MAURICE LACROIX – AIKONIC Master Triple Retrograde

 

MAURICE LACROIX – AIKONIC Master Triple Retrograde Steel and Black Ceramic 43mm Automatic - 2025

Master Triple Retrograde GMT 

In the world of fine watchmaking, retrograde indications remain comparatively rare. Over the years, Maurice Lacroix, a company known for indicating time using innovative techniques, has conceived a variety of retrograde indications, drawing on its vast watchmaking know-how. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

Now, the brand from the Franches Montagnes is pleased to unveil the AIKONIC Master Triple Retrograde, a watch imbued with ‘innovative craftsmanship’ and equipped with three retrograde indications. The name of this model may incorporate the word ‘retrograde’, but don’t be fooled, this model has a bright future.

Three retrogrades: One singular step into the future 

Currently celebrating its 50th anniversary, Maurice Lacroix is duly proud of its achievements and notable success. However, it remains a forward-looking company, conceiving future chapters of its page-turning story. 

 Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

A fundamental pillar to achieving its goals is to deliver exciting products, incorporating creativity and Swiss watchmaking tradition along with accessible excellence. In particular, the Swiss brand has shown a remarkable talent for conceiving new and imaginative ways of indicating time from rotating square and clover-shaped wheels to mysterious second hands that seemingly float mid-air. 

 

 Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

 

But most of all, Maurice Lacroix is known for retrograde displays. With this complication, one lone hand moves along an arcing track in linear fashion until it reaches its end point and then, within the blink of an eye, it flicks back to the start and begins its journey anew.

 Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

In 1999, Maurice Lacroix released the Calendar Retrograde and, three years later, it unveiled the Double Retrograde (2002), both featuring proprietary mechanisms. Now, Maurice Lacroix unveils the AIKONIC Master Triple Retrograde, a new model incorporating ‘innovative craftsmanship’ that unites cutting-edge materials and technology with the brand’s signature complication.

Uniting retrogrades and skeletonised elements 

The anthracite dial, adorned with a vertical brush, embraces skeletonised elements with four apertures, each revealing a section of the movement’s rhodium plated mainplate. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

The automatic ML291 Manufacture Calibre is also adorned with Côtes de Genève, a classical decoration composed of vertical lines. At 9 o’clock, an aperture plays host to a small seconds display. The three remaining apertures are retrograde indications, displaying the home time (GMT), the day and the date. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

All four apertures are endowed with circular brushed tracks and silver powder printing, wonderfully contrasting with the adjacent vertical lines. Moreover, the retrograde indications all feature a blue hand and rack, while the associated bridges are rhodium plated, circular brushed and secured with polished screws.  
 
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

The proprietary retrograde mechanisms, optimally positioned towards the periphery of the movement, endow the watch with an expansive dial that proves eminently simple to read, appears balanced and affords sufficient room to showcase the complication to maximum effect.
 
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

The hour and minute hands (lined with SLN), together with the hour markers, were inspired by the arms gracing the bezel of the AIKON, Maurice Lacroix’s best-selling watch. Faceted, rhodium-plated and imbued with a sandblasted centre line, they demonstrate the brand’s fastidious attention to detail. The AIKONIC Master Triple Retrograde juxtaposes circular motifs and vertical lines while at the same time presents components at different levels, imbuing the display with depths, heightening visual appeal. 

An alluring beauty that will never fade 

Housed in a 43 mm stainless steel case, uniting brushed and polished surfaces, the AIKONIC Master Triple Retrograde is fitted with a ceramic bezel endowed with the AIKON’s six, double-width arms, a design that is also celebrated with the ceramic crown. Ceramic is scratchproof and won’t fade when exposed to UV-light, ensuring the beauty of the watch will never diminish.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

The strap affixes to the case with high-gleam attachments, while the flanks of the case are enriched with variable chanfreins (chamfers that increase in magnitude) that readily engage with light. To ensure maximum dial legibility, the sapphire crystal features an upgraded anti-reflective coating, granting superior light transmittance and improved resistance to salt water.

The patented ML Easy Change system 

The watch is presented on a black rubber strap incorporating a textured insert and sporting a black rubber M-logo. It is equipped with the new patented ML Easy Change, allowing the wearer to remove the strap and swap it for an alternative without the need for tools. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

Moreover, with no visible catches or levers, the smooth lines of the case are preserved. Where the central row of links meets the case body, they pivot, allowing the strap to be separated from the watch head. Refitting the strap simply requires the wearer to line it up and push it home until it clicks into position.

A few words from Stéphane Waser  

Stéphane Waser, Managing Director of Maurice Lacroix, remarks, “Throughout our history we have demonstrated an inventive mindset, conceiving imaginative ways of indicating time while creatively using curves, lines, colours and materials to make bold and exciting expressions of fine watchmaking. It is over 25 years since we released our first retrograde model, the Calendar Retrograde, a watch that incorporated our own proprietary mechanism. Since then, we have launched further models equipped with retrograde indications, a rare complication in the market that is now a signature of our brand.” 

 

 Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

 

“We have distilled all these characteristics and combined them into a new, pure and exciting model that unites retrograde indications with skeletonised elements. Clearly inspired by past creations, the AIKONIC Master Triple Retrograde celebrates a fantastic complication, in triplicate! The model is the distillation of the AIKON design codes, our movement expertise and our mastery of materials, all expressed in one singular form; a future icon. This new model demonstrates our Manufacture’s talent for making ultra-desirable and highly relevant urban watches and provides an insight into the future direction of Maurice Lacroix.”

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

Pictures and press texts (English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Thai, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese) are available.

 -------------------------------------------
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 

Model: AIKONIC Master Triple Retrograde Steel 43 mm

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

Reference: AC6068-SSL20-230-2

KEY FEATURES

•  Scratch Proof Ceramic (ZrO2)* (bezel & crown)
•  Triple retrograde (GMT, day and date)
•  Maurice Lacroix ML291 Movement
•  ML Easy Change new generation (patent in progress) 

CASE
Stainless steel brushed and polished
Brushed and polished black ceramic bezel (ZrO2) with sandblasted black ceramic (ZrO2) claws.
Stainless steel crown with black ceramic (ZrO2) cover
Diameter: 43.00 mm
Thickness: 13.00 mm
Water resistance: 10 ATM / 100 meters
Open case back with sapphire glass
FUNCTIONS
Hours and minutes, small seconds at 9H
GMT retrograde 24 hours at 12H
Day retrograde at 3H
Date retrograde at 6H
DIAL
Anthracite vertical brushed dial with anthracite counters with silver powder printings
Rhodium circular brushed bridges and anthracite external flange with silver powder printings
INDEX  Rhodium index with sandblasted central line
HANDS
Rhodium faceted hour and minute hands with white SLN and central sandblasted line
Rhodium facetted small second hand with sandblasted central line
Blued faceted retrograde hands with sandblasted central line
MOVEMENT
Automatic manufacture ML291
Power reserve: approx. 38 hours
Frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz)
47 jewels
Rhodium movement and colimaçon on bridges Côte de Genève on upper plate.
Automatic skeleton rotor with Côte de Genève and colimaçon
STRAP
Bi-rubber strap with black rubber base and 
black textured nylon imitation rubber inset with black stitching and black rubber M-logo
New ML Easy Change system 

🔰 Edition  - No
 🔴Price: (incl. Swiss VAT)   $6,900.00  / 6.450,00 CHF / 7.500,00 €💰

Launch year 2025

 #YourTimeIsNow #MasterYourTime #PulseoftheCity

------------------------------------
Press release – 2025
---------------------------------------

 --------------------------------------
Maurice Lacroix S. A.
Thurgauerstrasse 40
CH-8050 Zürich
Phone +41 (0)44 209 11 11
Fax +41 (0)44 209 12 52
info@mauricelacroix.com
-------------------------------------------------------------
www.facebook.com - MauriceLacroix
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
www.MauriceLacroix.com

MAURICE LACROIX – AIKON Automatic WOTTO Edition

 

MAURICE LACROIX – AIKON Automatic WOTTO 42mm Engraved Steel Edition - 2025

 Maurice Lacroix unveils the incredible AIKON Automatic Wotto Limited Edition! Limited to 1,000 pieces, this wearable masterpiece doesn't just shake up codes, it blows them out of the water. With the ultimate fusion of urban culture, artistic engraving, and Swiss watchmaking, this striking design marks its entry into the Urban Tribe se-ries.

 Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

A truly modern tale, this story begins in 2021 when Hungarian artist @Timeengraver engraved an AIKON watch and presented it to the world via Instagram. This independent artistic expression would trigger a completely unexpected chain of events. Maurice Lacroix was inspired to launch the highly sought-after and limited AIKON Automatic Urban Tribe and AIKON Automatic Skeleton Urban Tribe, with the designer's approval. Two years later, @Timeengraver raised the bar by unveiling a new piece, this time adorned with illustrations by British artist Wotto, a prominent figure in the street art scene.

 Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO   

Today, we've come full circle with the AIKON Automatic Wotto Limited Edition, a watch that fuses Swiss watchmaking expertise with Wotto's unbridled creative universe. That's the power of urban culture: an artistic dialogue in perpetual motion, where inspirations intersect and respond to each other. With this collaboration, Maurice Lacroix explores more than ever the frontier between watchmaking and art.

 Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

Does Wotto, or Craig Watkins, to use his real name, still need an introduction? This British expatriate living in California has become a leading figure in urban art thanks to his unique style of doodles, with a wonderful mix of cute and weird, chaos and emotion. Recognizable among a thousand, his works are a festival of colors and original characters, taking the viewer into a twirling spiral of stories that we suspect are somewhat mysterious.

 Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

This new AIKON is much more than just an engraved watch, it's a true work of art to be worn on the wrist, incorporating all the elements of Wotto's work. The 42 mm steel case, bracelet and bezel are entirely engraved with motifs from Wotto’s prolific imagination. Mushrooms, little hearts, skateboarding ghosts, and lightning flashes surround the artist's signature capital W that follow one another in hieroglyphs on the links of the AIKON's elegant integrated bracelet, extending onto its case and bezel. Like a rebus, each link tells its own story. These ideograms are enhanced by the contrast between the shine of the polished finish and the engraving of the ornaments, giving the watch a striking depth.

 Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

And then there's the real star of the show: the dial. For the first time in the Urban Tribe series, Wotto was given carte blanche to create his own graphic universe. On a simple gray background serving as a canvas, the artist has placed a round of mischievous characters in a gradation from yellow to blue. Placed in the center of the monochromatic timepiece, this colorful design is particularly eye-catching. So as not to overshadow this pi-ture, the indexes are  discreet and marked simply with a metal tip.

 Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

Nestled beneath this twirling work of art is the automatic ML115 caliber with a 38-hour power reserve. The case, water-resistant to a depth of 200 meters, has an anti-reflective sapphire crystal on the reverse side – a transparent back that allows the mechanics to be admired – which is itself a work of art of a different kind.

 Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

The AIKON Automatic Wotto Limited Edition embodies the perfect blend of bold design and watchmaking expertise. True to the Maurice Lacroix philosophy, the timepiece offers exceptional quality and a remarkable level of finish, while remaining resolutely affordable. With its striking aesthetic and artistic DNA, this piece is sure to turn heads and inspire admiration in all who cross its path.

 ----------------------------------------    
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 

Model: AIKON Automatic WOTTO Steel 42 mm

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO   

Ref. AI6008-SS009-090-1 -  Steel 42 mm

CASE
DIAMETER: 42 mm
MATERIAL: Stainless steel
FINITION: Brushed and polished. Wotto designed pattern engraved on the case
HEIGHT: 11 mm
FRONT GLASS: Sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective coating
CASE BACK: Open case back with sapphire glass and anti-reflective coating
BEZEL: Bezel featuring eye-catching six “claws” design
CROWN: Screwed crown
WATER RESISTANCE: Water-resistant to 20 ATM
DIAL & HANDS
DIAL: Grey backgroung with vertical color gradiant (blue to yellow) Wotto designed pattern with black suronding.
HOUR MARKERS: Dots, rhodium-plated
HANDS: Rhodium-plated, white super-luminova
SPECIAL HANDS: Rhodium-plated second hand
MOVEMENT & FUNCTIONS
    MOVEMENT TYPE: Automatic
    FUNCTIONS:
    - Hours, minutes and seconds
    - Date at 3 o’clock
    Caliber: Automatic ML115
    POWER RESERVE: 38 hours
    FREQUENCY: 28'800 vph
    DECORATIONS: Rhodium-plated movement with Perlage and Colimaçon; Côtes de Genève on the rotor
    Jewels: 26
STRAP
    BRACELET/STRAP: Stainless steel bracelet
Easy change system available: No 

🔰 Edition of ✅1.000 pieces

 🔴Price: (incl. Swiss VAT)   $3,300.00  / 2.700,00 CHF / 3.400,00 €
 💰

Launch year 2025

 #YourTimeIsNow #MasterYourTime #PulseoftheCity

------------------------------------
Press release – 2025
---------------------------------------

 --------------------------------------
Maurice Lacroix S. A.
Thurgauerstrasse 40
CH-8050 Zürich
Phone +41 (0)44 209 11 11
Fax +41 (0)44 209 12 52
info@mauricelacroix.com
-------------------------------------------------------------
www.facebook.com - MauriceLacroix
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
www.MauriceLacroix.com

MAURICE LACROIX – AIKON Automatic CERAMIC 39 MM & 42 MM

 

MAURICE LACROIX – AIKON Automatic Black and White CERAMIC - 2024

 Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

A SHOWSTOPPING PERFORMANCE

As the end of 2024 nears, Maurice Lacroix unveils the AIKON Automatic Ceramic, a real looker, offered in two sizes and executed in two contrasting hues: black and white. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

The culmination of three years of research and development, these latest models deliver an unprecedented quality/price ratio, democratising ceramic watch ownership, while delivering an ultra-refined appearance. Moreover, Maurice Lacroix has gone further by using ‘technical ceramic’, a material that elevates the performance of ‘regular’ ceramic by doping zirconium oxide with additional oxides.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO   

Close attention has been paid to the case and bracelet, ensuring each surface and facet exudes excellence. In addition, each bracelet link has been designed to smoothly articulate around the wrist, delivering maximum wearer comfort. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

Unequivocally new, these latest models perpetuate the AIKON’s reputation for nuanced details and sublime tactility. One material, two looks; how do you wish to express your urban-style?

TECHNICAL CERAMIC: A MATERIAL WITH A LASTING ALLURE

This year has seen Maurice Lacroix release several versions of the AIKON, its hugely successful urban-style watch, executed in a multitude of materials. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

Now, to round out 2024, the Swiss company turns its gaze to ‘technical ceramic’, a scratch-resistant material that will never fade with the onset of years. Ceramic cases composed of zirconium oxide have been in existence for some time; however, Maurice Lacroix has pushed the performance envelope with the creation of technical ceramic.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO   

In common with conventional ceramic cases, technical ceramic is corrosion-resistant and hypoallergenic, but it also represents a significant step forward in terms of durability, thermal stability and overall strength. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

This technically advanced material involves ‘doping’ zirconium oxide with three additional oxides: hafnium oxide, yttrium oxide and aluminium oxide. This process is strictly controlled to achieve the desired result.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO   

Bringing the technical ceramic case and bracelet to life necessitated three years of intense research and development and presented numerous technical challenges along the way. The R&D team at Maurice Lacroix expended much time, often burning the midnight oil, to ensure that all surfaces and facets of the case and bracelet exude quality. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

For example, the bezel with its distinctive arms, presented in relief and with a contrasting finish, proved technically challenging. Likewise, making a bracelet in technical ceramic also proved demanding as the links need to articulate, allowing the bracelet to flex as it encircles the wrist to confer optimal wearer comfort.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO   

During the development process, Maurice Lacroix commissioned research, talking to retailers and the public alike. Obtaining feedback, the brand sought to optimise the look and feel of its new technical ceramic models, paying close attention to the ergonomic relationship between the case, bracelet and wearer. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

The culmination of its time-consuming efforts has led to the creation of the new Maurice Lacroix AIKON Automatic Ceramic, a unisex model offered in two sizes, 39 mm and 42 mm, each sporting a decidedly different appearance.

TECHNICAL CERAMIC: A NEW ERA

Since it was founded in 1975, Maurice Lacroix has continuously shown its unwavering desire to deliver high perceived value. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

With the new Maurice Lacroix AIKON Automatic Ceramic, the brand from the Franches-Montagnes delivers an unprecedented quality/price ratio, bringing this alluring material within the reach of new audiences.

A LESSON IN CONTRASTS

Back in 2016, Maurice Lacroix unveiled the first AIKON, a quartz watch inspired by the CALYPSO, the former best-selling watch of the 90s. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

Two years later, the company released mechanical versions of the AIKON after which the collection’s popularity grew exponentially. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

Over the years that followed, the brand capitalised on this success, releasing different case sizes, dial colours and complications.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

Today, Maurice Lacroix explores contrast with the new AIKON Automatic Ceramic in a choice of white or black. The 42mm matt black option is stealth-like, reinforcing the urban-vibe, a night-owl that plays out after dark, while the 39mm glossy white reference looks comparatively angelic, bathing in sunlight, garnering admiring looks wherever it goes.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

Whether night or day, overt or discreet, innocent or knowing, there is an AIKON Automatic Ceramic perfectly suited to the situation, mood and wearer. Once again, Maurice Lacroix demonstrates it is a master of materials and contrasts. It’s a showstopping performance. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

To the rear of the watch, a pane of sapphire crystal affords sight of the automatic ML115 calibre. This movement is embellished with circular graining, snailing and Côtes de Genève motif. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

The Clou de Paris dial of the AIKON Automatic White Ceramic opens up a new way of playing with light. The same colour as the rest of the watch, it gleams with a particular vividness, as do the polished applied hour markers and rhodium-plated hands that are coated in white Super-LumiNova. Nothing detracts from the watch’s absolute monochrome character.    

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

 ----------------------------------------   
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 

Model: AIKON Automatic CERAMIC 39 mm & 42 mm

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO   

Ref. AI6007-CRM72-130-7 -  White 39 mm

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO    

 Ref. AI6008-CRM22-330-2 -  Black 42 mm

CASE
    DIAMETER: 39 mm / 42 mm
    MATERIAL: Ceramic
White / Black
    FINITION: Polished
    HEIGHT: 11 mm
    FRONT GLASS: Sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective coating
    CASE BACK: Open case back with sapphire glass and anti-reflective coating
    BEZEL: Bezel featuring eye-catching six “claws” design
    CROWN: Screwed crown
    WATER RESISTANCE: Water-resistant to 20 ATM
DIAL & HANDS

• DIAL: White, lacquered
•     HOUR MARKERS: Indexes, rhodium-plated, white super-luminova
•     HANDS: Rhodium-plated, white super-luminova
•     SPECIAL HANDS: Rhodium-plated second hand
• DIAL: Black, clous de paris motif
•     HOUR MARKERS: Indexes, black-plated, white super-luminova
•     HANDS: Matte black-plated, white super-luminova
•     SPECIAL HANDS: Black-plated second hand

MOVEMENT & FUNCTIONS
    MOVEMENT TYPE: Automatic
    FUNCTIONS:
    - Hours, minutes and seconds
    - Date at 3 o’clock
    Caliber: Automatic ML115
    POWER RESERVE: 38 hours
    FREQUENCY: 28'800 vph
    DECORATIONS: Rhodium-plated movement with Perlage and Colimaçon; Côtes de Genève on the rotor
    Jewels: 26
STRAP
    BRACELET/STRAP: White, Black ceramic bracelet
    Easy change system available: Yes 

 🔴Price: (incl. Swiss VAT)   $3,300.00  / 2.990,00 CHF  💰

Launch year     2024

 #YourTimeIsNow #MasterYourTime #PulseoftheCity

------------------------------------
Press release – 2024
---------------------------------------

 --------------------------------------
Maurice Lacroix S. A.
Thurgauerstrasse 40
CH-8050 Zürich
Phone +41 (0)44 209 11 11
Fax +41 (0)44 209 12 52
info@mauricelacroix.com
-------------------------------------------------------------
www.facebook.com - MauriceLacroix
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
www.MauriceLacroix.com

MAURICE LACROIX – MASTERPIECE Skeleton "With what eyes ?" - Unique Piece

MAURICE LACROIX – MASTERPIECE Skeleton "With what eyes ?" by Rodrigo Hernández - Unique Piece TimeForArt Special Edition for Auction Phillips - 2024

Following the success of its participation in TimeForArt’s inaugural edition in 2022, Maurice Lacroix is pleased to announce its support, once again, for the biennial charity auction. TimeForArt and Swiss Institute promote contemporary art and artists through an array of initiatives. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO  

This year, the brand from the Franches-Montagnes has created a unique piece featuring a handcrafted bronze dial and skeletonised movement, made in collaboration with acclaimed artist Rodrigo Hernández. The auction is to be held as part of The Phillips New York Watch Auction: XI at Phillips on Saturday December 7th 2024 at 3pm EST.

Art x Maurice Lacroix

In recent years, Maurice Lacroix has worked with several artists and design experts. For instance, the watch brand has previously collaborated with Wallpaper Magazine, reinventing the PONTOS with various designers, including Jean Nouvel, Kris Van Assche, and Patricia Urquiola. Moreover, in 2022, the luxury marque invited the Thai street-artist, Benzilla, to create a new expression of the AIKON #tide. For the second edition of TimeForArt, the Swiss Maison has chosen to work with Rodrigo Hernández, the multi-award winning artist.

Maurice Lacroix and Rodrigo Hernández

TimeForArt introduced Rodrigo Hernández to the Maison, recognising that both parties share much in common. While proud of its Swiss roots, Maurice Lacroix continuously showcases its urban-style watches to a global audience, a characteristic it shares with Rodrigo Hernández, an artist who has exhibited his work around the world. When reinterpreting the Masterpiece Skeleton, Hernández was given full creative freedom to express his own ideas and craft a horological sculpture in materials of his choosing. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

Adroit at working in various mediums, Hernández is widely known for his brass and bronze reliefs. By contemplating time from a different perspective and finding inspiration from the animal kingdom, Hernández, working in collaboration with Maurice Lacroix, has created a highly imaginative wrist-worn sculpture, presented in a 43 mm case.

Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Skeleton ‘With what eyes?’

Mexican philosopher David M. Peña-Guzmán posed a question, “Are humans the only dreamers on Earth?” This question resonated with Hernández leading him to create a body of work exhibited at the Wattis Institute in San Francisco. The Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Skeleton ‘With what eyes?’ perpetuates this philosophical discussion with its captivating representation of two monkeys staring at each other, executed in handcrafted bronze. This alloy of copper and tin has been used in the making of important statues for thousands of years and is often viewed with due reverence, making it an ideal medium for this wrist-worn sculpture. Hernández remarks. “I like the use of materials whose firmness and solidity can act in contrast with the ideas they try to represent”. By using bronze, the son of Mexico has created a piece of ticking art, destined to be admired for years to come.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

Hernández created a mould depicting the heads of the monkeys. This was subsequently used to create the dial and formed in bronze. Maurice Lacroix, keen to perpetuate the tradition of métier d'art, hand engraved the dial and positioned it to the front of the watch. 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

The dial, portraying two monkey heads, resembles the work recently exhibited at the Wattis Institute, albeit depicted in a smaller format. 

The artist explains, “It’s known that monkeys are very close to us from an evolutionary point of view, but this closeness does not make their world less unique. They have conscious experiences that are inherently subjective and hard to describe. In thinking about other animals, we are biased by our senses and by our vision in particular. So, by putting two monkeys facing each other I want to think about the moment when two equals can really see each other for what they are without this bias I describe before.” 

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

Beneath the hour and minute hands, the hour wheel is freely disclosed, sitting at the centre of two worlds, namely that of the watch brand and the sculptor.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

The bronze case juxtaposes polished and brushed surfaces and confers a warm, golden appearance. Like many works of art, it’s signed by the artist, on this occasion at 9 o’clock. To the rear of the watch, a stainless steel caseback incorporating a pane of sapphire crystal affords sight of the Masterpiece ML134 Manufacture Calibre. This hand-wound movement features a three-quarter plate, granting torsional rigidity to the skeletonised structure. The plate and bridges are executed in a golden sandblasted finish, serving as a foil to Hernández’s gleaming sculpture located centre stage.

A hand-braided leather strap, accompanied with a bronze buckle, was selected by the artist to complement the handcrafted dial.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

Stéphane Waser, Managing Director of Maurice Lacroix, remarks, “We are delighted to support TimeForArt again. This initiative brings together two complementary worlds, namely art and watchmaking. On this occasion, we chose to reimagine one of our Masterpieces and, with the help of Rodrigo, we have created a sculpture for the wrist. At the heart of this timepiece is our ML134 Manufacture Calibre, a hand-wound movement used in some of our Masterpiece creations, the ultimate expression of Maurice Lacroix ownership where excellence is manifest throughout. In this instance, we have united one of our Manufacture movements with art and craftsmanship. Indeed, this unique watch demonstrates our creativity and the talents of our craftspeople…..attributes which are consistent with the work of Swiss Institute.”

For both Maurice Lacroix and the artist, this journey of discovery is the creative goal; a world where dreams promise discovery. In this instance, the journey has culminated in the creation of a Masterpiece par excellence.

Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO

The name of the watch, ‘With what eyes?’ originates from the Greek poet Sapho and shares the same title as the artist’s installation, hosted at the Wattis Institute. For this exhibition, Hernández presented a series of hand-hammered, stainless steel depictions of monkeys. This collection of thought-provoking works echoes the sentiments of Marcel Proust, “The only true voyage would not be to visit strange lands but to possess other eyes, to see the universes that each of them sees.”
 
=============
About TimeForArt

TimeForArt is the first and only benefit watch auction to support contemporary art and artists. TimeForArt is a curated benefit auction of exceptional timepieces from the world’s greatest watchmakers with 100% of the proceeds used to support today’s most visionary artists through Swiss Institute’s innovative exhibitions, public programs, education & community engagement workshops in New York City and beyond; all provided free of charge.

TimeForArt provides a year-round platform that unites the worlds of horological and visual arts. TimeForArt's inaugural edition was held as part of the Phillips New York Watch Auction: SEVEN in 2022. TimeForArt’s second edition will be held as part of the live Phillips New York Watch Auction in December 2024.
 
==============
About Swiss Institute

Founded in 1986, Swiss Institute (SI) is an independent non-profit space for international contemporary art. Open to all, and always free of charge, its innovative exhibitions, education workshops, public programs and artist residencies make Swiss Institute one of New York City’s pioneering venues for art.

As a fully independent, non-profit organisation primarily funded through private support, philanthropy is essential for implementing SI’s mission.

=============
About Rodrigo Hernández 

Hernández received a BA from the Staaliche Akademie der bildenden Künste in Karlsrhuhe (2013) and studied at the Jan Van Eyck Academie in Maastricht (2014). He works in a wide range of mediums, including brass and bronze reliefs, paper mache sculptures, intimate paintings and drawings, and large-scale murals. Furthermore, he is inspired by a diverse array of sources… literary fiction, Mexican pre-Columbian imagery, European and Latin American Modernism, natural science and personal experiences. In this instance, he continues his exploration of a question posed by Mexican philosopher David M. Peña-Guzmán: "Are humans the only dreamers on Earth?" To elucidate humans’ relationship to the natural world, Hernández responds by featuring animals, such as monkeys, in various states of repose.

Born in Mexico City in 1983, where he continues to live and work, Hernández has had solo and group exhibitions, including Kestner Gesellschaft, Hannover; Museo Jumex, Mexico City; Swiss Institute, New York; Museo de Arte Moderno, Medellin; Kunsthalle Kohta, Helsinki and Galerie Fons Welters, Amsterdam

 ----------------------------------------   
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

 Model:  MASTERPIECE Skeleton by Rodrigo Hernández - Unique Piece TimeForArt 2024

 Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO 

 Reference    MP7228-TIMEFORART24

Case
Diameter 43 mm
Height 13 mm
Case material    Bronze
Brushed and polished bronze case with an open caseback.
Handmade "Rodrigo H." engraving at 9 o'clock
Water resistance    5 ATM
Dial    
Handcrafted bronze dial featuring two monkeys heads, corresponding to the design by artist Rodrigo Hernández
Hands    PVD 4N gold facetted hour and minute hand with white SLN
Movement    
Caliber: Manufacture manual ML134
Vibration: 18,000 vibrations per hour, 2.5 Hz
Power reserve: 45 hours
Decorations     Galvanic 4N sandblasted plate 3/4 bridge, balance bridge, anchor bridge
Number of jewels  19
Functions    Hours, minutes, visible balance
Strap    
Hand-woven Testa Dimoro leather strap 5 row brushed and polished bicolour 2N gold PVD and stainless steel bracelet with Easychange system

🔰LIMITED EDITION    1 watches - Unique Piece

For more information, visit 👉 www.timeforart.ch and www.swissinstitute.net 

⚠️ Warranty :    5 years 

Launch year     2024

 #YourTimeIsNow #MasterYourTime

------------------------------------
Press release – 2024
---------------------------------------

 --------------------------------------
Maurice Lacroix S. A.
Thurgauerstrasse 40
CH-8050 Zürich
Phone +41 (0)44 209 11 11
Fax +41 (0)44 209 12 52
info@mauricelacroix.com
-------------------------------------------------------------
www.facebook.com - MauriceLacroix
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
www.MauriceLacroix.com