Maen’s latest is an update to their well regarded Hudson 38 dive watch, now in a MK 5 version. It’s hard to believe that the first Hudson launched all the way back in 2018. Maen is a very different brand nearly a decade later, and has radically changed not only their image but the overall quality of their watches. This is perhaps most easily understood through their popular Manhattan line of integrated bracelet sports watches, which are uncommonly well engineered for the price. Over these last few years while they’ve built out the Manhattan collection, you could probably levy the critique that they’d become a bit of a one trick pony. But it feels like with the new version of the Hudson, they are applying much of what they’ve learned with the Manhattan into a watch that probably has a bit more mass appeal and is a simpler and more straightforward proposition on its face.
The Hudson 38 MK 5 is, according to the brand, the biggest update to the watch yet. The case has been completely reworked and is much more streamlined, with a thinner profile (11mm thick excluding the crystal – pretty good for a 300 meter diver) and a thinner bezel, that gives the whole package a more refined appearance and leans harder into the vintage adjacent aesthetic. This new edition also features a box domed crystal for the first time in the collection, which fundamentally changes the personality of the watch when on the wrist. Other small enhancements include the addition of a lume pip (hard to believe this wasn’t a part of earlier iterations of the Hudson), drilled lugs, higher quality polishing and brushing, a quick-adjust mechanism on the clasp, longer lasting lume, and a new polished ceramic bezel.
The Hudson 38 MK 5 also marks the debut of the La Joux-Perret G100 in the Hudson family. This, for many, will be seen as an improvement, as the caliber has a bit more power reserve (around 68 hours) than the standard issue Sellita. These LJP calibers are quickly becoming more and more standard on watches of this ilk, a sign that that brands continue to trust them after being in production for several years now.
The dial has been given a subtle upgrade as well, and now has what the brand describes as a sandblasted effect meant to contrast sharply with the high polished hands and applied hour markers. There are two color options available at launch (black and blue) in both date and no-date variants. Interestingly, the black version with a date has red accents at the cardinal hour positions, while the no-date version does not (the blue dials appear to be identical). Watches can be ordered on a rubber strap or a five-link bracelet with the aforementioned quick adjust clasp and new upgraded end-links.
The new Hudson 38 MK 5 goes on sale via Maen’s website on January 28. Pricing starts at $874. Maen
Zach Kazan
2026-01-13 15:00:00