This week we revisit our Dutch friends at Maen Watches and look at their newest announced release, the Skymaster 38, a sporty GMT chronograph channeling 1960s and ’70s Heuer and Omega designs. This new watch is named for the historic Douglas DC-4 Skymaster plane, known as the first aircraft to begin scheduled transatlantic flights between Amsterdam and New York City. The new watch comes as a follow-up to Maen?s successful Kickstarter-funded Hudson Automatic, a neo-vintage diver that received widespread attention for its unique dial features and accessible price point. Like the Hudson, the Skymaster will also be released as part of a crowdfunding campaign.

The new 38-mm brushed-and-polished steel chronograph will be available in three colorways: black, panda, and reverse panda, and will also feature what is becoming Maen’s signature ?Midnight Blue,? and an unusual ?Thunder Grey.? Originally, I thought this design was Skipper- or Referee-watch-inspired (models produced by Heuer and Omega, respectively, at different points in their histories), but they are rather generally 1970s-inspired, using an original colorway devised by the brand to complement the design of the Hudson?s hour and minute hands.
The Skymaster?s case features sharp lugs somewhere in between those seen on vintage Carreras and on Speedmaster Professionals, with the case also hosting slightly flattened pump pushers and a large, sturdy, signed crown. Surrounding the dial is an uncommon, bidirection...