Founded in 2017 by Sebastiaan Cortjaens, alongside Jules van Helvoort, independent watch microbrand Maen focuses on creating well-designed watches along with a strong attention to detail, that too while keeping them accessible in price. And the launch of the latest Manhattan 37 Ultra-Thin watches in stone dials are the proof.
The brand’s Manhattan 37 Ultra-Thin debuts with three new stone-dial variants, each representing what has always characterized Maen: packing and layering in every feature and checking every box enthusiasts tend to demand. Doing it all at competitive prices, to boot, is what consistently impresses about the brand
The watch’s name says much of what you need to know: it’s a version of the brand’s Manhattan, which is loosely based on the Vacheron Constantin Royal Chronometer reference 2215, a precursor to the much-hyped 222 and its descendant, the Overseas. The 37mm diameter is how it was originally launched, but the brand then followed up with other variants, including the Ultra-Thin version featuring a hand-wound La Joux-Perret D100 movement. That ultra-thinness, specifically? It’s a svelte 7.1mm.
The stars of the show, of course, are the stone dials, which come in Onyx, Golden Swan, or Snowflake Obsidian. There are three options, but no two will feature the exact same natural patterns — though the deep-black Onyx models should be pretty consistent. Golden Swan will have brownish-red variations mixed with black, whereas Snowflake Obsidian offers a striking speckled effect. It’s hard not to feel like such striking organic patterns in natural materials aren’t a bit “special” in some way.
In addition to the stones themselves, one element that makes these stand out from other versions of the Manhattan is the ultra-minimalist dial. No indices clutter your view of the stones’ interesting textures, just a pair of hands — with no seconds indication, as on comparable models — a logo, and some text. That might not help legibility, and neither will the combination of shiny hands against dark backdrops — black, in the case of the obsidian — and busy patterns. But, hey, this kind of watch is popular for a reason, and telling the time ain’t it.
We curmudgeons might decry sacrificed legibility, but the minimalism should further tickle fashionistas and fans of so-called “geezer watches,” such as those influencers have discovered in the archives of Cartier, Piaget, and others. What it lacks in readability, though, it makes up for in uniqueness and elegance. Hell, we’d wear something like this and probably bear with a little extra effort just for the coolness of the dials and everything else that makes the Maen Manhattan 37 Ultra-Thin attractive in the first place.
This kind of watch is always going to be limited by its nature, and you’ll likely have to act fast to get your hands on one, as each option is limited to only 100 examples.
This article first published in WatchTime.com
Images: Courtesy brand
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