Marnaut is a Croatian microbrand that creates watches using Mario Jutronić’s unique design language inspired by sea urchin exoskeletons and the natural beauty of Croatia
When it comes to punctuality, there aren’t many nations in the world that come close to Japan. From trains arriving right on the dot to meticulously planned schedules, it’s a country where time is of great relevance. There’s a word originating in Buddhism in Japanese, mujō, which means impermanence, transience or mutability. It’s precisely because of this transience that the Japanese care so deeply about every second.
Japan’s fascination with time is precisely what inspired our guest Mario Jutronić to create a Croatian watchmaking microbrand in 2018. He named it Marnaut, which is a combination of the words ‘mare’ and ‘nautics’. It combines a Swiss heart, German craftsmanship and Croatian soul in the form of design that’s interesting and one-of-a-kind in the watch market. Growing up in Kobe, Mario fell in love with the Far Eastern concept of time and turned it into a watchmaking brand that honours the tradition of mid-twentieth century vintage dive watches.
‘My love of horology started with studying the history of Seiko, Grand Seiko and Swiss dive watches, which is very extensive and interesting. If you look back in history, you’ll notice that these ‘divers’ went through a renaissance in the 1960s. All models by Rolex, Omega, Blancpain, Seiko and other big watchmaking brands nowadays bear the design signature of those models. Therefore, I also wanted to create watches inspired by the golden age of ‘divers’ and the natural beauty of Croatia,’ says Mario Jutronić.
Produced in a limited, 1000-piece collection, Marnaut watches are available in the brand’s showroom in Supetar on Brač, as well as the online shop. Three models: Safe Harbour, Dark Surge and Seascape draw attention with their fascinating dials inspired by sea urchin exoskeletons. The dial features unique metal dots carefully placed mere millimetres away from each other, extending from the centre, making them complicated to build and therefore truly unique. The fact that the traditional ‘Swiss made’ sign has been replaced adds a special touch. Marnaut watches bear geographical coordinates of famous Croatian locations, such as the Blue Cave on the Biševo island, the Golden Cape (Zlatni rat) beach or the Split Riva, depending on the model.
‘As a creative by profession, I approached this project primarily from a designer’s perspective. I wanted to make watches that aren’t merely an homage or a direct copy, but take inspiration from legendary divers, with their own character and originality. This meant that I had to create a unique dial, which I believe is the most important part of the watch. My father was a seaman, so we spent most of our time outside Croatia, except during summers, which we always spent on the island of Brač. While snorkelling as a boy, I often looked for sea urchins and their colourful exoskeletons. Their shape, symmetry and absolute uniqueness have always fascinated me, so I transferred this fascination and personal touch to watches,’ the creator of Marnaut explains.
Horology experts will be happy to know that the watch specifications are up there with the high-end brands. The case material is 316L stainless steel, the movement Sellita SW200, while the Super-LumiNova C3 luminescent hour and second hands ensure visibility in the dark. The plans for Marnaut’s future include a showroom in Split and the launches of a GMT model and a carbon chronograph. We can’t wait…
Text Hrvoje Bulešić
Photos Marnaut