True to its theme 'Never Stop Moving', Swiss watch manufacturer Maurice Lacroix's Masterpiece line has been progressing with hand-wound mechanisms over the years, and this year marks the first time the brand releases its very own automatic calibre, housed in two limited editions - the Masterpiece Calendrier Retrograde and the Masterpiece Double Retrograde, which has a second time-zone function.
'Never Stops Moving' has two layers of meaning to it. 'An automatic watch never stops moving because it is propelled by the rotor. So you have, perpetually, the correct time. The theme also demonstrates that the brand is always developing. It doesn't stand still,' says Martin Bachmann, CEO of Maurice Lacroix.
Launched in 2003, the Masterpiece Double Retrograde was the first complication from the watch brand. 'It has been in our collection for quite some time and is one of our iconic pieces. So it is [the right time] that we launch an automatic calendar with the Masterpiece Double Retrograde. It is important to reinforce the history of our Masterpiece collection, but also to go into the future with automatic watches,' Bachmann says.
The Masterpiece Calendrier Retrograde features the self-winding movement ML 190, while the Masterpiece Double Retrograde contains the self-winding movement ML 191. Both horological creations are pink gold models in a limited edition of 50 pieces only. Two other 2011 novelties are the Masterpiece Calendrier Retrograde and the Masterpiece Roue Carree Seconde from the Masterpiece collection. Maurice Lacroix's ladies watch line Fiaba is a worthy addition to its existing women's collection. The dial comes in three variations - mother-of-pearl, silver-plated and black - and is adorned with diamond-encrusted markers or slim baton indexes, and two statuesque Roman numerals at 12 and 6 o'clock.
The hands are modestly elevated and accentuate the fluidity of the Fiaba collection. With a water resistance up to 50 metres, the model is available with a triple-row metal bracelet or a crocodile-skin strap with a shiny finish in black, white or brown.
For this year, Maurice Lacroix's Pontos collection has two novelties - Pontos Chronographe Valjoux and Pontos Decentrique Phases de Lune. A contemporary interpretation of the Pontos Chronographe line released in 2004, the 43mm diameter Pontos Chronographe Valjoux is designed to unleash your athletic potential. Armed with an automatic movement based on the Valjoux 7750 calibre, which is equated with precision and quality, the watch contains a chronograph with 30-minute and 12-hour counters.