The new Maurice de Mauriac Rallymaster Swiss Tennis serves as a patriotic tribute to the 130th anniversary of the Swiss Tennis Association, with a 130-piece run of the collectable sports watch.
20% of watch proceeds from sales will support player development and the next generation of Swiss Tennis.
Penned by US-based designer Carlton DeWoody, the snowy opaline dial pairs the series’ signature luminescent tennis-net motif with a clever red gradient subdial that playfully nods to the game’s 20-second time limit between points.
Mentally picture Switzerland and you’ll likely cycle through the usual suspects: impenetrable bank vaults, snow-capped chalets, chocolates that ruin all other chocolate, and an iron grip on the global watch industry. Yet, amongst all that is its talent for producing some of the greatest tennis players in history. Swiss Tennis has spent 130 years working in talent identification, development, and organisation, and to mark the milestone, Zurich’s own Maurice de Mauriac has stepped up to the baseline to drop a fresh iteration of its cult-classic sports watch, the Rallymaster.
Tennis and horology have always enjoyed a rather cosy relationship, but it usually involves large conglomerates placing expensive timepieces onto the wrists of superstars just in time for the trophy presentation. The Rallymaster series, however, was conceptualised by Californian creative Carlton DeWoody and marked a collaboration with Racquet magazine. It began as a series of limited editions inspired by the ecosystem surrounding tennis’ four Major events. These playful iterations were not only enjoyed for their retro-inspired sportiness but also capable of surviving a gruelling five-setter. Now, that exact same design philosophy has been adapted to create the Maurice de Mauriac x Racquet Rallymaster Swiss Tennis, paying homage to the brand’s home turf.
Maurice de Mauriac’s relationship with tennis is not exclusive to the Rallymaster watch collection alone. The brand was once the official timing partner for the Swiss Open in Gstaad, has previously supported promising junior tennis player Stan Wawrinka, and even launched a signature watch with the legendary Stan Smith. Yet, the release of the new Maurice de Mauriac Rallymaster Swiss Tennis watch does seem to bring together the brand’s deep-rooted obsession with tennis and a hefty dose of hometown pride in the most poignant way of all. Its small seconds sub-dial incorporates three gradient shades of red as a direct nod to Switzerland’s national flag, and the silvery dial colour, featuring the collection’s signature luminous tennis net motif, has been chosen to capture the country’s eternal snow-capped alpine landscapes.
The new Rallymaster Swiss Tennis watch measures 39mm and is crafted from brushed stainless steel with a lug-to-lug distance of 47mm and a case thickness of 12mm. These are certainly the kind of proportions that enthusiasts actively hunt for. Maurice de Mauriac clearly understands that a tennis-inspired watch needs to actually survive being worn on the court, so it features a screw-down crown proudly embossed with the Swiss Tennis logo, along with an anti-reflective sapphire crystal that helps secure a reassuring 100 metres of water resistance.
Shifting focus to the display, the dial of this Rallymaster watch is where DeWoody’s design language really flexes its creative muscles. An opaline, silvery-white display reflects Zurich’s alpine backdrop, providing a stark canvas for the vibrant red accents peppering it. Evoking the national flag and the tennis association’s corporate colour scheme, the small seconds sub-counter incorporates 20-second increments that nod to the time limit traditionally enforced between points (before the recent rule change bumped it to twenty-five seconds). Sweeping over it is an optic yellow lollipop hand that delivers a sudden, sharp jolt of classic tennis-ball colour.
Across the other side of the dial, you’ll see a custom date disc at 3 o’clock sitting beneath a cyclops magnifier, adorned in a matching dash of red. At the centre of the dial is the signature luminescent horizontal tennis-net decoration that defines the entire Rallymaster series. The applied indices are shaped like tennis balls and outlined with custom Swiss Super-LumiNova. The whole package is tied together with a watch-inspired retro font called Decimal, finishing with a ‘Swiss Made With Love’ inscription tucked at the bottom of the dial.
Flipping the 39mm case over reveals a sapphire exhibition caseback that proudly bears the printed Swiss Tennis logo. Through the letters, a glimpse of the Landeron 24 automatic Swiss movement is afforded. It might lack the bragging rights of a bespoke, in-house calibre, but the Landeron 24 is a workhorse of a movement, beating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour and delivering a respectable 40 hours of power reserve.
When it comes to strapping the whole ensemble to your wrist, Maurice de Mauriac offers two very different strap options in the presentation box. For the off-court moments, there’s a fine, vintage-inspired Milanese mesh bracelet in brushed stainless steel. It elevates the watch, giving it a bit of mid-century character. It’s a nice pairing for the silvery-white dial. However, if you actually intend to pick up a racquet and hit the baseline, you can utilise the quick-release system to instantly swap to a two-tone red two-piece stretch-fabric strap; both strap options have a quick-release system. This comfortable, elasticated strap will accommodate your swelling wrist during a gruelling match, but it also makes the broad red accents on the dial pop.
Maurice de Mauriac has spent years championing tennis. This limited run of just 130 pieces has enlisted stars like Jil Teichmann, Simona Waltert, and Marc-Andrea Huesler for the launch campaign, pledging 20% of the proceeds to support player development and the next generation of Swiss Tennis. Ultimately, this is a solid sports watch that serves as a rather nice reminder that you can build a proper mechanical instrument without being entirely po-faced about it.
Given the rapid sell-out history of previous Rallymasters and the inclusion of a collectable red tennis ball in the box, you might want to move a little faster than a peak Andy Roddick serve to secure one of these 130 pieces before they run out.
Maurice de Mauriac x Racquet Rallymaster Swiss Tennis pricing and availability
The Maurice de Mauriac x Racquet Rallymaster Swiss Tennis is limited to 130 pieces and is available to order now from the Maurice de Mauriac online boutique. Price: US$2,950
Brand
Maurice de Mauriac x Racquet
Model
Rallymaster Swiss Tennis
Case Dimensions
39mm (D) x 12mm (T) x 47mm (LTL)
Case Material
Stainless steel
Water Resistance
100 metres, screw-down crown
Crystal(s)
Sapphire front and exhibition caseback
Dial
Silver, red accents
Strap
Milanese stainless steel bracelet
Additional two-tone red two-piece stretch fabric bracelet; both with quick-release system
Movement
Landeron 24, automatic
Power Reserve
40 hours
Functions
Hours, minutes, small seconds, date
Availability
Now, limited to 130 pieces
Price
US$2,950