This text was initially printed in April 2022.

Years in the past, once I first started writing for WatchTime, I penned a weekly column dubbed “Classic Eye for the Trendy Man.” I wrote the column for a number of years early in my profession, wanting on the many classic re-editions and impressed watches which in-part assist outline the trade within the latter half of the 2010s. As a part of that work, I used to be privileged sufficient to not solely in a position to study a lot about among the most prolific watchmakers round, however concurrently in a position to make attention-grabbing connections with many new entries to the world of watches, and the numerous attention-grabbing watches they had been producing. Amongst these many manufacturers I used to be in a position to get to know, a couple of stood out, amongst them together with Baltic, Nezumi, and our topic of focus right this moment, Maen.

Maen noticed its founding in 2018, then in Stockholm by Dutch founders as a part of a Kickstarter marketing campaign, on the time working to launch its first assortment within the Hudson Computerized dive watch. The marketing campaign was profitable and the model was off to the races, one yr later introducing the follow-up Skymaster 38 and ever since increasing the 2 strains and its bigger catalogue, most lately with the introduction of its very personal tackle a metal built-in sports activities watch within the Manhattan 37.

Not too long ago, I had the chance for a long-term, hands-on overview with one of many model’s different more moderen additions to its catalogue within the Greenwich 38 GMT, particularly with the unique blue colorway, although three different shade choices additionally exist— together with orange, pink, and “blue II,” which is blue with some orange accents. The watch is a novel tackle the travel-ready, sports activities watch class, positioned as a flexible wearer for the on a regular basis, with it named for the favored, metropolitan Manhattan neighborhood of Greenwich Village. I wore the watch on and off over the course of three months or in order I travelled backwards and forwards between Paris and New York Metropolis (together with Greenwich, funnily sufficient), the interval consequently together with a time the place I used to be in relative want for a day by day sporting GMT on many workdays.

On the wrist, the Greenwich 38 GMT is a succesful companion. Sized at its namesake 38mm in metal, it wears snug with out feeling delicate, with its outsized screw-down crown, built-in rubber strap, and 100m water resistance including to this sentiment and offering it with some sporty hardiness. The case design itself can also be fairly attention-grabbing for the watch’s value level, that includes a pair of lugs with novel beveled edges, in addition to a stepped, flat-topped bezel that gives the mannequin with critical intrigue. The case all through makes sensible use of contrasting brushed and sharpening ending methods which additional provides to its attraction.

Beneath its sapphire crystal, a Clous de Paris dial sample executed in a darkish blue enamel is at work. The look is harking back to Audemars Piguet’s signature sample, with the credibility of this inspiration bolstered by the watch’s use of an built-in band. The dial in any other case is acquainted Maen, with the model as soon as extra choosing a straight-forward configuration that makes use of just a few thrives— notably its “Skyscraper” handset recalling the watch’s New York affect, block-style hour markers, an outer 24-hour scale with an identical central pointer for the mannequin’s GMT capabilities, and a date window on the 3 o’clock place for some added daily-wearing utility. The watch is fast to learn and putting to have a look at, with its Maen-signature particulars offering some good, attention-grabbing touches upon each look on the wrist.

Contained in the Greenwich is the SwissTech caliber S24-045. The motion isn’t practically as well-known as its counterparts produced by Sellita and ETA, however it’s an automatic-powered Swiss -manufactured motion, which to some extent supplies some further mechanical credibility to the watch. Notably, the motion doesn’t characteristic an independently adjustable hour hand, although that is anticipated for the watch’s value level, however even for this small inconvenience of needing to manually alter the hour after every flight, the motion nonetheless carried out nicely sufficient throughout common put on, preserving common time, and sustaining its 40-hours of energy reserve.

On the sub-$1,000 value level, the Greenwich is a critical proposition. With novel design components, an attention-grabbing dial, helpful GMT, and a Swiss mechanical motion— there merely isn’t an enormous checklist of watches obtainable that match these traits for the price. That mentioned, the design seemingly isn’t going to attraction to everybody, and the watch at instances did really feel a bit too playful and sporty for all conditions on the usual rubber strap, however that mentioned for many who do discover an curiosity within the aesthetic, a third-party leather-based band is bound to decorate up the search for an each extra versatile wearer.

The Greenwich 38 GMT is out there instantly by Maen, with pricing marked at $880 together with VAT and $760 with out it for all 4 shade choices. Whereas not restricted version, Maen produces solely restricted portions in every manufacturing run, and so relying on demand some shade choices could also be quickly bought out.

To study extra, go to Maen, here.