With its first dive watch, the Paulin Mara Blue, Glasgow-based Paulin mixes geometric shapes, dual-color luminescence, and a sapphire bezel for 300m water resistance – proof that dive watches can surprise without sacrificing usability.
In the world of dive watches, where most models follow the same boring recipe – black dial, white markers, aluminum bezel – it is Pauline Mara like a fresh breeze from the Scottish winds. Rather than stick to tradition, the Paulin sisters threw the formula out the window and created a watch that is both fun and powerful. Who would have thought that geometric shapes could make diving more exciting? Well, Paulin has proven it, and with irony: their first diving watch looks like it was designed decades ago.
A watch face that actually works (and is fun)
Pauline Mara – a Scottish Gaelic name for “from the sea” – comes in blue or black, with a matching bezel. Instead of the usual markings, there are geometric shapes: circles, triangles and squares, along with Arabic numerals at 6 and 12 in their own “Wim” font. The triangles are turned up and down like arrows, which is not only aesthetic but also functional – as if the watch is saying, “Hey, here’s the direction, don’t get lost underwater.”
The mint green minute scale offers excellent contrast, interrupted only by the brand name and the inscription “Glasgow”. This color combination is not accidental; it was tested underwater to ensure readability when the light becomes scarce. The luminescence is deliberate: blue Super-LumiNova on the hour markers and green on the time elements, clearly distinguishing time from elapsed time. It's as if the watch knows you don't have time to mess around underwater.
The size that fits just right
The housing borrows from Paulin's existing design Pauline Mara, but adds ruggedness for diving duties. At 39.7mm in diameter and 13.5mm thick (including a heavily curved sapphire crystal with triple anti-reflective coating), it strikes a balance between presence and wearability. Without the crystal, the case is just 10.8mm thick—slim enough not to look like a submarine on your wrist.
The unidirectional bezel deserves special attention. Instead of the standard serrations, there are semicircular holes that provide a surprisingly good grip. The bezel is made of rounded sapphire with luminescent markings printed on the underside. Yes, it's expensive, but it's durable - much more so than cheap aluminum, which wears out faster than your motivation to exercise.
Scottish origins with influences
Paulin recently collaborated with another Scottish brand, anOrdain, which influenced the development of the Paulin Mara. The watch comes with two straps: a custom-designed rubber strap and a fabric strap made from recycled fishing nets, lined with Italian AlcantaraThe latter is hand-sewn in Glasgow by anOrdain's seamstress, adding a local manufacturing touch – it's like wearing a piece of Scotland on your wrist.
Under the hood is a high-performance La Joux-Perret G101 automatic movement, with a 68-hour power reserve at 28,800 vibrations per hour. For a brand known for its designer quartz watches, the Mara is a confident step into a serious tool watch – an irony that they’ve gone from quartz to mechanical, but managed it so well.
Technical specifications: Paulin Mara
– Model: Paulin Mara Blue and Black
– Housing material: Stainless steel 316L
– Case size: 39.7mm
– Case thickness: 13.5mm
– Distance between ears: 48mm
– Glass: Double-rounded sapphire with triple anti-reflective coating
– Mechanism: Automatic La Joux-Perret G101
– Water resistance: 300 m
– Straps: Injection molded rubber and fabric from recycled fishing nets
– Limited edition?: No
Price and availability
The Paulin Mara is available now directly from the brand for €1,761 (1682 $). While not a limited edition, production is intentionally small – as if to say: “Quality over quantity, darlings.”
Conclusion: Paulin Mara
Glasgow Pauline Mara, known for its designer quartz watches, has launched Maro, its first diver's watch that combines 300m of water resistance with geometric hour markers, dual-color luminescence and a sapphire bezel – proof that you can rewrite tradition with a little humor and a lot of style.
