Design Meets The Deep: The Paulin Mara Diver Watch

There is a distinct challenge in the world of horology: how do you take a design language rooted in graphic clarity, pastel hues, and architectural precision and translate it into a vessel built to survive the crushing pressure of the ocean? It is a puzzle that many design-forward brands avoid, preferring to stay in the safe waters of dress watches and everyday beaters.

However, Paulin, the Glasgow-based watchmaker known for their unique aesthetic and close ties to the artisan world, has decided to take the plunge. The result is the Paulin Mara Diver Watch, a timepiece that proves you don’t have to sacrifice style for specs, nor ruggedness for refinement.

Named after the Scots Gaelic word for “of the sea,” the Mara represents a significant milestone for the brand. It is their first-ever dive watch and easily their most technically ambitious release to date. Designed and assembled in their Glasgow workshops, it manages to retain the whimsical, geometric DNA of Paulin while functioning as a serious tool capable of reaching depths of 300 meters (30ATM).

The watch houses the Swiss-made La Joux Perret G101 automatic movement, a significant step up in the engine room that provides an impressive 68-hour power reserve. This means you can take the watch off on Friday evening, leave it on your dresser, and pick it up Monday morning without missing a beat—though, given how good it looks, you likely won’t want to take it off.

The case itself is a masterclass in proportion. Measuring 39.7mm in diameter with a lug-to-lug of approximately 47mm, it hits that “Goldilocks” zone that fits almost any wrist comfortably. It draws inspiration from Paulin’s existing Modul platform but has been muscularly reshaped with added crown guards to protect the winding mechanism from underwater knocks.

The real star of the show, however, is the face. Produced in Germany, the dial features a striking geometric pattern printed in relief, creating a sense of depth and texture rarely seen in the utilitarian world of divers.

It showcases Paulin’s custom “Wim” typeface, a font that blends legibility with a distinct modernist flair, ensuring that checking your bottom time feels more like reading a piece of graphic design than glancing at a gauge.

Functionality has not been sidelined for art. The uni-directional bezel is capped with a domed sapphire insert, a material choice that ensures scratch resistance against coral or door frames. Uniquely, the lume is printed on the underside of the sapphire, protecting it from the elements while providing a ghostly, durable glow.

A double-domed sapphire crystal with triple-layer anti-reflective coating ensures that whether you are under the harsh glare of the midday sun or the murky lights of a harbor, clarity is never compromised.

Priced at $1,650, the Mara offers a value proposition that extends beyond the watch head. Paulin understands that a watch is only as good as what attaches it to your wrist, so each piece ships with two distinct strap options.

For the purist, there is a form-fitting, injection-moulded HNBR rubber strap designed for aquatic durability. For the aesthete, there is a recycled Tide fabric strap, sewn in-house by the artisans at anOrdain (Paulin’s sister company) and lined with luxurious Italian Alcantara.

Available in a deep, brooding Blue or a stark, tactical Black, the Paulin Mara is a refreshing divergence from the sea of Submariner clones, offering a vision of the dive watch that is distinctly Scottish, distinctly stylish, and undeniably capable.

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