Maen And Nico Leonard Unveil The Grand Tonneau Ultra-Thin
It’s been about a year since Maen and Nico Leonard released their first collaborative effort, the Jump Hour. It is safe to say that the Swedish brand with Dutch roots and the Belfast-based Dutch YouTuber timed that release perfectly. It debuted right before Watches and Wonders, where we saw a full parade of jump-hour watches. So they were right on the money with their inaugural project, and it sold out quickly. For their second collaboration, Maen and Nico Leonard kept the case of the Jump Hour but created a slim two-hand model. The result is the Maen Grand Tonneau Ultra-Thin. It’s time to find out more.
When last year’s Jump Hour debuted, it immediately stood out. As Mike wrote in his introduction article, it was a fresh take on a classic complication. Looking back at the past 12 months, we realize that it was also an indication of what was to come. We have seen quite a string of jump-hour watches since then. The biggest release was, without a doubt, the Cartier Tank à Guichets, which was unveiled during Watches and Wonders. Other great examples of recently released jump-hour watches are the Louis Vuitton Tambour Convergence, the Czapek Time Jumper, the Christopher Ward C1 Jump Hour Mk V, and the recently released Audemars Piguet Neo Frame Jumping Hour. All in all, it’s fair to say that jump-hour watches had a moment in the past year.
The story of the Maen × Nico Leonard Grand Tonneau Ultra-Thin
For their second release, Maen and Nico Leonard built on the success of the first and devised a follow-up that will undoubtedly go over well with fans of that watch. The characteristic case shape has remained, but the jump-hour display makes way for a regular dial with an hour and a minute hand. On top of that, Maen equipped the Grand Tonneau Ultra-Thin with a stainless steel bracelet. The result looks rather different at first glance, but upon further consideration, you will realize that this is a completely logical next step.
Let’s go over some specs first. The new Grand Tonneau Ultra-Thin’s stainless steel case has the same 34mm width and 45mm length as the first release. However, as the name already reveals, it has been slimmed down significantly and now boasts a 6.4mm profile. This makes for a nice, slender watch that wears like a dream.
But we will get to that in a bit. First, it’s worth noting that the case features the same standout mix of brushed and polished finishes. The lugs have a polished surface on top and throughout the chamfers, while the flanks and the central top portion are brushed. In addition to a natural stainless steel version, a gold-plated variant will also be available for those who prefer something flashier.
The visual trickery of the Grand Tonneau case
The case’s lovely finishing drew my eyes to a remarkable visual effect that was less prevalent with the Jump Hour model. The case appears very wide for the dial aperture, but this is primarily due to the polished bands on the top, which emphasize the width. Additionally, this strange visual trickery occurs where the lugs seem to flare out, which they actually don’t.
In fact, they are straight. On top of that, the bracelet flares out to match the width of the case from the outer edge of one lug to the other. For the Jump Hour, Maen used a rubber strap that fit within the lugs, and this new model also comes standard on a similar rubber strap. But if you pay a slight premium, you will get the stainless steel bracelet you see in the pictures.
While the end links fit nicely into the gap between the lugs, the flared design of the next links seemed oddly wide to me. I also kept coming back to the thought that if you removed the polished bands and made the case as wide as the end links, the proportions would have made more sense. Then again, that would also detract from the watch’s specific character, making it a different creation rather than a follow-up to the Jump Hour. Additionally, it would be significantly smaller, and the modern proportions are what the designers wanted to maintain.
The new dial of the Maen × Nico Leonard Grand Tonneau Ultra-Thin
That brings me to the new dial of the Maen × Nico Leonard Grand Tonneau Ultra-Thin. The watch we had in for review featured a textured black fumé enamel-coated dial. In addition, Maen will offer turquoise fumé, yellow fumé, and lava-red fumé versions. While your taste may vary, I love the brownish undertone of the black-dial variant.
In terms of design, Maen has kept it very simple. The dial features the brand’s logo printed in white on the upper half and Nico Leonard’s Pride & Pinion company logo on the lower half. Lastly, the “Swiss Made” text is located at 6 o’clock. Hovering over the minimalist dial are two slender, polished, and creased sword hands that finish the look in style. While lighter dial colors do give the Grand Tonneau Ultra-Thin a different, more playful feel, this black fumé version would be my pick.
The manual-winding La Joux-Perret D101
If you turn the watch around, you’ll get a good view of the movement thanks to the case back’s sapphire display. The watch will be powered by the manual-winding La Joux-Perret D101. The 18-jewel caliber operates at 21,600 vibrations per hour and offers approximately 50 hours of power reserve. For full transparency, the pre-production model you see in the pictures was powered by the ETA/Peseux 7001. But the new caliber is a great ultra-slim movement to power this new release.
On top of that, it’s a huge step up from the Seagull jump-hour caliber that powered the previous collaboration. Winding the watch is easy, as you can do that while the watch crown is in its standard position. Pulling the crown out lets you set the time. As the dial has no hour/minute markers, it is easiest to set the time at the full hour or 30 minutes past the hour, using the logos as a reference. When winding the movement, it feels nice and of high quality, though I would have liked the crown to be a little larger. Not only would that have made winding somewhat easier, but it would also suit the watch’s modern silhouette a bit better.
Wearing the Maen × Nico Leonard Grand Tonneau Ultra-Thin
As already mentioned, this new collaborative effort is available with an optional stainless steel bracelet that tapers from 25mm at the widest links to 16mm at the clasp. Thanks to the screws in the links, it is super easy to size. The bracelet has a brilliant ‘70s feel and is nice and flexible.
It comes equipped with a branded butterfly clasp with a push-button release. The clasp is nicely finished and feels sturdy and well made. Once on the wrist, the watch wears like a dream. Thanks to its flexibility, the bracelet wraps itself beautifully around the wrist, and the clasp closes with a firm click.
From there, it was smooth sailing with the Maen × Nico Leonard Grand Tonneau Ultra-Thin. Because the watch was so comfortable, I also had plenty of time to ponder the visual questions I raised in the earlier paragraphs. Wearing the watch did make me realize that this case design was chosen for a reason. It gives the Grane Tonneau Ultra-Thin plenty of wrist presence and modern appeal for people who do not necessarily like small dress pieces. As a big guy, I quickly came to appreciate the proportions because they make the watch feel right at home on my 18.5cm (7.3″) wrist.
Final thoughts on the Maen × Nico Leonard Grand Tonneau Ultra-Thin
Did wearing the watch also resolve the initial reservations I had? I must admit that once I had worn it for a few days, I better understood that this specific design gives the watch its character. It also made me appreciate the elements that I would have liked to see executed differently a lot more. Most of all, the slim profile and the overall proportions made it feel like the watch was made for my wrist, which plays a huge part in liking a timepiece. While my reservations remain, I also perfectly understand they are one man’s observations and preferences.
Therefore, I think that this new Maen × Nico Leonard Grand Tonneau Ultra-Thin will appeal to a large audience. If you loved the Jump Hour model that Maen and Nico Leonard released last year, chances are that you will also like this new release.
Add great comfort and wearability, plus a higher-quality movement, and it’s hard to think this new Maen × Nico Leonard Grand Tonneau Ultra-Thin will not be hugely successful. The Maen × Nico Leonard Grand Tonneau Ultra-Thin is available for pre-order now on the official Maen website for €1,519 (excluding taxes). The regular steel bracelet costs an additional €189, while the gold-plated one goes for €239. The pre-order will stay open until 23:59 CEST on April 21st, so if you want one, keep that in mind. After the success of the Jump Hour, I do not doubt that people will love this second collaborative effort, and I perfectly understand why.
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