The Maen Skymaster 38 MKIII, a Cool & Accessible Racing Chronograph

Racing chronographs… It won’t be as packed as a class as dive watches, however in all equity, discovering the appropriate one for you shouldn’t be going to be a stroll within the park. A whole lot of alternate options (and good ones, on high of that) exist, starting from reasonably priced quartz fashions to attainable Swiss mechanical choices, adopted by traditional luxurious icons or high-end watches with principally no restrict of value. However let’s say you’re searching for a cool, compact, vintage-oriented racing chronograph with a timeless enchantment, powered by a dependable mechanical motion… In that case, the Stockholm-based, Dutch-rooted microbrand Maen might need a really compelling resolution for you: the third iteration of its chronograph assortment, the Skymaster 38 MKIII. 

Even when we slender down our seek for a racing chronograph to accessible watches powered by mechanical actions, there are nonetheless dozens of watches to select from. It’s by no means straightforward to seek out the appropriate watch, particularly when the alternate options are so convincing. There’s at all times the case of you having a crush on a sure watch, however assuming that you simply’re out there for a racing chrono priced underneath 3K euros, you’ll have a tough time discovering your treasured watch in such a packed market. Choices can come from Japan with Seiko, Switzerland after all, with established names reminiscent of Tissot, Hamilton, Certina or Nivada, in addition to micro-brands reminiscent of Baltic or Depancel. And we’re simply scratching the floor of what truly exists available on the market. A number of years in the past, you could possibly have thought-about Longines, TAG Heuer or Tudor to be potential contenders, however these days are gone, sadly. What’s attention-grabbing to see is that, with the intention to management the prices, most of those watches depend on the identical base structure for the motion… The one-and-only Valjoux 7750 – proving as soon as extra the relevance of this calibre, even half a century after its creation.

Let’s get again to Maen, a comparatively younger model based by Dutchmen Sebastiaan Cortjaens and Jules van Helvoort, and headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. Going via quartz collections at first, funded via Kickstarter, Maen shortly discovered its viewers and began constructing the model. And it proved relatively profitable, with fashions such because the Hudson dive watch, the Manhattan assortment with sporty-chic model and, for at this time’s matter, the Skymaster chronograph. The latter is now in its third model, following a number of rounds of updates and upgrades to make it incrementally higher whereas true to the mannequin’s unique design. Refined case, streamlined dial, higher specs, extra superior motion, cleaner look… And now the choice for a set bezel with tachymeter scale.

Certainly, as its title suggests, the Maen Skymaster was first launched as a pilot-oriented watch with a 12-hour rotating bezel. However with the third era, the mannequin now provides the choice for a set bezel with a scale to measure common speeds (tachymeter), instantly remodeling it right into a racing chronograph. What we’re is a compact, well-equipped, pretty traditional (it’s not unfavourable, as timelessness issues) chronograph with simple Sixties inspirations – assume Daytona, Heuer and the likes. The principle attraction comes from the proportions, because the Skymaster 38 MKIII, as its title implies, is a compact 38mm watch – uncommon sufficient in trendy days for a mechanical chronograph, and value mentioning. So it’s not solely the classic vibe that you simply’ll get, but additionally the classic really feel on the wrist.

The case of this MKIII has undergone some main modifications to accommodate its new motion. Certainly, the mannequin was powered by a modular computerized ETA 2894-2, however now depends on a hand-wound Sellita SW510Mb with completely different casing dimensions. That being stated, the proportions haven’t drastically modified, and the watch continues to be compact and balanced on the wrist. At 13.4mm in thickness (with a fair proportion of that because of the box-shaped crystal), it’s not overly thick, and the 47mm size can also be pleasant. Good proportions, attractiveness and even higher specs now, as not solely has the ending on the case been refined – extra exact brushing and sprucing – however the water-resistance has been elevated to 100m. It has some nice heft on the wrist too, oozing high quality.

The principle novelty with this Skymaster 38 MKIII is the flexibility to go for a set bezel, with a tachymeter scale. It’s right here completed on a sandblasted, black-coated floor that’s fairly efficient in decreasing glare, and the tachy scale is completed in a beige tone, including some retro appeal to the entire bundle. A non-coated matte metal possibility can also be accessible for a extra trendy/technical look. However I personally just like the distinction supplied by this blackened bezel. The remaining is traditional classic racing chrono, with pump pushers on the aspect and angled lugs.

Transferring to the dial, Maen has given its third-gen Skymaster 38 a cleaner look than earlier than but additionally extra particulars on the dial. The flat dial with elongated markers has been changed by this glossy sunray-brushed black dial with minimal printings and no extra minutes/seconds scale between the utilized hour markers. The minutes at the moment are learn on a recessed “pie-pan” chapter ring with a sandblasted floor and a contrasting white color. There are additionally small luminous dots there, all giving a cool retro vibe in addition to depth, but additionally benefitting legibility.

Traditional Sixties-styled snailed counters are completed in contrasting white – reversed panda impact – with polished dauphine fingers for the time, once more with a skinny luminous stripe in old-radium SLN – however since there’s little lume to be discovered, it avoids the gimmicky patina impact. It’s a clear, legible, non-talkative dial with well-balanced sub-dials – how good is that when a watch has a correctly-sized motion…?

Speaking about motion, the Skymaster 38 MKIII now opts for a hand-wound motion, the Swiss-made Sellita SW510Mb. The 7750-derived calibre wants little introduction and is right here introduced in high grade, with Geneva stripes and blue screws. Operating at a 4Hz frequency, this cam-lever built-in chronograph shops a snug energy reserve of about 60 hours.

Delivered as customary on a black FKM rubber strap, the mannequin we had for evaluate got here with a relatively becoming jubilee-style bracelet. It feels probably the most applicable on this classic racing context and in addition proved snug and versatile. A extra trendy 5-link bracelet can also be accessible, but it surely by some means feels extra applicable on the MKIII.MCR model with a rotating bezel.

Now accessible from the model’s web site and priced from EUR 2,099 (incl. taxes), there’s not a lot to complain about with this Maen Skymaster 38 MKIII. Quite the opposite, there’s quite a bit to love, such because the cool design (admittedly acquainted and impressed by previous icons), the great proportions, the clear dial or the general spectacular match and end. Perhaps this could possibly be the accessible racing chronograph you had been searching for…? For extra particulars, please go to www.maenwatches.com.