Maurice Lacroix- Masterpiece Phase de Lune

Maurice Lacroix- Masterpiece Phase de Lune- A Daring and Distinctive New Interpretation of the Traditional Moon Phase Watch.The beauty and harmony of a watchmaking masterpiece emerge against a backdrop of tradition, but also through the gifts of spontaneity and surprise. Maurice Lacroix deftly handles these moments of insight to develop ideas for new creations. So it was with the Masterpiece Phase de Lune, which is celebrating a spectacular appearance with an elegant, impeccably finished dial and elaborately-crafted case.Man has always been fascinated by the moon and its spellbinding light phases, epitomizing time’s rhythmical coming and going for all to view in clear or translucent skies. There are precisely 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 2.9 seconds from full moon to full moon – this time period, known as “the lunation”, has been definitively associated with changes in the physical world. The moon’s most marked effect on the earth is the waxing and waning of the tides, yet many believe that even routine events like gardening or having one’s hair cut are affected by the secret power of this heavenly body. To allow for orientation by the current phase of the moon, both on a clear day and under an overcast sky, the moon phase indication very soon became an indispensable part of the watchmaker’s repertoire.



In recent years, Maurice Lacroix has made an international name for itself not least as a specialist in moon phase watches. In the design of the Masterpiece Phase de Lune, the Maurice Lacroix watch-makers have wisely rounded the moon’s cycle: The lunar symbol – driven by the elaborate, hand-decorated ML 37 automatic calibre – sweeps across the semi-circular dial-cutout window located at 6 o’clock in 29 days and 12 hours. Besides the moon phase, the Masterpiece Phase de Lune displays the seconds, minutes and hours, date, weekday and month, partly with hands, and partly using small dial windows.The solid silver dial, in black or silver hue, has a pure but elegant design and plays a skilful game of asymmetry: the two rings for the minutes and hours, and the date indication, an applied 31-day circle joined to the inside of the hours ring, taper towards 6 and 12 o’clock respectively. A special feature is the extraordinary moon phase indication which continues generously on the dial. The dial’s highly elaborate finish is complemented by the hand-applied Roman numerals and index marks, and further enhanced by the vertical and circular satin-coating on the centre and the hours ring. The stimulating contrast between satinized and hand-polished surfaces, the pure form of the polished bezel and the harmonious fusion of the lugs and 40-millimetre case lend this piece its unmistakably luxurious character.



Movement: Hand-decorated mechanical automatic ML 37 movement, 25 jewels, blued steel screws, skeleton rotor, 28,800 a/h.
Functions: Hours, minutes and seconds indication with central hands, weekday and month indication with two windows at 12 o’clock, date indication with central hand and moon phase indication with dial cut-out at 6 o’clock.
Case: Stainless steel, stainless steel/pink gold 18K 750 or pink gold 18K 750; domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on inside; screwed caseback with sapphire crystal; water-resistant to 50 m (5 atm), diameter 40 mm.
Dial: Solid silver 925; silver-coloured or black; hand-applied Roman numerals and index marks, pink gold-plated on some models; luminous hands (hours/minutes), pink gold-plated on some models.
Watchband: Hand-sewn crocodile leather with folding clasp in stainless steel for stainless steel and stainless steel/pink gold versions, folding clasp or buckle in pink gold 18K 750 for pink gold version.