Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Masterchrono

My ML Masterchrono. Part of Maurice Lacroix's Masterpiece collection. I've owned this watch for a while now. Has been a favorite and in my opinion, one of the best made watches I have ever owned.



Technical Features
Movement: Calibre ML67 (modified and hand decorated base 7750)
Power Reserve: 45 hour power reserve
Number of Jewels: 26 jewels, blued screws
Dial: Solid silver
Crystal:Sapphire front and back
Water Resistance: 100m
Bracelet: signed, dual deployant
Finish: Painstakingly hand-finished and customized in accordance with the collection design
Crown: signed, unique locking crown locks down in a 1/4 turn guaranteeing emblem always aligned
Case diameter: 43mm

So what makes this watch special?



This is what the Maurice Lacroix documentation specifies as criteria for a Masterpiece Collection watch.

Criteria For a Masterpiece Watch

1. Exclusive Manufacture movements or complications, developed especially for the Masterpiece Collection.
   
2. Modified and hand-decorated movements with components of the highest quality.
   
3. Precision tested in 5 positions (fully wound and after 24 hours operation).
   
4. Skeleton rotors on automatic movements.
   
5. Precious solid silver dials.
   
6. High-quality folding clasps on straps and bracelets.
   
7. Screwed caseback with sapphire crystal.

The watch is sporty and elegant. The dial is something to look at. The silver sandwich dial looks better in person than any pictures. It has a unique sub-dial that shows the seconds through an opening in a disk. The writing is crisp and clean and makes the watch very legible.




The crown as mentioned above has a unique lock system that allows the signed crown always to align perfectly. The bracelet is fantastic and has a very solid clasp.




The movement is beautifully decorated with cotes de geneve, pearlage, and blued screws. Nice to look at and made easier by a skeletonized rotor.




It's a pleasure to wear at 43mm. Feels solid without being too heavy.





One of my favorite parts of this watch is the crystal, domed and absolutely no distortions at any angle.



Pros: Fit, finish, design. The bracelet, clasp, and crown stand out. Very accurate movement, likely due to the adjustment in 5 positions. As far as ML goes, they are now a true manufacture.
Cons: Doesn't have a big US presence, resale values, name recognition.

So in summary, it is a fantastic watch. I recently tried selling it, but it was slow moving. I lowered the price, but eventually pulled it. I bought this watch for a steal and would have done okay when selling it, but I came to my senses and realized that I wouldn't be able to find a watch of this quality for the price I was asking for it. It's back in my rotation and getting some love. Thanks for looking.

That is a work of art. Handsome from any angle. Great review. Great pics. Talk about a deer in the headlights, I could stare at that watch for quite a while. Beautiful.

Isn't this the one you have for sale?

It's a beauty. I wouldn't sell it either.

DBCooper wrote:It's a beauty. I wouldn't sell it either.

Ditto, that's a keeper....

I just wanna slide that baby on my wrist and slowly push those pushers. Yeah baby.

Ocean wrote:Isn't this the one you have for sale?

I've pulled it. One of the cons is the lack of brand recognition. It doesn't help resale values. I just got to a point where I didn't think I could replace a watch of this quality for the price I was asking. So back on the wrist.

You'll thank yourself a million times a day for returning it to your rotation...and whomever looked at it but didn't 'pull the trigger' will kick themselves in the keestoi' over and over and over...thanks for a very nice post, AzK!