Laventure’s Chunky Overbuilt Tool Watch is Made From Grade 23 Titanium

Clément Gaud has never been one to follow conventions. Since launching his microbrand Laventure in 2017, the French industrial designer has carved out a niche with watches that manage to feel both vintage-inspired and fresh. Yet, his latest creation, the Marine Type 3 Chronometer, represents a dramatic departure from everything that came before. Where previous Laventure models maintained a certain refinement despite their tool watch credentials, the Marine Type 3 throws elegance out the window in favor of unfiltered functionality.

Here Comes the Bezel

Anyone familiar with Laventure’s previous releases will do a double-take when they first see the Marine Type 3. Gone is the brand’s signature sandwich dial construction that defined models like the original Marine and the Sous-Marine. Instead, Gaud has opted for a watch where the bezel dominates the conversation.

While most modern watches aim for dial-to-bezel ratios that favor readability, the Marine Type 3 eschews this completely. The 60-graduation titanium bezel frames a surprisingly small 25mm dial opening, creating visual tension for the eye. Yet, besides the ostensible size, the watch is rather compact with a 38mm diameter, 46.2mm lug-to-lug, and 11.2mm thickness (8.9mm without the crystal).

A Better Take on Titanium

With 300m of water resistance, the case itself maintains some ethos from previous Laventure models, particularly in its lugless, tonneau-shaped middle section and those distinctive lateral “ears” that serve as both crown guard and bumper. But even here, the stonewash-finished grade 23 titanium construction marks a significant upgrade. This isn’t the more common Grade 5 titanium you’ll find elsewhere; grade 23 offers superior corrosion resistance, fatigue strength, and hardness thanks to its purer composition with controlled interstitial elements. 

Rather than the typical sandblasting you might expect, Laventure employs “tribofinishing,” a process that softens sharp edges while actually increasing surface hardness and wear resistance. The result is a dark gray patina that looks almost battle-tested out the box, and without resorting to any artificial aging techniques.

Marine-Inspired Masterpiece

Drawing inspiration from 1980s marine chronometers — those dashboard-mounted instruments that helped ships navigate using celestial positioning — the chunky timepiece comes in both black and fully-lumed white dial variants, along with plenty of strap options in different color rubber or fabric.

Underneath a domed Plexiglass crystal, the dial execution varies dramatically between the two available versions. The black variant features a galvanically treated surface with white Super-LumiNova printing, while the white version takes a more dramatic approach, with the entire dial plate molded from Super-LumiNova and ceramic-based resin so that it glows bright at night. These kinds of dials are becoming increasingly more popular, especially with tool watches, but Laventure employs makes it make sense better than most.

Both versions sit above a soft-iron lower plate that, combined with the movement ring and caseback, creates a Faraday cage capable of resisting magnetic fields up to 4,800 A/m. That’s well beyond what you’ll encounter from smartphones or laptop speakers, making this a truly antimagnetic timepiece meeting ISO 764 standards.

Swiss-Made Commitment

Despite coming from a French brand, the Marine Type 3 boasts 100% Swiss manufacturing. While most microbrands source components globally to manage costs, Laventure produces every single element — from the rubber strap to the titanium buckle — within Switzerland’s borders. 

Likewise, the movement reflects this philosophy with the Caliber 4 automatic movement, which features a Sellita’s SW300-1 base but receives extensive customization including 3N gold plating across plates, bridges, and the openworked rotor. Meeting COSC chronometer certification to ensure accuracy between -4/+6 seconds per day, the Geneva stripes, perlage, and circular graining are still unfortunately hidden behind a solid caseback.

Lastly, each watch includes both a PFKM rubber strap and elastic textile strap in your choice of colors, plus a titanium pin buckle.

Spec Sheet

Pricing & Availability

At CHF 4,200 (~$5,282), the Laventure Marine Type 3 launches as a limited run of 100 pieces per dial color for 2025, with delivery expected in late 2025.

Recap

Laventure Marine Type 3

French microbrand Laventure eschews its usual design language with this chunky tool watch, boasting grade 23 titanium construction, 300m of water resistance, and a fully-lumed dial option.

Learn More: Laventure