Introducing: The Maen × IFL Watches Manhattan After Dark Limited Edition
IFL Watches and Maen are back at it again! After the success of last year’s Graffiti collaboration, it seems that fans were clamoring for a follow-up. While the first watch focused on the bright, vibrant colors of street art during the day, the new Manhattan After Dark envisions the city when the shadows come out to play.
IFL Watches has carved out a nice niche using popular watches as a foundation for hand-painted dials. The themes have been broad, and the same is true of the types of watches employed. At times, these are unofficial collaborations, and that’s fine. However, it’s always fun when a brand supports a creative effort. Maen has extended its partnership with IFL Watches, and the two have come back with another view of the Big Apple. The Manhattan After Dark is a look at Gotham once the lights have gone down.
The Maen × IFL Watches Manhattan After Dark Limited Edition
For those familiar with the Graffiti edition, the Manhattan After Dark follows a similar format. Once again, the foundation of this collaboration is the Maen Manhattan 37. The watch has a stainless steel case with a 37mm diameter and 47mm lug-to-lug. We’ll come to the movement shortly, but the watch cuts a slim figure with a 9.3mm thickness. Plus, it has a useful 100m water resistance rating.
Regarding the bracelet, Maen has developed a comfortable design with a flush-fitting push-button butterfly clasp. I’ve had the opportunity to try this bracelet in person, and it’s wonderful. The links articulate well and boast lovely finishing. Note the use of screws for link removal.
An inky-blue dial with NYC references
The Manhattan After Dark begins with what appears to be a dark blue dial. Then, IFL Watches works its magic to add dark blue tones. Light colors are used to reference various NYC neighborhoods. Similarly, a nod is given to the legendary dark knight who watches over Gotham after the Sun goes down. The watch is nowhere near as vibrant as the Graffiti edition, but I suspect that wearers will see this model as a more versatile daily piece. It certainly leans on the eerie side of the city at night, but it’s also hauntingly cool.
The automatic Sellita SW200-1
The Manhattan After Dark comes equipped with the self-winding Sellita SW200-1 movement. This stalwart caliber has a frequency of 28,800vph and a power reserve of 38 hours. Appropriately, this version does not include a date complication. This makes sense since the absence of a date window allows the dial to shine with hand-painted details.
Final thoughts on the Manhattan After Dark and availability
The Graffiti edition was a popular watch with New Yorkers, a group of folks who, at least in my experience, are proud of their city. I expect this to be similar, and due to the toned-down look, it should prove even more popular. Because of this, it’s nice to see that the watch will be offered with a relatively lengthy pre-ordering window. It goes on sale on November 3rd at 16:00 CET and is available until the same time on November 9th. The price is US$1,499, which is roughly $150 above the retail price of a non-hand-painted Manhattan 37. That strikes me as good value, provided that the dial and subject matter are of interest. Let us know your thoughts on this latest collaboration. If you own the initial collab, will you be adding this one?
This is a partnership post. Read about our transparency here.
