Maurice Lacroix presented one of BaselWorld 2013’s showstoppers with its Masterpiece Seconde Mystérieuse.
Part of the Swiss brand’s Masterpiece collection, which balances technology and tradition, the timepiece is a visual feast and aptly named, immediately drawing the eye to a blue second hand floating “mysteriously” on a grey disc that dominates the skeletonised inner workings of the movement. The hand moves on its own axis across the disc in alternating horizontal and vertical 15-second cycles, creating an optical illusion. Staying true to the name of the watch, Maurice Lacroix remained hushed about the specific mechanics behind the illusion.
Driven by the brand’s own ML215 calibre, which has been designed and developed in house, the watch offers its own take on a skeleton dial, complete with the intriguing seconds display, which is in the same vein as the Masterpiece Roue Carrée model. The ML215 is the 12th to be developed entirely in-house at Maurice Lacroix.
Additionally, the hours are displayed at 2 o’clock and are also indicated by metallic blued hands, while the rest of the dial is skeletonised around the movement bridges in a geometrical style, available coated in either rhodium or ruthenium.
Self-winding, the ML215 can be seen through the sapphire-crystal back of the 43mm diameter steel case.
The Masterpiece collection is used by the brand to demonstrate the expertise at Maurice Lacroix and traditionally features the likes of retrograde complications, moon phases and chronographs.
