro in London this year, everyone kept asking if they could buy it on the spot, but we have to wait until November 25th where allocation will start for just 1 day, this one will be gone in no time!  Click to Join the waitlist

The lunar classic  

As Maen word is based on the moon, well no offering will be completed without a moonphase, and what a watch this is. We managed to spend some time with the Lunar Classic and it was very good, the brick style bracelet paired with the 36mm just works. It is not a traditional moonphase in the sense of design, the layout yes, but the style is more modern with cleaner looks and going away from classic lines, it is something else. Swiss automatic movement keeps the thinness under 10mm, and it is priced above the Brooklyn but there is no substitute for the moon aperture at 6 o clock, well executed and inspiring.  

Conclusion  

With a relatively short time, Maen has established itself as a vintage inspired watch brand, but they have almost every angle of the scene covered, from chronographs to dress watches, the offering is vast, but they also bring quality in each of their products.

It is also worth noting that this brand has one of the most cohesive line ups from a microbrand, it is impressive and also, we are looking forward to new collaborations, they not only make Maen shine but also refresh the vintage aspect.