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A Closer Look at The Maurice de Mauriac L3 Chronograph Red Crystal

Maurice de Mauriac is a Zurich based Swiss watchmaker that is known and appreciated for its high fashion luxury watches. The latest release comes in the form of the L3 Chronograph as a part of the brand's famous L series of wristwatches. For fans of brightly colored luxury timepieces, this example is well worth a second glance and serious consideration. Here are 10 things you didn't know about the Maurice de Mauriac L3 Chronograph Red Crystal.

1. It's a 2019 issue influenced by Fabian Schwaerzler

The L3 Chronograph Red Crystal made its debut in 2019. The watch is a masterpiece of colorful yet tasteful aesthetics conjured by designer Fabian Schwaerzler. This is the third in the L family of watches by the brand following the original L1 with its minimalist approach, and the L2 offered in your choice of steel or bronze as a diver's watch. The L3 is presented as a chronograph to more fully flesh out the variations and options within the collection.

2. The case is minimalist

The case of the L3 chronograph is made in a minimalist design using as few pieces as possible. It is made of stainless steel material and measures 40.5 mm in width with a thickness between 13 and 14 mm. The case has been coated with DLC material to create an anthracite color that is dark with a slick appearance, but it's not quite black. The lugs measure 20 mm in width with a distance of 48 mm lug to lug.

3. It's covered with a red crystal

Perhaps the most unique feature of the L3 Chronograph Red Crystal is the uniquely colored red crystal. It protects the front of the watch with a dazzling display of color while adding to the water-resistance of 30 meters. It's not a diver's watch but it will hold up under a few accidental splashes. The case back is made of stainless steel but it also features a center that is made of the red-tinted crystal making it interesting to look at from the back as well as the front. The exhibition crystal gives you an excellent view of the major parts of the inner mechanical workings of the movement beneath.

4. The dial is highly legible

The use of a tinted crystal to cover and protect the dial created the need for innovation to make the symbols easy to read. There is no visible bezel and the crystal makes the dial appear larger. It can easily be read from all angles thanks to the absence of the bezel. A dark background is used for the dial with white hour and minute markers that show through the crystal nicely.

5. The movement is an in-house creation

The movement that powers the L3 chronograph is an in-house design that is named the Concepto Tricompax caliber 99001. The power plant beats at 4 Hz with a power reserve of two days. It is a manually wound Swiss movement that is inspired by the Valjoux 7750 minus the automatic winding mechanism. It's one of the few manually wound chronograph movements in use on the market today, which makes this watch all the more special.

6. The crystal is mineral

It was a bit surprising that Maurice de Mauriac chose to use a mineral crystal versus the slightly higher grade sapphire crystal. We're assuming that the choice was made because of better luck with the tinting process that gives the watch its lovely red sparkle. At any rate, it is worth noting that both the front and the back exhibition crystal are mineral-based instead of sapphire. The front crystal is domed, curved, and treated with anti-reflective coating.

7. Functions of the movement

Although the L3 Chronograph Red Crystal is somewhat of a novelty watch, it is nonetheless a seriously functional watch with useful timekeeping features. The functions include hours, minutes, and seconds. Three subdials are displayed on the dial for the chronograph functions. The first is the chronograph minute display placed at the 3 o'clock position. the second is the chronograph half-hour dial at 6 o'clock, and the third is the second's hand display with placement at the 9 o'clock position. This is a remarkably functional wristwatch that also serves as a bold fashion accessory and a real conversation-starter.

8. The strap is custom made

When you place your order for the Maurice de Mauriac L3 Chronograph Red Crystal, you get your choice of the strap color. It's custom-made to satisfy your preferences and made of Barenia leather. You have your choice of a gold-brown, a brown-red, or a black strap.

9. This watch features a Bauhaus-inspired style

We would be remiss if we didn't point out that the L3 Chronograph Red Crystal is the very embodiment of the Bauhaus style. If you're not yet familiar with it, the best description is a combination of modernism with the arts and crafts movement. The emphasis is upon function, yet the importance of art, sometimes novel, and sometimes more seriously represented is to the fore. This is typical of the brand and of the designer who helped to bring the model to life in its current form. The L3 Chronograph features a series of clean and simple lines with its major novelty arising from the use of colored crystals. It is otherwise minimalist for a chronograph. We see it as a brilliant feat in design.

10. The Maurice de Mauriac L3 Chronograph Red Crystal is luxury priced

This unique wristwatch doesn't offer a high level of water-resistance or fancy alarm features, but it is a purebred chronograph with a special movement that has been modified to create a very special edition within the L collection of Maurice de Mauriac watches. It is also luxury priced at 52,000 Swiss Francs. In United States Dollars, this is the equivalent of $55,198.42.

Garrett Parker

Written by Garrett Parker

Garrett by trade is a personal finance freelance writer and journalist. With over 10 years experience he's covered businesses, CEOs, and investments. However he does like to take on other topics involving some of his personal interests like automobiles, future technologies, and anything else that could change the world.

Read more posts by Garrett Parker

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