News - 1975 Master Grand Date Retrograde

Since it was established in 1975, Maurice Lacroix has conceived several watches that have reimagined the indication of time. In 1999, the brand released the Calendar Retrograde and, three years later, it unveiled the Double Retrograde (2002), both of which featured proprietary mechanisms. Over the years, the company has amassed much expertise crafting timepieces endowed with this complication, ensuring each model delivers functionality, legibility and reliability. While retrograde indications remain comparatively rare within the watch industry, Maurice Lacroix has become synonymous with the complication.

Now, the brand from the Franches-Montagnes is pleased to unveil a new watch, the 1975 Master Grand Date Retrograde. This model features an expansive sapphire crystal box that drinks in light, aiding readability. In addition, it features a retrograde indication coupled with a grand date display.

The underside of the mainplate is visible from the front and features a sandblasted finish and black rhodium treatment, helping to highlight the indications positioned above. Trait tirée bridges, executed in a rhodium finish, rest upon the mainplate, conferring tonal contrast. Trapeze-style hour and minute hands feature white Super-LumiNova®️ and a rhodiumed external flange frames the display.

During the development process, the Manufacture experimented with the design of the bridges front of house. This involved refining the thickness of the bridges, giving due consideration to symmetry and ensuring the functionality of the display was optimised. When viewed from the side, the sapphire crystal box reveals a fascinating arrangement of levels. Indeed, the lateral view reveals depths, colours, textures and angles as well as several mechanical processes at play. It is the brand’s holistic approach to design that has led to the model’s cohesive aesthetic.

A notable attribute of this watch is its capacity to clearly communicate with the wearer. Drawing on its know-how crafting the AIKON Master Grand Date, Maurice Lacroix has equipped this latest model with a large date display. Using two discs to indicate the tens and units, the display proves eminently simple to read. In addition, the date discs are fully revealed, allowing the wearer to see the fascinating mechanism at work. Likewise, the retrograde display, located in the lower portion of the display, indicates the day in a user-friendly format. The blue hand begins its weekly journey, first indicating ‘Monday’ before subsequently sweeping right. Eventually, as it reaches its end point and Sunday concludes, it flicks left and a new weekly cycle begins.

In just 50 years, Maurice Lacroix has crafted a remarkable 26 Masterpiece calibres. In addition, it has produced numerous in-house mechanisms which have delivered functionality and a sense of theatre. On this occasion, the Jura-based Manufacture has produced an in-house module that combines two complications, a ‘grand date’ and a ‘retrograde day display’. The 42 mm stainless steel case, enriched with a combination of brushed and polished surfaces, is fitted with an exhibition caseback. This grants sight of the Masterpiece ML302 calibre which is adorned with various finishes, including Côtes de Genève, perlage and colimaçon.

The watch is presented on a black calf leather strap incorporating an alligator-style texture and is embellished with a debossed M-logo. Courtesy of the Maurice Lacroix Easy Strap Exchange system, the wearer can easily adapt the look of their watch without the need for tools with just a few user-friendly clicks.