I really hope that the production version retains the plain case back. I really have been looking for a watch to gift to my coworkers that can be engraved! Seems that only Tudor, Rolex, etc have engravable backs and are out of my price range. Beautiful watch.
I completely agree about framing the date window. Beautiful watch, and a silver framing of the date would elevate and help with symmetry of the date version. Either way though, the squareness is oddly compelling!
Will you be releasing this watch on a rubber strap? If you haven't already designed one, you should! It will be a very nice look and a rival to the aquanaut.. would be a great seller! Congrats
Great review, Peter! I normally don't impulse buy watches. But the moment I saw this on Caseback Tim's channel a few months ago, I knew I had to have it. While being very close to the design of said VC, the geneva stripes on the dial (brillant idea, btw!) and Maen's signature Art Deco handset differenciate this piece just enough for me. And even if it wasn't for that: who else ever came up with the idea of homaging the VC Royal Chronometer?! Now I'm waiting for delivery in August...
Great review, thank you! I agree with you on its shortcomings. It should have a framed date wheel, screw-down crown, 100m water resistance and a display caseback. I see it's closest competitor (aesthetic wise) being the Tissot PRX automatic, which is in the same price range but has 3 out of 4 of the above mentioned features (no screwdown crown). That being said, it is a stunning piece!
I ordered the blue one some months ago, nice to see it featured on your channel and that it made a positive impression on you, too. I just love the case and the geneva stripes on the dial. Because of symmetry reasons I ordered it without date, so if you don't like the date, guys, just get the one without. I briefly considered the salmon one, but in the end I found the color too adventurous for me. Btw Peter, I was also born in 1967 😀
I have a Winton 'Anning' with the R150, it's a decent movement and I've no complaints. It looks like the Maen will be my next addition. Can't argue with the specs and presentation.
..I've had this one on my radar. The 'salmon' (really more a pinkish gold to my eyes) is very nice indeed. Not sold on the visual weight of the dial finishing though. And that atrocious crown and the date (which looks like it's plonked in as an afterthought) were enough for me to take a pass. But I did come very, very close to picking up a Skymaster MkII (Thunder Grey/Orange hands of course!) this week! Sergio Direnzo still holds the microbrand integrated bracelet trophy imho. The Mondial is a great looking watch.
I also quite like the Direnzo watches, they have a very nice depth to their dials, the DRZ 05 in red looks very attractive indeed. I am not very much into the beads of rice part of the bracelet, but it looks very well executed.
@@j1d7s They certainly have a good reputation for quality and design. A friend of mine (Alexander B - he'll probably post in the comments) has the Mondial which is the one I was talking about. I haven't seen one in the metal but the bowl shaped dial looks amazing, as do the hands and indicies. I've heard nothing but good reports.
I like it my only complain is the bracelet, it should at least have some half links, i can live with no on the fly adjustment but i should be able to have some way to get a reasonable fit.
Nice one Pete. I like it. Couldn’t see it ever coming off that bracelet. I have Swiss Rhonda movements in some of my Victorinox watches. Not sure if same but they have been ticking strong.
Fully agree with you Pete! It's a stunning piece, love the Geneva striping. Thy could have placed the date complication at 6 o'clock or they could have left it away altogether. So don't see too many affordable watches with Geneva striping on the dial.
Beautiful Peter, I would do away with the date altogether the dial is so nice and the date kinda jars with me , maybe at the six o clock, ive been following maen for a while and they seem a cut above the rest , there watches always seem very well executed.
Big fan of Maen as well, really enjoy my v2 Midnight Hudson. If they would improve their lume and better regulate their movements they would graduate to top shelf micro!
You’re 100% right about the date window lacking a chrome frame. Love the watch but I think it’s a bit small and not sure I could deal with a butterfly clasp. Not impressed with the crazy font on the name, makes me dizzy 😵💫
Beautiful watch with a stunning dial! Shame about the case back. The seventies was a great time! The good old days, when life was simpler, more private and a lot less hectic.
I like maen, especially the diver they did. All are a tad small for me though. They do a great job, put would prefer them to up market and offer on the fly adjustment, and sort most of the faults you mentioned. $600 is decent , but I'd rather spend 1k and get it spot on. I love their handsets though, very unique. I just wish company's like this would go all out and produce a faultless watch. Great vid as always Peter.
I understand the appeal but it's too unoriginal for me. The Genta inspired sports watch with an integrated bracelet trend in the microbrand market has been done to death and this one looks very like the Reiser released last year. This Maen is better spec'd and represents better value than most watches around $600-700 for sure.
Looks awesome! Wish it was bigger as my wrists are quite big, Recently got a Citizen Tsuyosa and i find it just a bit too small. My wrist is definitely suited towards bigger watches.
Good review Peter, as you flash that electric blue dial! 😁 Case/bracelet combo in Titanium would be killer at this price point, and a point of difference from the clone wars… The components in isolation are nice, quality finish, the strap design & articulation, the dial surface (without date), the octagonal crown, the case slimness, clasp, & to see the Rhonda would be nice as that’s where the U$ value is for me… The ‘GG design magic’ is missing for me with the case design, printed MA3N (& font) seems wrong vs. applied markers, you’re correct with the ‘70s design vibe, but for me it’s more the ‘70’s quartz crisis Citizen I keep for posterity…
@Peter Kosta - you are brilliant mate! I have the No Date Salmon dial version that is more like a Bronze Copper in most light. Swiss movement watch of a rendition homage of The Vacheron Constantin mid 1970s Royal 2215 . It comes in four dial color date and no date options. Fantastic integrated bracelet and resemble a Gerald Genta watch of that era. For $600 odd - what a bargain. The finish and attention to detail of the same standard of high end pieces including Cartier. I have an 8.25 inch wrist and no way does it look small on my wrist. Maen (Moon in Dutch) are producing more and they will be available by March. They did send prototypes to reviewers in the last three months. I have been a collector for over 45 years and have owned a 5711 as well as a bi-metal and gold versions of PP's Nautilus . Aesthetically. and stainless steel quality craftsmanship - not much in it and less rugged than an AP Royal Oak. I am thinking of getting No Dates in the three other colors as they are that good! One negative - the No Date seems to have a ghost date position that clicks around 4:00 O'Clock. A Swiss surprise lies underneath the case back in the shape of a Ronda R-150 self-winding movement. This is one of the reasons there is a slender 9.3mm case thickness, and why this is such an elegant piece of wristwear. Running at 28,800vph with a 40-hour power reserve, with 25 jewels and Incabloc shock protection.
Beautiful watch and great video work! Made me immediately want the non-date salmon version, so I ordered straightaway! I’m glad for the solid case back, will much rather personalize with an engraving than view the reliable but unremarkable Ronda movement. Also I suppose I would have preferred 100m water resistance but 50m is zero concern! Plenty to protect from perspiration or splash while washing dishes.
Morning Peter....wondered where you had disappeared to as I did not see any of your latest reviews,and for some strange reason YT had unsubscribed me from your channel....hmmm anyway great review of a very nice watch,but the crown, water resistance and date wheel are as you say a strange choice.Have a great day further.
Thats strange, a few people have gone missing and have come back not knowing how they were unsubscribed..I think YT is having some glitches in the matrix...hahaha Welcome back Kevin 👍
Where do I start with this one…. Firstly good review pal but the watch, think you have been far too kind. It’s another “Swiss made” and we all know what that means, it’s not really Swiss made only a certain amount which is that Ronda movement which quite frankly is not like an SW200. I’d suspect the case and bracelet come out of a Far East factory like everything else nowadays. CNC machines make tolerances and surface finishes exceptional no matter where it’s made. I think the caseback lacks any imagination at all with a terrible font which is also carried to the crown. The dial striping is nice but that’s about all I like. Don’t like the print of the text. Case shape reminds me of 80s ana digis ! Like you I am a watch collector, reviewer and restorer. I have a passion for 70s retro and this just does not light my fire at all. I think it’s a lot of money for what it is considering all you options out there for $600 US? You have to really like this one to want to part with that much. Again my opinion but when you see what, for instance Phoibos offer for the price, this concept is not even on par with that. Of course this is just my opinion .
Thanks for sharing Michael, I follow where you are coming from. Ive seen few models in recent years of similar designs and ideas 9albeit without the quality execution) I won't mention brands or names Nonetheless, in the hand you can actually feel and see the quality of this model. Have a look at JOMW, Jody recently uploaded a video of Made In Germany (what does it actually stand for) I think these terms Swiss or German or Japan etc, not many manufacturers (micro brands especially stick to the rules completely) If you havent already seen my review of the Seiko SLA043, that watch is made 100% in Japan (in the Grand Seiko Studio), however it also is a 'limited edition' and comes with a very hefty price tag I think watches like the Mean for $600 with this level of finishing and a Swiss R150 are a real bargain (as are the majority of microbrands as we both well know) Nonetheless thanks again for sharing your opinion, appreciated 👍 cheers
@@PeterKotsa I get you Peter but the Swiss made is such an open window which gets completely abused by companies. I personally do not even see it as meaning anything anymore but it’s used to lure people in who don’t know any better. I just don’t think it’s worth that price tag.
Maen, ignore the cons he is mentioning. The crown is perfect. A rubber strap? Screw down and more wr? Peter doesn’t get it: this is clearly not supposed to be a dive watch. And of course no sapphire at the back for this style. And the date window? Well I’m going to order no-date anyway. Beautiful piece and it looks to me ALL the correct choices have been made.
Love your content and opening music and videography and photos are amazing. Absolutely LOVE this case, dial and stunning bracelet BUT with only 50 metres water resistance it is a NO GO for me. That's sad because I would buy it in a heartbeat. If Maen had 100m and screw down crown I would pay $100 more and exhibition case back would also be nice. I hope Maen listens to your feedback and make the changes, how hard can it be to make a screw down crown with an O ring???
This watch could compete with Tissot PRX. This one looks more refined to me. It appears to have a no date option which is my preference. Good review as usual Peter.
Very interesting and really quite dressy for your usual style! I noticed this was upcoming and you made a strong case for it. I'm not sure if I'd go for it among the many integrated bracelet micros available now. I was interested to hear you applaud the build quality and tolerances and yet it doesn't have 10atm. It makes me wonder why? Some brands manage this even without a screw down crown, so what is the problem for watch manufacturers to go that little bit extra. I'd love to not have to worry about when I wear my watches at all, but since my preferences are more dressy, the majority can't be worn whilst having a swim... A pity, to say the least. I did recently notice a number of vintage Anthony branded watches with a Geneva stripe dial coming up for auction. It's certainly an intriguing choice I'd love to inspect in person one day.
I could be wrong, and forgive me for not researching but there are so many microbrands out there, it's difficult to research them all. It says 'Swiss' on the dial. Is this a true Swiss? Or a Chinese case/bracelet and wholesale ETA movement? Not suggesting anything wrong with the above, but just asking.
@@sage9743 nope, as soon as I opened the box, my wife saw it and now it lives permanently in her personal collection 😂 I might have to ask her to borrow it
This actually is still the old logo on these prototypes, we have slightly adjusted and customised the logo for the production models! You can see it on the images on our website.
Everybody will say it's a 100 $ chinese homage and then you will have to explain that it is not, because blah blah, Maen, blah blah 600. So they will say and you wasted 600 for a homage? Btw the lug to lug is too big, should be max 46.
@@marcoganz6276 they? I still wonder who "they" are. They don't know me. I've been collecting watches for over 25 years, I'm not shure they were even born back then. So they can think whatever they want. Again, enjoy what YOU want. Not what other people think you should want.
@@PeterKotsa But we are not Americans 😂 It’s funny how many RU-vid channels give US dollars as if that’s the worlds currency without saying US dollars. I did at first miss the text at the beginning that showed USD. I see on the web site there is a no date version which looks 👍🏼 And they’ve straightened the E. Never worn a butterfly clasp so that’s a bother with no micro adjustment. I like it but not sure if I would LOVE the shape or get sick of it after a while. I like the Seiko Alpinist blue dial. SPB249. Even the framed white date looks great, and the bracelet will take a Strapcode ratchet clasp that I like using. I think they could of done without the Prospex symbol and 38mm is a little on the small side.
@@aussie8114 Yeah I sometimes quote Aussie dollars sometimes USD, I suppose over 25% of my total viewers are from the States, then UK then Australia at around 11%.. I need to muster up more fellow Australians to subscribe to my channel 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺 Haha
