Maen - History, Models and Owners' Reviews

Maen is a watch brand founded in 2017 in Stockholm by two Dutch entrepreneurs, Sebastiaan Cortjaens and Jules van Helvoort, with a straightforward idea: timelessly drawn watches with measured proportions and solid perceived quality, sold directly to end customers to preserve a fair value proposition.

From old Dutch “MAEN” to Stockholm: a clear and readable brand stance

The name “Maen” refers to the old Dutch spelling of “moon,” a universal symbol of time and a thread for an identity inspired by the past without slavish nostalgia; the brand embraces a Swedish base and Dutch founders, blending Nordic rigor with a graphic sensibility. Its positioning revolves around everyday-wearable objects, organized into coherent families rather than scattered series: compact diameters, clean dials, well-integrated bracelets, all with Swiss assembly and a direct-to-consumer setup that keeps product and service under close control.

Compact proportions and clarity: Maen’s “neo-vintage” grammar

Visually, Maen adopts a conscious “neo-vintage” aesthetic: restrained sizes (often around 37–39 mm), straight lugs, alternating brushed/polished surfaces, functional bezels, and sober typefaces that privilege instant readability; the goal is to create “life watches,” discreet enough for daily wear yet sufficiently characterful to be recognized at a glance. Cases stay measured in thickness, sapphire crystals provide relief and durability, and bracelets — integrated or straight depending on the family — are engineered for tangible comfort with precise sizing and low-profile clasps.

Hudson, Skymaster, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Lunar: clear families and use-cases

The catalog is built around a few key lines, each mapped to a distinct wearing context — diving/nautical use, a chronograph with pilot/racing cues, an integrated urban piece, a triple calendar with classical codes, a refined three-hand daily —; this simple segmentation helps the wearer identify the “playing field” of each family before refining the choice by size, color, and configuration.

• Maen Hudson — Compact, versatile diver (30 ATM on recent generations), positive-action bezel, high-contrast reading, domed sapphire; a modernized tool-watch for water and city alike.
• Maen Skymaster — A 38 mm chronograph with 1960s inspiration; depending on the version, a 12-hour pilot/travel bezel or a tachymeter scale with more of a “racing” flavor, all in an easy everyday size.
• Maen Manhattan — Sharp-edged case with integrated bracelet, vertically elongated Côtes de Genève dial (on dedicated variants), contained formats (37–40 mm) and a strong metropolitan identity.
• Maen Brooklyn — A 36 mm triple calendar, classical in spirit yet legible, favoring functional elegance and mixed-wrist proportions.
• Maen Lunar Classic — A deliberately simple three-hand/date daily piece with a soft-spoken presence.

Swiss Made, industrial partners and direct sales: the value chain

Maen claims Swiss-Made manufacturing with assembly in Switzerland, relying on established partners for machining, finishing and quality checks; this couples brand-led design (Stockholm) with Swiss execution, while the direct-to-consumer model keeps prices in check. Recent collections predominantly use current Swiss movements (Sellita SW200-1 for three-hand/date, SW330-2 for GMT variants), while bracelets and cases evolve by “generations” (Mark III, Mark IV, etc.) to improve water resistance, ergonomics and luminous performance (high-grade Super-Luminova on the divers). The company reports customers in 90-plus countries and maintains a close relationship through its own channels.

Pricing, volumes and audience: rational value without grandstanding

Exact pricing per reference is not publicly consolidated, yet the philosophy is clear: proven Swiss calibres, serious finishing, compact design, and a message free of superfluous technical grandstanding; the typical buyer wants an everyday-usable, well-executed and recognizable watch without paying for marketing bloat. Volumes are not detailed (non communiqué), with the brand preferring incremental iteration — sharpening a bezel, refining a mid-case, revising markers, clarifying an offer (e.g., adding a GMT within the same footprint). This stepwise progress feeds positive word-of-mouth among fans of measured formats.

Conclusion

Maen speaks to enthusiasts who want compact, well-drawn, easy-to-wear watches with a clear identity and genuine care in execution. The “neo-vintage” aesthetic remains a thread, yet in service of present-day use: quick legibility, comfortable bracelets, suitable water resistance, dependable movements. To choose, start with your context (sea, road, office), your wrist-friendly size, and the feature set you need (three-hand, chronograph, GMT, triple calendar). To validate your hunch beyond spec sheets, consult Dialicious customer reviews: they shed light on real-world comfort, perceived quality on the wrist, and long-term behavior.

(Updated September 2025)