Pre Baselworld 2014: Introducing Maurice de Mauriac L1 – Mechanical Minimalism

18/03/2014 | By Frank Geelen | 1 min read |

Introducing the Maurice de Mauriac L1, designed by prize-winning designer Fabian Schwaerzler. Schwaerzler’s designs can be found in the Vitra and Pastoe collections, and now he cooperates with Zürich-based Maurice de Mauriac to create the L1, a minimalistic design with a mechanical heart.

Schwaerzler says he has always been fascinated by the ‘architecture’ of watches. Similar to his prize-winning designs, the L1 is minimalistic. The brand’s name is in very small print on the dial, as is the word “automatic” and “swiss made”. The rest are straight lines, varying in length and thickness. The minute markers around the dial’s perimeter are a bit thinner and longer at every hour / five minutes. The sleek long hands, and all hour and minute markers are luminescent and show a blue hue in the dark.

Schwaerzler:”The minimalist graphics must be instantly functional, but there is still so much leeway in the detailing to steer the attention of the viewer. A watch is like an amphitheatre; the universe – and fleeting time – might be the unforgiving producer, but as the designer, you are at least the stage director.” Well, we’ve never looked at it this way, but he has a point.

The stainless steel case of the L1 has a very nice size: 39 millimetres in diameter! Inside ticks an ETA 2824-2 movement, a well-known workhorse. Water resistant to 100 metres and available on three choices of straps, either black ivory, brown rouge and natural umber. And all that comes at a retail price of CHF 2,300.