Hands On With Two New Bauhaus-Inspired Sternglas Marus 2.0 Divers
When the Sternglas Marus 2.0 dive watches landed on my desk, I had to dig into the Fratello archives. I knew I had written about a Sternglas diver before. As it turns out, that was the first iteration of the Sternglas Marus released in 2021. Four years on, we’re graced with a duo of new Marus divers. The Sternglas Marus 2.0 is a drastic evolution from that first-generation model. It comes in a stainless steel version with some nice Bauhaus details and a more classic bronze PVD version. Time to find out more.
If you look at these new Sternglas Marus 2.0 divers and compare them to the first model, you will understand that I was surprised. These two new watches look somewhat different from the inaugural model. But I consider that a good thing. The first model tried too hard to integrate the minimalist Bauhaus style into a chunky modern diver. The brand has optimized size, proportions, and overall design for these new models. On top of that, we had the watches in on some great hybrid straps that I adore. Let’s find out more.
The story of the Sternglas Marus 2.0 Divers
We’ll kick things off with some specs. The watches come with a 42mm stainless steel case that is 12mm high, excluding the crystal, and measures 50mm from lug to lug. The case of the two models has a depth rating of 200 meters and a lug width of 20mm. The first of the two models combines the stainless steel case with a black dial and a stainless steel bezel with a black insert with a white 60-minute diving scale. The second model features a bronze PVD stainless steel case paired with a dark green dial. It also has a matching bronze PVD bezel with a dark green insert and a white 60-minute diving scale.
Both models come with different strap and bracelet options. The first is a stainless steel bracelet matching the case execution, so the bronze PVD model also comes with a bronze PVD bracelet. The second option is a hybrid strap with an outer of full-grain, water-repellent-treated calf leather and a silicone liner.
The black strap for the black model and the brown strap for the bronze PVD model are hand-stitched. The stitching is in line with the color of the leather upper. If you turn the watch around, you will see that the silicone backing has an interesting geometric pattern that I really love.
The straps were developed for three years and feel well-made and soft to the touch. I have to compliment Sternglas for creating these impressive hybrid straps for the Marus 2.0. But we weren’t done yet. If you prefer a Tropic-style strap, that is also an option. Lastly, a NATO-style strap is also available.
The details of the Sternglas Marus 2.0
Hidden behind the closed casebacks that feature a whale engraving, Sternglas uses the Seiko NH35A caliber. This automatic movement operates at 21,600vph, has 24 jewels, and offers 41 hours of power reserve. The caliber is a popular choice among microbrands with affordable offerings.
This movement offers a modest accuracy of -20/+40 seconds per day. I have said this in other reviews, but the NH35A has always proven to be a reliable caliber powering some of the watches in my collection.
Let’s zoom in on the two models and see what has changed from the previous Marus model. The watch feels more balanced and less big. The completely redesigned case is still 42mm but offers more detail and refinement.
The bezel is wider, creating a better overall visual balance, and features regular knurling compared to. Both models feature an aluminum bezel insert with an engraved dive scale filled with white Super-LumiNova that lights up in the dark.
The dial design has been updated nicely
The changes continue on the dials. The hour markers have become bigger, and the minute track on the dial’s periphery is made up of small white rectangular markers and orange dots every five minutes. All the markers on the dial are luminous and light up brightly in the dark.
At 6 o’clock, we find a date window with a thin white frame. The date is printed in black on a white disc. While I usually prefer a color-matching date disc, I understand that Sternglas chose this solution as it makes the date window part of the marker at 6 o’clock.
The handsets for both models are slightly different in color. For the black dial version, Sternglas opted for white hands filled with blue lume and a red seconds hand with a small lume dot.
This injects the watch with some Bauhaus colors, linking it to the design movement that inspires many of the brand’s watches. The bronze PVD model has bronze-colored hour and minute hands and an orange seconds hand. All of the hands are treated with white Super-LumiNova that lights up blue in the dark.
Wearing the Sternglas Marus 2.0
The two different executions deliver a different wearing experience. The black Marus 2.0 has a modern overall feel with some nice colorful details, whereas the green dial version has a far more vintage-inspired appeal.
It’s a wise choice to have two distinct executions because they will ultimately appeal to different people. Without having worn them, I wouldn’t have been able to choose immediately because both have their own charm. That’s why I was happy to try them out and find out what my favorite would be.
What quickly stood out was the brilliant quality of the new hybrid straps. The leather is incredibly soft to the touch, the stitching is nicely done, and the silicone inner is flexible and makes it a joy to wear. Lastly, the straps have a quick-release system, making it easy to change things. But I would not necessarily change the straps that quickly, seeing how impressive these new straps are.
Final thoughts on the new Sternglas Marus 2.0 models
Once on the wrist, you get a better idea of how much better these Marus 2.0 models are compared to the inaugural model. The round-shaped case has nicely curved lugs that are polished for extra visual impact.
The case sides are brushed, emphasizing the tool-watch nature of these watches. A detail I haven’t mentioned yet is the screw-down crown. It is rather small in diameter and visual presence. Thanks to the pronounced knurling, gripping it is easy, but I would have liked it to be a bit bigger for practical and aesthetic reasons.
Overall, the new Marus 2.0 models are a significant step forward compared to the inaugural model. The two watches look a lot better because the designers focused on creating a visual balance that works. Additionally, the little hints of color bring these watches to life nicely.
If you are a fan of Sternglas, these new Marus 2.0 divers offer something completely different that fans will enjoy. Both Sternglas Marus 2.0 models will be available for a reduced launch price of €519 on a strap. On the respective bracelets, the launch price is €569. After the launch period is over, the watch will be €549 on a strap and €599 on the bracelet.
If you are in the market for the new Sternglas Marus 2.0, visit the official Sternglas website to check out the stainless steel Marus 2.0 Black or the bronze PVD Marus 2.0 Green.
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