2013/04/09

Maurice Lacroix the Masterpiece Worldtimer

 

Masterpiece Collection
The inspiration of contemporary mechanical watchmaking

Spearheading the Maurice Lacroix Manufacture, the Masterpiece collection strikes a clever balance between technology, tradition and modernist esthetics. It represents the brand’s expertise and, in particular, its mastery of retrograde complications, moon phases and chronographs, while creating a new image for the measurement of time.

The timepieces of this flagship collection meet the highest standards of mechanical watchmaking set out by renowned Manufactures. The cases, dials and movements attest to the quality of their design and execution down to the minutest detail, which in turn reflects the brand’s rigorous approach to research and development.

The esthetics of the Masterpiece collection have evolved toward a contemporary design inspired by the art of living. Featuring modern finishes and silhouettes, this collection promotes a new experience of watchmaking that is firmly attuned to today’s world. Combining expertise and a bold style, these watches revisit tradition with simple elegance, avoiding pretense and excess extravagance. Created for modern-day dandies for whom performance and etiquette are everyday necessities, these watches embody the identity of a young brand whose innovative edge has given rise to a solid reputation.

This year, the Masterpiece Collection is proud to welcome into its ranks a model dedicated to the many faces of time around the planet.  The Masterpiece Worldtimer has been designed for the globe-trotter who has raised travel to the status of an elegant art-form. More sober in style, the Masterpiece Date 38 mm embodies the purest expression of refinement. The Masterpiece Squelette Tradition is proud to revisit the delicate art of the skeleton watch.

Their powerful design and functional precision firmly entrench them in the context of an urban and hedonistic 21st century that appreciates an elegant approach to timekeeping, thus satisfying the expectations of a sophisticated clientele that is ever more demanding.

Masterpiece Worldtimer

With its international elegance and appeal, the new Masterpiece Worldtimer watch concentrates in its 42 mm diameter all the sophistication of travel, the call of distant horizons, the mastery of a world in perpetual movement. Ideal for businessmen juggling with the world's time zones, it will also appeal to those whose lifestyle keeps with the rhythm of international events.  Its self-winding ML164 mechanical movement combines style and craftsmanship.

With its steely exterior and elegantly worked dial, the world is full of endless possibilities with a flick of a wrist. Inscribed on the flange of the bezel, the exotic litany of cities makes the head spin. Two versions vie for your attention, one for Europe and one for Asia, with the continents delicately engraved on the center of the dial bordered by an hour-circle with Roman numerals. The European version features exceptional guilloché work with a Clous de Paris motif. The world map is highlighted in blue to match the hands and hour-markers, creating an attractive sensation of classical harmony. The Asian version favors powerful light effects, with its silvered dial, sun-brushed satin-finished continents, opaline oceans, pink gold numerals and hands and blue seconds hand. The contrasts are captivating and the spirit of the timepiece is proudly displayed.

Both models have a day/night indication at 9 o'clock and the date at 6 o'clock. While the 24-hour hand indicates the time in your place of residence, simply pressing on the push-button enables you to adjust the 12-hour hand to show the time in your current location. The elegant watch is easy to read and extremely user friendly. Protected by a case that is water-resistant to 50 meters, the self-winding ML164 movement shares the distinctive features of the very finest watch mechanisms: the disks and bridges are adorned with circular graining and the Côtes de Genève motif, and the gold-plated oscillating weight is also enhanced by Côtes de Genève decorative work.