The Héron Marinor Ghost is an anonymous spectre for the wrist
Buffy Acacia
For a couple of years there, we were drowning in repetitive dive watches. It almost felt like we were doomed to see the same formulas repeated forever with slightly new dial variations each time, but now a new avenue of exploration has emerged. With the release of watches like the Doxa SUB 300T Clive Cussler and the Panerai Radiomir California, we’re seeing dive watches that aren’t afraid to fully commit to playing up a character. The new Héron Mariner Ghost references don’t go quite as far in the roughed-up direction, but they don’t pull any stylistic punches either.
The case
Straight away, you can tell that the case has personality. Even though the shape may be nothing particularly special, its brushed finishing is deep and coarse. This gives it an especially rugged appearance that lends itself to feeling like a vintage treasure. The finishing isn’t all that’s interesting though, with a hardness treatment bringing the stainless steel up to 1200HV on the Vickers scale. For context, 316L steel is usually only 140HV. That means the finish has been given extra protection against scratches, so it should stay at its intended roughness for a long time.
As an enthusiast brand that came about during the pandemic, Héron is obviously going to pay close attention to the dimensions for optimising wearability. A 39mm diameter is a great middle ground for those who appreciate vintage moderation, yet also desire contemporary wrist presence. The all-important lug-to-lug length is 47mm, again hitting the watch enthusiast Goldilocks zone for filling out a wrist nicely without overextending. Finally, the 12.9mm height including the boxed sapphire crystal is chunky but acceptable, considering the 300m of water resistance and the automatic movement.
The dial
Sterile dials used to be far more common when watchmakers mainly assembled components from a range of manufacturers in the early days. Brand names wouldn’t always be the ones who made the watch, but rather the ones who sold it. Occasionally, they were sold plain. Logos and brand names also weren’t welcome for military-spec watches issued to soldiers, as they had to conform with each other even when made by different factories. As the Héron Marinor Ghost takes plenty of inspiration from military divers of the ‘50s and ‘60s, the Canadian brand has elected to leave its name off the dial. Instead, the North Star at 12 o’clock signals its Canuck pride.
Given the total lack of letters printed on the dial, plenty of space has been made for the jumbo indices which are super legible at a glance. The minute track can be a little awkward to read in comparison, but the slender broad-arrow handset points to it well enough to follow. The two colours available for the Marinor Ghost are North Blue, with a frosty blue fumé effect punctuated by ice-white, and Seastorm Black, its grey gradient warmed up by cream Super-LumiNova. Surrounding them, a circularly brushed steel bezel rotates with 120 clicks but has no markings other than a luminous pip. This makes it seem like there were once markers that have long-since faded.
The bracelet
The 3-link bracelet of the Héron Marinor Ghost expertly matches the finishing of the case, and its inverted end-link ensures that the bracelet can flow freely without extending the lug-to-lug measurement. The backs of the links are scalloped for airflow and weight reduction, and there are quick-release spring bars attached should you wish to swap it out for a different 20mm strap of your choice. Héron does sell NATO, leather, and fitted rubber straps as well. Overall, it’s clear that the bracelet wasn’t an afterthought, and it completes the quality package nicely.
The movement
Powering the watch is the Miyota calibre 9039, which is one of the Japanese manufacturer’s premium movements. It’s still budget-friendly, but it has comfortable features such as a smooth 4Hz beat rate, 42-hour power reserve, automatic or hand winding, and hacking seconds. The quoted accuracy is within -10/+30 seconds per day, however, most people experience better accuracy than that, and it can be regulated. It’s not the prettiest movement, but it’s covered up by Héron’s solid caseback engraved with a stoic list of specifications.
The verdict
Héron’s track record as a dive watch brand has usually seen it play things safe, often with one or two funky elements that set it apart from the competition. That’s what the Marinor Ghost does again, and quite successfully. The care of finishing and attention to detail are clearly indicative of a high-quality watch, even if the lack of branding can risk it looking like a DIY mod of some kind. Still, the US$590 price tag is impressive for what Héron has achieved. Considering that this is a limited edition of just 50 pieces per colour, I’m sure they’ll all find their homes in a pinch.
The Héron Marinor Ghost pricing and availability
The Héron Marinor Ghost is limited to 50 pieces per colour and is available now. Price: US$590
| Brand | Héron |
| Model | Marinor Ghost |
| Case Dimensions | 39mm (D) x 12.9mm (T) x 47mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel with scratch-resistant hardness coating |
| Water Resistance | 300 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire |
| Dial | Light blue or black fumé anonymous dial |
| Strap | Stainless steel with scratch-resistant hardness coating |
| Movement | Miyota 9039, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 42 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, date |
| Availability | Limited to 50 pieces per colour |
| Price | US$590 |
Made in partnership with Héron. However, the opinions expressed in this article are our own in accordance with our Editorial Policy.