MAEN Watches has relaunched their vintage inspired Skymaster 38 chronograph over the weekend, adding three new updated references to the collection, including a surprising limited edition. The Skymaster feels like a watch right in MAEN’s wheelhouse: a sports watch with an aesthetic that’s clearly inspired by the past, but executed at an incredibly high level with a surprising level of detail, all at a price point that makes these watches tough to ignore. I spent some time recently with MAEN’s Brooklyn 36 reference, an old school triple calendar, and was pleasantly surprised at the level of refinement on a watch that comes in at well under $1,000. The Skymaster, now in a MKIII version, contains many similar small details.

There are two big changes with this third edition of the Skymaster 38. First, the watch now runs on the new Sellita SW510Mb manually wound movement, and the case has gone through a series of little adjustments to properly house it. Previous versions of the Skymaster used automatic movements, so the inclusion of a manually wound caliber here represents a significant change, and really plays into the heritage angle of a release like this. 

Secondly, in addition to offering a 12 hour bezel, MAEN is now making the Skymaster with an optional tachymeter bezel as well. The more prominent tachymeter bezel changes the appearance of the Skymaster dramatically, and should prove popular with collectors who are after a more traditionally styled racing chronograph. As is typical for MAEN, a range of dial options are available across both versions of the watch, including a “Thunder Gray ” option with a 12 hour bezel that includes subdials divided into red and black sectors. Throughout the collection, MAEN has made good use of textured finishes and multi-piece dials to create a sense of depth, a small thing that the brand really excels at.  

In addition to the new watches that make up the permanent MKIII collection, MAEN has also unveiled a limited edition made in collaboration with Watchfinder, a pre-owned watch retailer with an incredibly popular YouTube channel. The Watchfinder version of the Skymaster is available to order until October 16, after which the books will be closed for good. This variant takes the vintage inspiration of the main collection and turns it up to 11, with a sunray dial in a brownish-red hue that is intended to look like dial that has been baking the sun for decades, and “exotic” subdials that are clearly inspired by the iconic design of Paul Newman Daytonas. 

All of the Skymasters have the same specs, including a 38mm case that measures 47mm lug to lug and a little over 13mm tall. Water resistance is 100 meters, and all references include the same domed sapphire crystal. 

The Skymaster MKIII is available for pre-order now at a discounted price of $1,748, with full retail being $1,840. The limited edition with Watchfinder is a little more expensive and not subject to a pre-order discount, selling for $1,972. Delivery is expected in June of next year. MAEN