The Significantly Enjoyable Paulin Mara Dive Watches

Ever since I had my first style of Paulin’s watches nearly two years in the past, I’ve been all ears every time the model releases one thing new. But I used to be significantly excited when Nacho alerted me in regards to the Glaswegian model’s tackle a dive watch. Put the most well-liked class of watches within the succesful arms of the women at Paulin, and one thing fascinating goes to occur. It took a few seconds to let this seemingly playful tackle a severe style sink in. But after studying the model’s story, seeing the press pictures, and making an attempt the watches out for a bit, I can say that the items of the puzzle fell into place flawlessly. The new duo of Paulin Mara divers is critically effectively completed. Let’s discover out extra.

If you’re accustomed to Paulin’s story, that structure and design affect the model’s watches. I wrote in regards to the enjoyable Modul C Mechanical and Modul B Quartz in late 2023. In the evaluate, I defined extra about Paulin’s hyperlink to well-known Dutch sort designer Wim Crouwel, the transparency of the model’s provide chain, and the way the model turned a part of anOrdain. In the just about two years since, Paulin has caught our consideration with some inventive and enjoyable releases that this watch universe usually lacks. The new Paulin Mara divers present an analogous authentic method to the traditional dive watch. But don’t suppose for a second that this duo just isn’t severe in each its intentions and its execution. These watches are spectacular in additional methods than one.

The story of the Paulin Mara dive watches

Let’s begin at the start. After a prolonged discuss in 2023 with seasoned diver and veteran watch author Jason Heaton, who you may know from The Grey NATO podcast or his writing for quite a few titles, together with Hodinkee and The New York Times, the women at Paulin took up the problem to create a terrific dive watch. In addition to delivering on efficiency, it wanted to be a watch that instantly stood out as a Paulin diver. At the center of the event was the dial.

As you possibly can see, it’s a seemingly playful tackle a watch dial. Don’t let the appears to be like deceive you, although, as a result of it’s cleverly designed. Available in blue or black lacquer, each variations characteristic a set of geometric hour markers consisting of squares, dots, triangles, and numerals at 6 and 12 within the model’s Wim typeface.

On the perimeter of the dial, you will see that a minute observe in mint inexperienced that’s solely interrupted by the model’s identify and residential metropolis on the decrease half. The dial structure is symmetrical and undeniably legible. The massive luminous markers are straightforward to learn in each daylight and the darkish once they mild up vivid blue.

A intelligent dial design for a enjoyable duo of divers

The enjoyable for me is within the intelligent use of the triangles. How you take a look at them will have an effect on your view of the dial. If you give attention to them pointing inward, it’s straightforward to visualise a reasonably customary circle of indexes. However, if you happen to change your view, you’ll discover that the 2 triangles on the highest half of the dial level up, whereas the 2 on the underside level down, making a enjoyable and completely different perspective of the dial.

I really like this intelligent visible trickery that provides a seemingly easy dial a pleasant visible twist. Hovering above every dial are a rounded hour hand, an oblong minute hand, and a skinny lollipop central seconds hand that encompasses a yellow tip on the blue mannequin and a light-weight blue tip on the black one. It’s a colourful element that provides one other contact of playfulness.

The dial sits inside a C-shaped housing, a reimagining of Paulin’s Modul case. It jogs my memory of a few of the traditional ’70s Seiko divers and has a 39.7mm diameter, 13.5mm thickness, 48mm size, and 20mm lug spacing. The Mara is waterproof as much as 300 meters, making it a correct dive watch. While the thickness might sound substantial, with out the crystal, the case has a ten.8mm profile. The further 2.7mm comes from the double-domed and triple-antireflective-coated sapphire crystal. As a consequence, the general profile is good and slim, making the watch fairly good to put on.

A useful diver in all its particulars

This watch additionally encompasses a 120-click unidirectional bezel that barely overhangs the case, making it straightforward to grip. I attempted the Mara on and was shocked by how straightforward it’s to show the bezel regardless of its seemingly minimal grip. The customized texture of polished sphere-shaped indentations works miracles in that regard.

The identical goes for the knurled crown. It sits between elegant crown guards, however don’t let these seemingly modest components idiot you. As I discussed within the intro, the objective was to create a terrific dive watch, and performance was at all times key. These little particulars present that the staff at Paulin took that job very critically.

Inside the case, you will see that the soigné-grade La Joux Perret G101. The G101 is the dateless model of the G100 that an rising variety of microbrands have began utilizing for his or her watches. The automated caliber operates at 28,800vph and affords a 68-hour energy reserve. This strong alternative of a motion is adjusted in 4 positions, offering a median accuracy of ±7 seconds per day and a most deviation of 20 seconds per day.

The Paulin Mara on the wrist

You see the model’s pictures on this article, however I had an opportunity to put on the 2 Mara divers, they usually critically impressed me. The watches include two straps that really feel nice. The first is a 20mm branded injection-moulded rubber strap. The second is a material strap constructed from recycled fishing nets lined with Italian Alcantara fake suede. The former provides to the model’s playful model. It additionally provides a bit extra quantity in comparison with the material strap. But the latter is extremely delicate to the contact, making the watch very snug to put on.

When it involves the 2 variations, it’s laborious to decide on. The blue-dial mannequin additionally encompasses a blue bezel insert. Add the blue straps, and it’s a colourful watch that actually pops. The black-dial model has a light-weight grey bezel insert with a lumed vivid yellow 60-minute marker.

It provides the watch a barely completely different presence than the cookie-cutter divers with black dials and matching bezels, and I really like that. It’s additionally value mentioning that Paulin selected to make use of two lume colours. The minute hand and the attribute numerals on the bezel mild up inexperienced at nighttime for timing a dive, whereas the hour indexes on the dial and remaining hour and seconds arms mild up vivid blue at nighttime.

Final ideas on the Paulin Mara divers

While the two-tone lume is a enjoyable component for most individuals who will purchase one of many Maras, it’s extra proof that Paulin created a severe duo of divers. And you possibly can really feel the mixture of playfulness and seriousness if you put on these watches. The strong set of specs reveals a severe dive watch, whereas the design appears to be like lighthearted and stuffed with playful sparkles. But as soon as you set the watches in your wrist, these two items of the puzzle fall into place flawlessly, making for a set of competent divers.

I used to be critically impressed by these two watches. They put on like a dream due to the nice case proportions. It feels lots slimmer than the 13.5mm profile may counsel. Additionally, when you strap the watch to your wrist, you see that the playful components are there to serve a severe goal. Both studying the time and preserving observe of the remaining dive time are straightforward.

With markers on the dial and numerals on the bezel, there’s a clear distinction between the 2. Turning the bezel is simple, but it surely’s additionally an absolute pleasure as a result of it allows you to really feel the manufacturing high quality. It’s value a terrific praise that the staff at Paulin was in a position to create a dive watch that also seems like a playful timepiece however has all of the chops to carry out its process completely. At US$1,650 / £1,200 + VAT, these new Mara divers are an incredible subsequent step for Paulin. If you’re on the lookout for a brand new dive watch that provides one thing completely different from the usual fare however nonetheless has all of the specs and functionalities of knowledgeable diver, look no additional.