MAEN and Nico Leonard reveal the Grand Tonneau Ultra-Thin, a new integrated tonneau watch that brings a sharper, more design-led expression to MAEN’s Grand Tonneau collection. Conceived and led by Nico Leonard, the watch combines a 6.4mm ultra-thin case, a Swiss-made La Joux-Perret D101 manual-winding movement, and four enamel-coated fumé dial options in a silhouette inspired by the bold integrated forms of 1970s watch design.
This latest release follows last year’s award-winning Grand Tonneau Jump Hour and builds on that momentum with a more distilled focus on slimness, component quality, and everyday wearability. With the Ultra-Thin, MAEN and Nico Leonard shift the emphasis toward a cleaner two-hand display, a slimmer profile, and a more integrated overall execution. At the core of the Grand Tonneau Ultra-Thin is a design approach that treats the case, bracelet, and dial as one unified composition. The tonneau-shaped case flows directly into a fully integrated bracelet designed for both visual continuity and comfort on the wrist. Each link is engineered to articulate fluidly, creating a bracelet that feels smooth, balanced, and easy to wear every day. The dial introduces depth and character through a double-layered construction with a textured fumé finish and enamel coating. The gradient moves from darker tones at the outer edge to lighter hues at the centre, creating a dynamic interaction with light while preserving legibility. This execution adds dimension and richness to the watch, ensuring the dial remains engaging without compromising the overall clarity of the design. The watch is offered in four striking colourways: black fumé, turquoise fumé, yellow fumé, and lava red fumé. A rubber strap option is also available for added versatility. At just 6.4mm thick, the Grand Tonneau Ultra-Thin is the slimmest watch ever produced by MAEN. The ultra-thin profile enhances comfort and proportion, allowing the watch to sit close to the wrist while preserving the character of its tonneau-shaped case. Powering the watch is the Swiss-made La Joux-Perret D101 manual-winding movement, selected for its slim architecture and mechanical reliability. It delivers a clean two-hand display with no date function and approximately 50 hours of power reserve. As a true no-date movement, it also avoids a ghost position on the crown. Visible through an open sapphire caseback, the movement reinforces the watch’s mechanical focus. “This project was always about designing a watch with exactly balanced proportions,” says Sebastiaan Cortjaens, Co-Founder of MAEN. “We focused on refining the case and bracelet, reducing the profile, and developing a dial with depth and character. The result is a watch that feels cohesive in every detail.” Nico Leonard adds: “For me, the 1970s was the defining era for integrated watch design. With the Ultra-Thin, we wanted to capture that sense of shape, confidence and wearability. It integrates that design ethos with the best elements of modern horology—strong shapes, a bracelet that’s as important as the case, and a dial that gives the watch real presence. It’s thin, it’s comfortable, and it’s something you can wear every day without compromise.” The Grand Tonneau Ultra-Thin continues the evolution of the collection, bringing together Swiss mechanical watchmaking, considered proportions, and a clear design point of view. Distinct in its silhouette and defined by its integrated bracelet and dial execution, it is a watch with a strong and recognisable identity.
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