The Maurice de Mauriac L2 Red Sea Dive Watch

Maurice de Mauriac presents an eye-catching version of its L2 dive watch with a red-tinted sapphire crystal. Inspired by freediver Zoe Moore, the L2 Red Sea is a muscular deep-sea companion with 300m water-resistance and a stark, minimalist dial and rugged case. The L2 Red Sea also champions a noble cause, and 10% of the proceeds from the sale of the watch will be donated to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. With its unusual red glowing presence, the L2 Red Sea is limited to 42 pieces, a nod to the 42gm of salt per litre of water in the Red Sea.

For those of you who are encountering this brand for the first time, Maurice de Mauriac is a family-run business based in Zurich. Daniel Dreifuss registered the brand in 1997 and was later joined by his sons, Massimo and Leonardo. With six collections on offer, ranging from minimalist Bauhaus-inspired models like the L1 to exuberant skeletonised chronographs, the latest watch from Maurice de Mauriac belongs to the L2, a family of divers with 300m water-resistance. Conceived by prize-winning industrial designer Fabian Schwaerzler, the simple contemporary design of the dive watch is treated to a psychedelic splash of colour thanks to the domed red sapphire crystal.

The 42mm case is made of stainless steel with a dark grey DLC coating. Like other models in the L2 diver’s line, the notched unidirectional rotating bezel is particularly thick. Instead of a ceramic insert of a different colour scale, it features an engraved 15-minute scale. Perhaps not offering the best visibility at great depths, it reflects the minimalist design ethos of Schwaerzler and protrudes over the caseband to become the dominant feature of the watch. The right side of the case has two pronounced indentations to let the watch sit tightly on the wrist. In contrast, the left side of the case has a much less pronounced arch, and the overhang of the bezel hides the helium escape valve at 9 o’clock. Underscoring its sporty instrument vocation, the case is brushed to provide an anti-reflective matte surface.

Rising slightly above the bezel is the showpiece red sapphire crystal producing an eerie red glow over the dial. Like many of Schwaerzler’s watch designs (who is, incidentally, a big fan of Max Bill’s 1960s watch designs for Junghans), the “less is more” approach is evident. The wide rectangular hour indices are treated with Super-LumiNova and surrounded by a minutes/seconds track with simple graphic markers. Eight of the printed indices are thicker and wider than those at 12, 6 and 9 o’clock to give the dial more breathing space. The incorporation of a date window truncates the marker at 3 o’clock. The baton-style hour and minute hands are also filled with lume. The overall reduction of elements and inscriptions on the dial produces a simple yet legible dial.

The sealed caseback features an engraving of the freediver Zoe Moore and protects the ETA 2824-2 automatic movement with its frequency of 28,800vph and 38h power reserve. As mentioned, the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (SSCS) will receive 10% of the proceeds from the sale of this limited edition. The non-profit SSCS marine wildlife conservation group has been active since 1977 and hopes to end the destruction of our ocean habitats and the slaughter of sea creatures. The brand estimates that the sale of each L2 Red Sea will translate into the recovery of 100m of old fishing nets that pose a threat to marine life.

The Maurice de Mauriac L2 Red Sea is limited to 42 pieces and comes with several strap options. The most dynamic option is the black rally-style strap with holes and a bright red lining (it also includes a black NATO strap with a red central stripe) and costs CHF 4,670. The second option, at a slightly higher price of CHF 5,200, comes with an integrated three-link steel DLC-coated bracelet.

For more information, please visit Maurice de Mauriac’s website.