The Swiss company Maurice de Mauriac from Zurich has just released a new collection of watches, designed once again by Fabian Schwaerzler.
The new series is called the Maurice de Mauriac Pillow Watch, but don't let the name distract from its sporty theme. The name "pillow" relates to the case shape, often referred to as a "cushion." Maurice de Mauriac began collaborating with Schwaerzler (also based in Zurich and, if memory serves, primarily a furniture designer) a few years ago to create the L series of watches, including models L1, L2, and L3. The Pillow Watch does not bear the "L series" name, but the design language is similar: minimalism combined with a functional Bauhaus aesthetic.
At launch, the Maurice de Mauriac Pillow Watch is offered in three case material options. The basic model is made of matte natural titanium. For a higher price, you can purchase a model with DLC-coated titanium and a bronze case. Enthusiasts know that the Pillow Watch is the brand's response to the classic Panerai aesthetic, something Maurice de Mauriac does not explicitly state. The Pillow Watch is not a visual copy of Panerai, but it mirrors a similar case size and wrist presence, as well as a bold yet very simple and legible dial. While the Pillow Watch cannot be considered a bargain, its price is much lower than that of Panerai watches, and they look very attractive on the wrist. I find them to be damn beautiful watches for those who know how to accessorize them.
The Maurice de Mauriac Pillow Watch features a case width of 45 mm, water-resistant up to 100 meters. The case thickness is about 13 mm, and the lug-to-lug distance is 50.5 mm. Indeed, the watch can't be called small, but it is crafted in a rounded case shape that reduces its visual bulk and allows it to be worn elegantly on the wrist. The case shape is quite interesting: it combines a pillow shape at the top and a more traditional tonneau curve on the sides. Combined with a sloped wide bezel and domed sapphire crystal with AR coating, it results in a beautiful shape that is comfortable to wear. Of course, these aren't the smallest watches, but Maurice de Mauriac offers other, more petite models. The 45 mm width is intentionally bold, as befits the military style of Panerai.
The dark gray DLC coating pairs well with the functional metal finish. The matte black dial is minimalist, with minimal text and applied hour markers. Once again, Maurice de Mauriac and Schwaerzler opted for text on the dial so small that some people may struggle to read it with the naked eye. Not that you often need to read the brand name and the word "automatic," but I find it amusing how small the text is. On a computer screen (when the watches are just being designed) at an enlarged size, the dial text is probably easily readable. However, when printing an actual dial, the text might appear comically small. Perhaps this is done intentionally. Some people like the look of a sterile dial without branding and text. Others think sterile dials look incomplete without a brand logo. Perhaps the design of the Pillow Watch is simply an attempt to satisfy both aesthetic preferences.
Dial legibility, unsurprisingly, is very good, thanks to the high contrast between the black and blue luminescent sections. I also want to commend the shape of the hands and hour markers, which are soft and easy on the eyes (as with Panerai, for that matter). Inside the watch is the automatic Swiss Made La Joux-Perret G100 movement, which has recently gained huge popularity. I think these are the first Maurice de Mauriac watches with the G100 movement. It's a bit higher priced than most watches with the G100, but I've seen watches priced up to $10,000 equipped with the G100.
In this variant, the G100 features a beautiful anthracite gray finish on the bridges, visible through the watch's case back. The movement operates at a frequency of 4 Hz and has a 68-hour power reserve. One issue is that the sound of the automatic rotor is louder. I've noticed the same with Miyota 9000 series movements (the G100 is a slightly upgraded version of the Japanese 9000 series counterpart, made in Switzerland).
The strap attached to the case (again, similar to Panerai) is 24 mm wide and made of leather but with a fabric-like texture on top. I like that the stitching on the strap echoes the blue color of the hour markers and hands. The overall concept of the Pillow Watch is simple, but you can see that the final result is quite beautiful and fashionable. I think it's a great new product from the brand Maurice de Mauriac, and I'm glad the relationship with Schwaerzler continues to be productive for all parties.
Their price is higher, but that's typical for this small, low-series brand (and others like it). Style and elegance are always a plus for the Maurice de Mauriac brand, which continues to evolve today under the sons of founder Daniel Dreifuss, who unfortunately passed away last year. The price for the Pillow Watch starts at 3,900 Swiss francs for the natural titanium case model. The price rises to 4,900 Swiss francs for the titanium DLC version and bronze version of the Pillow Watch.
More detailed information can be found on the Maurice de Mauriac website.