Marnaut is Back with the Seascape 200M, a New Diver Inspired by Sea Urchin Skeletons

Marnaut has returned with their latest project, currently being funded on Kickster, the Seascape 200M. Like 2018’s Dark Surge 300M, the Seascape is a diver that is inspired both by vintage timepieces, and brand founder Mario Jutronic’s fascination with the sea urchin shell, which provides a surprisingly fitting canvas to base a watch on.

Marnaut Seascape 200M 

• Case Material: Stainless steel
• Dial: Black
• Dimensions: 40 x 13 x 48mm
• Crystal: Sapphire   
• Water Resistance: 200 meters 
• Crown: Screw down         
• Movement: Miyota 9015
• Strap/bracelet: Rubber, leather
• Price: $399
• Reference Number: MSS200R, MSS200C, MSS200B
• Expected Release: June 2020

The defining feature of the Seascape is the dial, which features a total of 34 lume filled index markers radiating from the center. This, according to Justronic, is inspired by the shell of sea urchins he hunted for in his youth, in his native Croatia. It’s not only a distinctive design and unlike any other watch on the market, but the symmetry it lends to the dial, as well as the simple fact that there’s more lume on this thing than an average watch, contributes greatly to increased legibility. We see a lot of watches take inspiration from the natural world, but rarely does it have such a tangible impact on the actual use of the watch. 

The Seascape’s case is a modern interpretation of a classic dual crown, compressor style diver. At 40mm in diameter and 48mm lug-to-lug, the Seascape is large enough to take advantage of its own unique dial layout (the impact of the lume dots would be diminished if they were “squished” together any more than they are) but not so large that it would be unwieldy for most who are used to modern tool watches of the moment. A total of three variants will be made: one with a white inner rotating bezel, one with a black IP coated case, and the standard stainless steel with black dial and black bezel. 

The diver market is crowded – perhaps more crowded than any other niche in the watch world – and in order to stand out at all, you need to not only create a well made watch, but it helps to have some kind of hook that is unique to your brand. It’s safe to assume that no other brand out there is actively using the sea urchin as a template for their watch designs, so Jutronic has that market easily won. Judging by the enthusiastic response already received on Kickstarter, many watch lovers are all-in on the design, and confident Jutronic will deliver a high quality diver when these start shipping in June of 2020. Marnaut