Manilone S1: A Fresh Take on Enamel & Transparency
There’s something quietly magnetic about enamel dials — the way they catch light, the craftsmanship baked into every layer, the story of heat, flame, and patience behind each finish. Manilone is leaning into that magic with their S1 model, launching via Kickstarter, offering a blend of classic dial making and modern transparency. If you love watches with soul visible in the details, this one deserves your attention.
What the Manilone S1 Brings to the Table
The S1 is built around a Fumé Translucent Grand Feu Enamel dial — that means richly saturated enamel, fired at high temperatures, with a gradient (fumé) effect that gives depth and texture. Not just paint, but enamel in the old school sense: layers of powdered glass melted onto metal, each firing risking flaws, each successful layer adding richness. It’s a small but meaningful world of craftsmanship.
Then there’s the case of the watch: 38.5 mm in diameter, made from 316L stainless steel. It’s a comfortable size for a lot of wrists — not too big, not dainty. Combined with a calfskin leather strap, it leans more dress-oriented, but the fumé enamel and translucent effects give it personality beyond just formality.
Inside beats a Miyota 90S5 automatic movement — reliable, accessible, and well-known in microbrand circles. While it won’t compete with high-end Swiss calibres in prestige, it gets the job done with robustness. It complements the artistry above by ensuring the watch is wearable, not just a display piece.
Credit - Manilone
Credit - Manilone
Styling, Colours, and Visual Vibe
Manilone isn’t just selling specs—they’re selling ambience. With the fumé enamel gradient, the colour options are subtle but expressive: think rich tones that shift under light. The translucence in the enamel gives a sense of depth that flat dials don’t, and paired with the simple, elegant case and strap design, the S1 feels like something that can go from smart-dinner to casual gathering without skipping a beat.
The design leans on minimalism: no excessive complications, no wild subdials, nothing that detracts from the enamel’s story. Time-only dial hands, refined markers. The bezel is restrained. Everything is tuned to showcase the enamel and let it breathe. If you’re someone who appreciates when a watch whispers rather than screams, the S1 is speaking your language.
What to Think About (Because Nothing’s Perfect)
Enamel dials are beautiful but sensitive. Grand Feu enamel needs careful handling: extreme heat, multiple firings, fragility when exposed to shocks. Scratch that crystal or drop the case, and enamel damage can’t always be repaired cleanly. If you’re buying this because you want statement flair, you’ll need to wear with a little more respect than a rugged diver.
The Miyota movement is solid, but it’s not luxury Swiss. For some buyers, that’s fine — reliability over prestige. For others who care about finishing, brand heritage, precision, this could be a sticking point. Also, translucence in the dial may mean readability under bright light or glare can vary. It’s a trade-off: artistry vs legibility in tough conditions.
Then there’s the Kickstarter nature. Pre-orders, expected delivery timelines, potential delays, warranties, servicing—these are always things to check. Manilone seems transparent about what's included (strap, case, delivery terms) but with Kickstarter, there’s always an element of risk. The positive feedback from backers so far suggests they know what they’re doing, but caution is wise when buying graduation-piece or investment piece via crowdfunding.
Credit - Manilone
Credit - Manilone
Credit - Manilone
Final Thought
Manilone’s S1 nails a rare balance: artistic craftsmanship (the enamel), modern style (transparent, refined case), and practicality (known movement, wearable size). It’s not revolutionary, but it is refreshing. In a market flooded with similar styles, the S1 gives you something tangible: something visible, something to feel.
Do you think this idea works? Does the allure of the fumé enamel and translucence justify living a little more carefully, perhaps investing more attention, in a watch? Or do you prefer rugged tool precision, heritage cachet, or dial layout over delicate artistry? If I were you, I’d be seriously considering clicking pre-order, because this one might occupy that rare space where form earns function.