SpotlightMonochromatic Masterpiece: Introducing The Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Skeleton Label Noir Edition
The Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Skeleton Label Noir watch displays the manufacture calibre in shades of black and grey, playing up the contrasts, and enhancing the drama on the stunning open-worked dial
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The Masterpiece collection by Maurice Lacroix is dedicated to showcasing the brand’s mastery over the mechanics of watchmaking. Now, with the latest Masterpiece Skeleton Label Noir timepiece, the openworked series within the collection gets a monochromatic upgrade. Against a black DLC treated case, an open-worked dial displays an in-house calibre with a black and grey finish. Plays with light and shade highlight the contrasting finishing of the movement, which has become a sort of signature for Label Noir. The Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Skeleton Label Noir is the second collaboration between the Jura-based manufacture and Geneva-based watch personalisation specialists. Their first partnership resulted in the 2020 Aikon Label Noir—another monochromatic marvel that sold out almost immediately after its release.
Revival Of Mechanics With The Masterpiece
In 1992, when the mechanical watch industry had just about overcome the quartz crisis, Maurice Lacroix introduced the first Masterpiece timepiece. Displaying the brand’s mechanical watchmaking savoir faire, the Cinq Aiguilles, as the name suggests, was a five-handed timepiece. The Masterpiece Skeleton watch was released in 2017, and won numerous awards for its open-worked display. Bridges on this Masterpiece Skeleton watch were treated with blue PVD and formed a sort of window into parts of the movement that are otherwise hidden behind the dial. The mainspring, balance wheel and escape wheel are displayed beautifully against the blued bridges of the Masterpiece Skeleton.
Black Beauty: Masterpiece Skeleton Label Noir
With the latest Masterpiece Skeleton Label Noir, Maurice Lacroix have reinvented a contemporary icon in shades of grey. Displayed beautifully in a grey sand-blasted finish, with a black PVD outline for the bridges and mainplate, the manual-winding manufacture calibre ML134 takes centre stage. “On this occasion, we decided to use one of our in-house movements that we designed, developed. We skilfully assemble this movement at our site in Saignelégier,” says Stéphane Waser, managing director at Maurice Lacroix.
The black and grey of the movement are beautifully contrasted against the black and anthracite matt DLC finish of the 43mm case. Domed timekeeping hands in a matt black are filled with white Super-LumiNova, ensuring legibility, while a black small seconds hand sits discreetly at nine o’clock. Logos of both Maurice Lacroix and Label Noir are embossed in white on the sapphire crystal glass covering the dial. The exhibition caseback also offers a view of the movement in black and grey.
Pairing the Masterpiece Skeleton Label Noir with a black nylon strap serves to enhance the contrasts on the timepiece, and even the steel butterfly clasp features a gun metal DLC coating. Highlighting the contrasts created by the monochromatic shades of black and grey, the watch is designed to let light shine on every part of the movement.
“The Masterpiece Skeleton Label Noir is limited to just 288 pieces and, based on its prepossessing appearance, I suspect they will also be quickly snapped up by avid collectors,” adds Waser. We suspect he may be right.
