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

Racing chronographs… It may not be as packed as a class as dive watches, however in all equity, discovering the suitable one for you shouldn’t be going to be a stroll within the park. A whole bunch of alternate options (and good ones, on high of that) exist, starting from reasonably priced quartz fashions to attainable Swiss mechanical options, adopted by classic luxury icons or high-end watches with principally no restrict of value. However let’s say you’re on the lookout for a cool, compact, vintage-oriented racing chronograph with a timeless attraction, 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 simple to search out the suitable watch, particularly when the alternate options are so convincing. There’s all the time the case of you having a crush on a sure watch, however assuming that you simply’re available in the market for a racing chrono priced beneath 3K euros, you’ll have a tough time discovering your valuable watch in such a packed market. Choices can come from Japan with Seiko, Switzerland after all, with established names akin to Tissot, Hamilton, Certina or Nivada, in addition to micro-brands akin to Baltic or Depancel. And we’re simply scratching the floor of what really exists available on the market. A couple of years in the past, you would have thought of Longines, TAG Heuer or Tudor to be potential contenders, however these days are gone, sadly. What’s fascinating to see is that, with a view 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 by means of quartz collections at first, funded by means of Kickstarter, Maen shortly discovered its viewers and began constructing the model. And it proved reasonably profitable, with fashions such because the Hudson dive watch, the Manhattan collection with sporty-chic model and, for at present’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 authentic 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 identify suggests, the Maen Skymaster was first launched as a pilot-oriented watch with a 12-hour rotating bezel. However with the third technology, 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 basic (it’s not damaging, as timelessness issues) chronograph with plain Nineteen Sixties inspirations – suppose Daytona, Heuer and the likes. The principle attraction comes from the proportions, because the Skymaster 38 MKIII, as its identify 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 totally 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 justifiable share of that because of the box-shaped crystal), it’s not overly thick, and the 47mm size can be pleasurable. Good proportions, beauty 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 power to go for a set bezel, with a tachymeter scale. It’s right here achieved 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 allure to the entire package deal. A non-coated matte metal possibility can be out there for a extra trendy/technical look. However I personally just like the distinction supplied by this blackened bezel. The remaining is basic classic racing chrono, with pump pushers on the aspect and angled lugs.

Shifting 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 are actually 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.

Basic Nineteen Sixties-styled snailed counters are achieved 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 offered in high grade, with Geneva stripes and blue screws. Working at a 4Hz frequency, this cam-lever built-in chronograph shops a cushty energy reserve of about 60 hours.

Delivered as commonplace on a black FKM rubber strap, the mannequin we had for overview got here with a reasonably becoming jubilee-style bracelet. It feels essentially the most acceptable on this classic racing context and in addition proved snug and versatile. A extra trendy 5-link bracelet can be out there, however it one way or the other feels extra acceptable on the MKIII.MCR model with a rotating bezel.

Now out there 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 so much to love, such because the cool design (admittedly acquainted and impressed by previous icons), the good proportions, the clear dial or the general spectacular match and end. Perhaps this could possibly be the accessible racing chronograph you had been on the lookout for…? For extra particulars, please go to www.maenwatches.com.