Rocking A New Look: The Maen Manhattan Stone Dial Series
There’s nothing wrong with a good stone dial. Even though they’ve been a thing for the past 2-3 years, I never get bored with seeing one. Granted, I do need to like the watch it’s in, and it also needs to fit the style. With the Maen Manhattan, the former is definitely not an issue. I love the brand’s seventies-inspired series of watches, which has become a hit for the Stockholm-based brand. For its latest series, Maen offers the Manhattan Ultra-Thin with three special stone dials. These dials give the Manhattan a stylish presence that ups the seventies swagger tremendously. The first is a black onyx dial, and the second is a colorful Golden Swan dial. And last, there is the Snowflake Obsidian dial that Maen sent to us for a hands-on review. I had a chance to find out whether this stone-dial series is the best Manhattans yet.
The Maen Manhattan is one of those watches that are part of a small series of stylish microbrand watches and are instantly recognizable. The seventies style is loosely reminiscent of the Patek Philippe Nautilus. But the dial design more closely resembles some of the famous classic dress watches of the same era. While the Manhattan doesn’t renounce its roots, a combination of factors creates a design that draws on the past without being defined by it. But what if you remove that dial design and replace it with a simple stone dial? As it turns out, it greatly enhances the Manhattan’s stylish look. All three watches come in a limited run of 100 pieces per dial.
The details of the new Maen Manhattan Stone Dial series
The canvas for this new series is the Maen Manhattan 37 Ultra-Thin. Maen has used it to cook up some interesting new variations. The last one I covered kicked off the special Boutique Exclusive series. It eschews the small-seconds sub-dial of the regular Manhattan 37 Ultra-Thin and instead displays the hours and minutes.
On top of that, Maen offered this Ultra-thin with the Côtes de Genève dial of the regular Manhattan 37. It was a much-requested variation of both watches and was well received. I loved spending time with that watch because it wears like a dream. But seeing these new dials, I might just have found a new favorite Maen Manhattan. This is not the first time that Maen used a stone dial for the Manhattan, though. The brand previously released a duo of Qiankun Limited Editions. These regular Manhattan 37 models featured lapis lazuli and tiger’s-eye dials.
If you ask me, this new series of Ultra-Slim models takes the same concept to the next level. Let’s start with the basics. The three watches feature the Ultra-Slim case that has a 37mm diameter, is 7.1mm thick, and measures 47.4mm from lug to lug. It’s a beautifully slim watch with an integrated bracelet that flows super nicely to the hidden butterfly clasp that proudly bears the brand’s ‘M’ monogram.
The three stone-dial options
The case is paired with three different stone dials, each with its own distinct look. The first is a deep black onyx dial that makes the Manhattan look super stylish. The second is the golden swan dial that immediately gives the dial a warm, seventies aura that matches the overall design nicely. The third and last option is the obsidian snowflake dial that we had in. It is a lively dial with black-and-grey speckles, creating a bold, unique statement that immediately stands out as the most distinctive of the three.
Each of the three dials features the brand’s logo on the upper half, two lines of text on the lower half, and Swiss Made at 6 o’clock. As you would expect, it stands out best on the black onyx dial. But then again, the logical question is whether you would want the text to stand out against the beautiful dials. If you ask me, it really adds a nice touch of detail to the black onyx dial and serves as a visual element. For the obsidian snowflake dial I had a chance to try out, it’s more about the speckled stone pattern, so the text doesn’t really add the same visual layer as on the black-dial version.
Of the three options, I personally like the black onyx and golden swan dials best. The first gives the watch a super-stylish presence that I adore. The golden swan, because it really adds some proper seventies vibes to the watch that already has that distinct 1970s-inspired presence. Sometimes doubling down on something works well, and that is exactly what happens here.
The La Joux-Perret D101 caliber
Inside the case of these three new models, you will find the La Joux-Perret D101 caliber. This manual-winding movement operates at 21,600 vph, has 18 jewels, and offers a 50-hour power reserve. The ultra-slim movement is a time-only version of LJP’s popular D100, which powers an ever-increasing number of watches from independent brands. Thanks to the sapphire crystal in the case back, you get a good view of the ultra-slim caliber.
Wearing the Maen Manhattan 37 Ultra-Slim Obsidian Snowflake
While the Obsidian Snowflake model might be my least favorite of the three available options, it doesn’t mean I don’t like it. If anything, I believe that Maen offers three great options that are all wildly different. It makes it harder to pick the one you like best. When it comes to wearing the Obsidian Snowflake, it grew on me fast. All three stone dials fit the Manhattan’s style super nicely. The obsidian snowflake dial we had at HQ was predominantly gray, with smaller contrasting black accents. If you like a monochromatic look, this would be your pick from the three available options.
Just like the Boutique Edition, the new stone dial version is a joy to wear. The size is spot-on for a variety of wrist sizes, including my 18.5cm wrist. The flexible, integrated bracelet flows seamlessly from the case to the clasp. Thanks to the taper, it looks nice and elegant. Additionally, the watch feels substantial and well-built despite its ultra-slim case and bracelet. The latter is easy to size with the screw pins, and once I had it on, it was a pleasure to wear.
Final thoughts on the new Maen Manhattan Ultra-Slim 37 Snowflake Obsidian
Overall, I loved spending time with the new Maen Manhattan Ultra-Slim 37 Snowflake Obsidian. While it is not my favorite from the new series, it gives a good idea of how well these three-stone dials fit this model. While Maen is not the first to equip its retro-styled watch with a stone dial, it fits the Manhattan really nicely. I would even go as far as to say that the black onyx version is among my absolute favorite affordable watches with a stone dial. I could easily see myself rocking that watch as a daily wearer.
As already mentioned, Maen will initially produce 100 pieces of each dial variation at a cost of €1,359.20 (excluding taxes). Those 300 pieces will be available starting on the 28th of August 2026 on the brand’s official website. After the initial 100 pieces sell out, Maen will offer additional production runs through a pre-order model. After having worn the Snowflake Obsidian model, I have zero doubt that all available pieces will sell out fast. They simply add a brilliant twist to the already impressive Maen Manhattan 37 Ultra Slim. It proves once more that stone dials are here to stay. I can’t wait to see more of them in the future.
