Every time I read through the specs of a Maen watch, I’m left wondering how the Swedish indie brand manages to make a profit.
There is no better example of the value Maen offers than the new Hudson 38 MK5, which is easily one of the best dive watches available for under $1,000.
Visually, the Hudson 38 MK5 is a love letter to the classic dive watches of the 1960s. It resembles a cross between a Rolex Submariner and a Seiko 62MAS, with just enough personal touch to plot its own course.
Maen’s signature baton hour and minute hands, with cropped and beveled borders, make the watch immediately recognizable to those familiar with the brand. Additionally, a 60-second ruler-style chapter ring graduated down to a quarter-second — added in 2020 with the MK3 — adds a degree of practicality.
Introduced in 2018, the Hudson line has long been a hidden gem in the dive watch market, but the new MK5 — a military designation meaning “mark 5,” or the fifth generation — comes with an impressive list of upgrades.
The 38mm brushed steel case is available with either a blue or black dial, featuring a grainy matte texture that enhances legibility through contrast and glare reduction. Both colors are available with or without a date, although this does not affect the price, as they all utilize the same movement.
