MAEN Watches Review: Collections, Quality, and My Picks

The Manhattan is the watch that made MAEN click for me. Its angular case and striped dial have plenty of personality, and my time with the Manhattan 37 M2 “Grey Ice” gave me a good reason to look more closely at the rest of the brand. There is considerably more here than an integrated bracelet.

I would start with the Manhattan for everyday style, the Hudson for a compact diver, and the Classic 36 for something quieter. Beyond those, MAEN offers hand-wound chronographs, natural stone dials, a triple calendar, and some unusually slim cases.

This guide covers every collection in MAEN’s current watch menu, including the Lunar Classic within Classic 36, both Skymaster bezel versions, and Boutique Exclusives. I have grouped related models into family sections with 14 representative watch cards. The retired Jump Hour is clearly marked. My hands-on experience here comes from the Manhattan review; my other recommendations draw on the designs and official specifications.

Jump to Manhattan, Hudson, Skymaster, Grand Tonneau, Classic and Lunar Classic, Brooklyn, Boutique Exclusives, or my recommendations.

A Brief Introduction To MAEN

MAEN was founded in 2017 by Sebastiaan Cortjaens and Jules van Helvoort, two Dutch watch enthusiasts, and is based in Stockholm, Sweden. The name is an old Dutch spelling of “moon.” The founders describe their approach as combining vintage influence with modern construction, which fits the range rather well. MAEN’s story provides the background.

What interests me is the variety within that idea. The Manhattan draws on 1970s sports watches; the Brooklyn has a more rounded, mid-century character; the Grand Tonneau takes a different route with its barrel-shaped case. I would choose between those designs before getting too caught up in movement grades.

MAEN uses supplied movements, including La Joux-Perret, Sellita, and Miyota. I would not describe the entire catalog as Swiss-made: the Brooklyn, for example, uses a Japanese Miyota caliber. The brand sells online and also has a Stockholm showroom and retail partners.

The MAEN Range At A Glance

Prices and availability were checked on October 17, 2026. The cards use MAEN’s US storefront prices for the stated configuration. Regional pricing, taxes, duties, and optional straps or bracelets can change the total. A pre-order is not ready-to-ship stock; I would confirm the delivery estimate before paying.

Manhattan: My Starting Point

Manhattan 37: The Familiar Shape, With A Movement Update

The Ice Grey M2.1.5 is my natural starting point. In my dedicated Manhattan review, I particularly enjoyed the changing appearance of the striped dial and the way the case and bracelet worked together. I also noted the lack of clasp micro-adjustment on the watch I wore.

There is an important buying distinction: my reviewed watch used a Sellita SW200-1; the current M2.1.5 listing specifies a La Joux-Perret G100. The card below describes that current Standard Grade configuration. MAEN also offers a more expensive Top Grade version with an exhibition back. The wider 37mm collection includes date and no-date dials, plus special editions such as Kun; I would check the exact reference and batch.

Manhattan 37 Ultra-Thin: Small Seconds And Texture

My pick from the 37 Ultra-Thin collection is the Midnight Blue M2.2.1. The hammered-effect dial and small seconds give it a different personality from the automatic. At 7.1mm thick, it is the version I would compare first if slipping under a shirt cuff mattered most. The tradeoff is daily involvement: its D100 is hand-wound, with an approximately 50-hour reserve.

Manhattan 39 Ultra-Thin: A Cleaner Two-Hand Dial

The 39 Ultra-Thin is more than a larger version of the 37. It uses the D101, removes the seconds display, and pairs a striped dial with an even thinner 6.9mm case. I like the Forest Green version for that restrained layout. Its 47.8mm length is worth comparing with the 37’s 47.4mm rather than choosing by width alone.

Manhattan Stone: Onyx, Golden Swan, And Snowflake Obsidian

The Stone collection shares the slim 37mm format but makes the natural dial material the attraction. Onyx would be my choice for a quiet black dial; Golden Swan and Snowflake Obsidian offer more visible pattern. I would expect the individual stone to matter as much as the product photograph.

MAEN’s collection and product pages disagree on the D100/D101 designation here. Both describe a La Joux-Perret hand-wound movement, but I would confirm the exact caliber before ordering.

Manhattan 40: More Wrist Presence

The Manhattan 40 is where I would look if the 37 feels too compact. It keeps automatic winding and the integrated steel bracelet, with date and no-date choices. My blue M3.1.1 pick has a date. At 49.3mm long and 10.2mm thick, this is a meaningful size change, so I would compare the full dimensions before moving up.

Hudson: The Practical Sports Watches

Hudson 38 MK5

For a diver, I would start with the black Hudson 38 MK5 M1.1.5. The current MK5 combines a 38mm case, ceramic timing bezel, 30 ATM water resistance, and a G100 with an approximately 68-hour reserve. Black and blue dials, with date and no-date choices, keep the range straightforward.

The quoted price includes the TPU strap. Steel bracelets are extra, which matters when comparing it with a Manhattan supplied on steel. MAEN’s 11mm thickness figure excludes the domed crystal.

Hudson 38 GMT MKII

The GMT MKII adds a second time zone while retaining the compact case and 30 ATM rating. Its Sellita SW330-2 has an independently adjustable GMT hand: useful for following another time zone, though it does not provide an independently jumping local-hour hand. The M1.3.3 would be my starting pick; I would compare the other listed bezel treatment, M1.3.5, before choosing.

Skymaster: Two Takes On A Hand-Wound Chronograph

The Skymaster 38 MKIII is my choice for someone who wants the chronograph to be part of the appeal. Both versions use a Top Grade Sellita SW510Mb and measure 13.4mm thick including the crystal. I would not mistake the small diameter for an especially flat watch.

My representative pick is the MKIII.MCR M6.1.1, with a rotating ceramic 12-hour bezel. The MKIII.MCT substitutes a fixed tachymeter bezel; the inverted-panda M6.2.1 was listed at the same $1,926. I prefer the MCR’s travel-time utility, but the MCT is worth a look for its simpler steel bezel.

Grand Tonneau: MAEN’s More Unusual Side

Ultra Thin: My Pick For The Case Shape

The Grand Tonneau Ultra Thin is the one I would investigate for something outside the round-watch routine. The Nico Leonard collaboration combines a barrel-shaped case with a textured, enamel-coated fumé dial and a hand-wound D101. The black MNL.04 is my restrained pick, alongside turquoise, yellow, red, and gold-tone choices.

The base configuration has an integrated FKM strap; the bamboo-style bracelet costs extra. MAEN’s collection and product pages give different overall lengths, so I would confirm that measurement before ordering for a smaller wrist. The product’s 6.4mm thickness excludes the crystal.

Jump Hour: Included For Context, Now Retired

The Jump Hour displays time through rotating discs and uses an ST1721 automatic movement modified by MAEN. That is different from developing a movement entirely from scratch. I like how the display complements the case, but the buying advice is simple: all three references in the official collection are marked retired, and the original order window is closed. This card is a reference point, not a current stock recommendation.

Classic 36 And Lunar Classic: The Quieter Choices

Classic 36

The Classic 36 is the MAEN I would consider for a traditional everyday watch. It has conventional lugs, a circular-brushed dial, and an automatic Sellita SW200-1. My Forest Green M7.2.2 pick is listed as a 50-piece edition. I like its simpler layout and lower entry price; I would choose it because the design appeals, rather than because the production number is small.

Lunar Classic 36

The Lunar Classic shares the Classic collection page, but deserves its own card. The moonphase changes the character enough to make it a separate decision. I would choose the cream M7.1.1 for a dressier look, with a blue version also listed. Its Top Grade Sellita SW280-1 is automatic, and the case remains 36mm wide. For both Classic branches, I would confirm the overall length: MAEN lists 43mm on the family page and 44mm on these product pages.

Brooklyn 36: A Compact Triple Calendar

The Brooklyn 36 is my pick for someone who enjoys useful dial detail. Its Miyota 9122 shows the day, date, and month, surrounded by a pie-pan-style dial. This is a complete calendar, so it needs correction after months shorter than 31 days.

I would start with the grey M5.1.1 and its contrasting cream subdials. Other current listings include cream, salmon, and green, plus the sold-out Mahjong MHV.03 collaboration. The Brooklyn is compact across the dial, but 12.6mm thick including the crystal; it serves a different purpose from the Ultra-Thin watches.

Boutique Exclusives: A Different Buying Route

MAEN’s Boutique Exclusives program gives more experimental designs a short online release before distribution through retailers, events, and the showroom. Series 001, MBE.001, uses the Manhattan 37 Ultra-Thin format with a blue fumé Côtes de Genève dial.

I would enquire about the actual allocation instead of assuming an online listing means immediate delivery. Its page also mixes D100 and D101 descriptions, so I have kept the movement description broad until MAEN confirms it. Older collaborations sit in the separate Archive; I would check those individually rather than treat them as current collections.

Quality, Value, And What I Would Check

My strongest firsthand reference remains the Manhattan 37. I liked its dial, contrasting finishes, and overall wearability, while the clasp adjustment was a compromise. I would not extend that experience into a claim that I have tested every MAEN. Across the wider range, sapphire crystals, clearly identified movements, and several compact case options give me useful reasons to build a shortlist.

The main buying checks are specific. Compare total case thickness, confirm the movement generation, and price the bracelet you actually want. A Hudson on an optional steel bracelet is a different comparison from its base strap configuration. Likewise, an integrated Manhattan bracelet makes fit and replacement-strap choices more important.

I would also separate in-stock watches from production batches. Several featured references were on pre-order when I checked; estimated shipping dates can move between batches. MAEN’s terms describe a two-year warranty and a 14-day return window with condition requirements and return shipping paid by the buyer. I would read those conditions before sizing or wearing a new arrival, and check destination-specific taxes and duties at checkout.

Which MAEN Would I Choose?

• My first stop: Manhattan 37. I like the Ice Grey design, and my hands-on review explains why. Just remember the current movement has changed.
• For a practical diver: Hudson 38 MK5. Its size, timing bezel, and 30 ATM rating make it my clearest sports-watch recommendation here.
• For a slimmer watch: Manhattan 37 or 39 Ultra-Thin. I would choose the 37 for small seconds and texture, or the 39 for a cleaner two-hand dial.
• For a traditional everyday design: Classic 36. It is one of the least expensive entry points in this selection.
• For more mechanical interest: Skymaster or Brooklyn. I would decide whether a hand-wound chronograph or a day/date/month display would bring more enjoyment.

MAEN makes the most sense to me when the design is the reason for buying it. I would choose the shape and dial I wanted to wear, then make sure the exact reference, configuration, and delivery timing matched that choice.

MAEN Watches: Frequently Asked Questions