Cigar-shaped maghemite (γ-Fe 2 O 3 ) nanocrystals dispersed in aqueous solution are subjected to a magnetic field during the deposition (process) on graphite. The nanocrystals can thus be oriented along their long axis to form ribbons at a mesoscopic scale whereas without a field the nanocrystals remain randomly oriented on the substrate. The magnetic properties markedly depend on the organization of the nanocrystals within the mesostructures.