Swiss watch brand
Maurice de Mauriac: Zurich watches, models and value
Maurice de Mauriac is a small watch brand from Zurich known for made-to-order watches and straps. Here is what you should know if you own one.
- Founder(s)
- Daniel Dreifuss
- Headquarters
- Zurich
- Owner / group
- Independent (Dreifuss family)
Maurice de Mauriac: origins and founding
Maurice de Mauriac is not an old Jura manufacture but a city brand from Zurich. It was founded by Daniel Dreifuss, a former banker in New York, who returned to Switzerland after the 1997 financial crisis to make mechanical watches. The brand describes itself as the first Swiss watchmaker to mark its products «made in Zurich».
Founders and family
Daniel Dreifuss led the brand until his death. Since then, his three children, Massimo, Leonard and Masha, took over the company. In 2024 they released «The Legacy», a set of 20 in his honour with a bronze Chrono Modern watch.
Maurice de Mauriac history and milestones
From the start, the idea was a watch put together for the individual customer: case, dial, hands and above all the strap can be combined. The brand runs an atelier and shop in central Zurich, where customers are advised in person. There it also offers the «à Maurice» workshop, where visitors can assemble a watch themselves.
Famous Maurice de Mauriac models
- Chronograph Modern – the core line, in 39, 42 and 45 mm, including versions such as the Travel Timer.
- L1 – a minimalist watch designed with the Zurich designer Fabian Schwaerzler.
- L2 – the diver's version of the L series, water resistant to 300 metres, with a helium escape valve.
- Dogma – a model built around its leather strap.
Movements and technique
The brand uses Swiss movements bought from the Jura. In the Chronograph Modern, for example, a decorated ETA Valjoux 7750 automatic chronograph movement is used, visible through a sapphire caseback. The 7750 is a widely used, robust calibre that any good watchmaker can service.
Maurice de Mauriac today
Maurice de Mauriac is an independent, family-run brand based in Zurich. It sits in the mid-price segment of Swiss mechanical watches: a Chronograph Modern Travel Timer was priced at 4,500 Swiss francs when it was reviewed by aBlogtoWatch.
Maurice de Mauriac prices on the pre-owned market
Because many watches are configured individually and the brand is small, there are few pre-owned examples and no broad collector market. Resale prices are usually well below the original price. What helps: the original invoice or certificate, the original strap and buckle, the box, and a watch that has not been heavily modified. Limited sets such as «The Legacy» are more likely to interest collectors if they are complete.
How to recognise a genuine Maurice de Mauriac
Fakes of this small brand are rare. More important is checking that the watch is complete and that the movement matches the model, for example a Valjoux 7750 in a Chronograph Modern. Because watches were often customised, the shop in Zurich is the best place to confirm details. More general checks are in our guide on how to spot a fake watch.
What is your Maurice de Mauriac worth?
Upload photos of the dial, caseback and papers for a free watch value estimate. If you need a document for an estate or insurance, you can order a written watch appraisal.
Frequently asked questions
Where are Maurice de Mauriac watches made?
The brand is based in Zurich, where watches are configured and assembled in its atelier. The movements come from Swiss suppliers in the Jura.
Is Maurice de Mauriac a good investment?
Usually not. It is a small brand with individual watches and a thin pre-owned market, so resale prices tend to be below the original price. Buy it because you like it.
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