Evolving a Design, Redefining Functionality

The STERNGLAS Marus 2.0 was not conceived as a minor update, but as a complete redesign based on the lessons learned from its predecessor. The first Marus was well received by customers, yet as a designer I recognized certain shortcomings – particularly in legibility, proportions, and everyday usability. Instead of correcting details in isolation, I decided to re-engineer the watch from the ground up, while maintaining its recognizable design language.

The result is the Marus 2.0: a watch that retains the DNA of the original, but improves every functional and aesthetic aspect.

Key design decisions included:

• Readability: Significantly widened indices and bezel with bi-color Super-Luminova, extended hands with luminous filling, and a contrasting seconds hand for precise timekeeping.
• Usability: A redesigned bezel with larger numerals and improved grip, even under wet conditions. A screw-down crown with a red safety indicator and 200 m water resistance, achieved through optimized seals and case construction.
• Material innovation: Introduction of a hybrid strap – a silicone core with a water-resistant leather exterior – combining durability with comfort and design value. In addition, a newly developed metal bracelet that can be adjusted completely tool-free, responding directly to customer needs for flexibility.
• Design storytelling: The engraved whale motif on the case back symbolizes strength, resilience, and calm at depth – aligning the design language with the functional promise of a true diving watch.

The Marus 2.0 is offered in two executions:

• Black with Bauhaus-inspired clarity
• Green with a colorfast bronze PVD case for a maritime character

For me as a designer, this project represents a philosophy: learning from customer feedback, addressing functional weaknesses, and turning them into opportunities for innovation. It demonstrates my approach to balancing aesthetics, ergonomics, and technical constraints – creating timepieces that are not only visually distinctive but also highly functional in everyday life.