Maen Watches is an independent watch brand founded in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2017. The company was established by Dutch entrepreneurs Sebastiaan Cortjaens and Jules van Helvoort, who sought to combine their shared interest in horology with a focus on Scandinavian design principles and Swiss-made quality. The brand’s name, “Maen,” is derived from the Old Dutch word for moon, serving as a reference to the historical connection between celestial bodies and timekeeping.
The brand has gained a following among watch enthusiasts primarily due to its commitment to high-quality materials and technical specifications at accessible price points. Maen utilizes 316L stainless steel, sapphire crystals, and reliable Swiss mechanical movements, such as those from La Joux-Perret, Ronda, and ETA. Collectors are often drawn to the brand’s ability to balance vintage-inspired aesthetics with modern proportions, as well as its transparent direct-to-consumer business model which emphasizes value and execution.
Maen’s catalog is anchored by several key collections that define its design language. The Manhattan collection is the brand’s flagship line, featuring a 1970s-inspired integrated bracelet design and a distinctive elongated octagonal bezel. This collection includes various iterations, such as the Manhattan 37, the Manhattan 39 Ultra-Thin with a manual-wind movement, and the Manhattan 40 automatic.
Beyond the Manhattan, the brand offers the Hudson, a versatile dive watch known for its water resistance and vintage tool watch profile. Other notable models include the Skymaster, a mechanical chronograph that references mid-century aviation styles, and the Greenwich GMT, which caters to travelers with its dual-time complication. Each of these pieces reflects the brand’s focus on clean dial layouts, functional design, and refined finishing techniques like brushed surfaces and polished chamfers.
