Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Gravity “Only Watch 2015”: Well-priced

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The Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Gravity “Only Watch 2015” was sold for CHF25,000 at the “Only Watch” charity auction co-hosted by Association Monégasque contreles Myopathies, Monaco Yacht Show and Phillips in association with Bacs & Russo. The final auction price was double that of its lowest estimated value of CHF12,000. Photo: © Maurice Lacroix

The Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Gravity “Only Watch 2015” was sold for CHF25,000 at the “Only Watch” charity auction co-hosted by Association Monégasque contreles Myopathies, Monaco Yacht Show and Phillips in association with Bacs & Russo. Estimated value at between CHF12,000 and CHF14,000. The final auction price was double that of its lowest estimated value of CHF12,000. Photo: © Maurice Lacroix

Retailed at around CHF10,000, the limited editions of the Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Gravity do seem reasonably priced what with its technical features like the silicium assortment combined with excellent design aesthetics. This is good for end-consumers.

Now will it be even better if the Maurice Lacroix Gravity is highly-priced?

Yes, it will, even it sounds like a paradox. However, this is on the condition that the Maurice Lacroix Gravity watch is for the “Only Watch” charity auction. To be more precise – the Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Gravity “Only Watch 2015”.

The “Only Watch” charity auction, held once every two years and during the Monaco Yacht Show, organised its sixth charity auction in November 2015.

Co-hosted by Association Monégasque contre les Myopathies, Monaco Yacht Show and Phillips in association with Bacs & Russo, profits from the charity auction are donated to fund research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a muscle degeneration disease with no known cure and one that disables the afflicted.

That is why we support the call for a highly-priced pièce unique Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Gravity “Only Watch 2015”.

Thankfully, the pièce unique Gravity “Only Watch 2015” defied gravity literally and went under the hammer for CHF25,000, double that of its lowest estimated value of CHF12,000.

With its earlier estimated value of between CHF12,000 and CHF14,000, the auctioneers were probably expecting a minimum premium of between CHF2,000 and CHF4,000 for this one-of-a-kind Gravity.

The Gravity is Maurice Lacroix’s very first model to house a full silicium assortment in their in-house Calibre ML430 self-winding movement.

In an earlier article on Timewerke.com, Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Gravity: The Groundbreaking “Maverick”, we highlighted the rare Gravity “Sincere Limited Edition” that was limited to 12 pieces, which by the way, is not highly-priced but attractively-priced.

The Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Gravity “Only Watch 2015” is the rarest of them all as it is a one-of-a-kind piece.

The Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Gravity “Only Watch 2015” is unique because the brand’s “Vague du Jura” (“Wave of the Jura”) made its world premiere on the main bridge of this piece and it is in blue-polished Powerlite, an alloy patented by Maurice Lacroix comprising titanium, aluminium, zirconium, magnesium and ceramic.

Other related articles on timewerke.com that may be of interest:
i. Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Gravity: Gravitated towards Gravity
ii. Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Gravity: The Groundbreaking “Maverick”

Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Gravity: The Groundbreaking “Maverick”

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Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Gravity “Sincere Limited Edition”. Features the Manufacture Calibre ML230 automatic movement featuring the complete silicium assortment (ML10 assortment and oscillator) housed in a 43mm steel case with “box” sapphire crystal. Beating at 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5 Hertz) and with 50 hours of power reserve when fully wound. Limited to 12 pieces. Priced at SGD15,200 inclusive of tax. Photo: © Maurice Lacroix. Special thanks to Juliana Tan and Victoria Ang.

Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Gravity “Sincere Limited Edition”. Features the Manufacture Calibre ML230 automatic movement with the complete silicium assortment (ML10 assortment and oscillator) housed in a 43mm steel case with “box” sapphire crystal. Beating at 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5 Hertz) and with 50 hours of power reserve when fully wound. Limited to 12 pieces. Priced at SGD15,200 inclusive of tax. Photo: © Maurice Lacroix. Special thanks to Juliana Tan and Victoria Ang.

First introduced in 2014 at the Baselworld watch fair, the Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Gravity is the brand’s very first timepiece to feature a full silicium assortment. Two versions were launched in 2014, each limited to 250 pieces.

The term “assortment” in watch parlance, refers to the “complete set of things that belong to together”, according to Berner’s Illustrated Professional Dictionary of Horology I + II, adding that the French form of the word, assortiment, is also used by English watchmakers.

With regards to the Maurice Lacroix Gravity, it refers to the brand’s complete assortment made in silicon which includes the balance staff, pallet lever, escapement wheel and escapement wheel pinion.

Credit for the development and production for these silicon movement components go to Michel Vermot, head of movement construction at Maurice Lacroix, and the brand’s collaboration with Haute Ecole Arc which is based in Le Locle, Switzerland.

Silicon is a glass-like material that is self-lubricating and three times lighter than steel. It is a material chosen for the movement components because its low mass means less energy will be used and such parts are more accurate to produce. Moreover, silicon components do not require regular lubrication.

In 2015, the story of the Masterpiece Gravity continues, with three new versions launched at BaselWorld: the No. 2 Gravity “40th Anniversary” Limited Edition in a PowerLite alloy case (limited to 250 pieces), the No. 1 Gravity Limited Edition in stainless steel (limited to 40 pieces) and the No. 3 Gravity Limited Edition in an anthracite PVD case (limited to 250 pieces).

All Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Gravity timepieces are limited editions. How many versions are there? Well, thus far, there are six; two versions were launched in 2014 and another three variants were introduced in 2015. Then there is the one-of-a-kind Masterpiece Gravity “Only Watch 2015”.

Total production of all the variants combined will be 1,041, if everything runs smoothly and all are produced.

There is actually another version – the Masterpiece Gravity “Sincere Limited Edition” and it is even rarer than those introduced with the exception of the Gravity “Only Watch 2015”.

Why is it so rare? Well, simply because it is only limited to 12 pieces, representing only 1.1% of the total number of Masterpiece Gravity watches (1,053 pieces – 1,041 plus 12 at the time of writing) that will now be produced.

This very rare and special piece officially goes on display (and sale, priced at SGD15,200) at specialist watch retailer, Sincere Fine Watches’ flagship Ngee Ann City boutique in Singapore from tomorrow.

The Masterpiece Gravity “Sincere Limited Edition” is part of the “100 Complications” showcase presented by Sincere Fine Watches.

This is in line with the vision of Kingston Chu, vice chairman and managing director of Sincere Watch Limited, to introduce their customers to a diverse group of brands offering the best and most unique complications.

The Masterpiece Gravity featuring the Manufacture Calibre ML230 automatic movement comes under the “Mavericks: Groundbreaking Movements” category.

“The Masterpiece Gravity movement is a breakthrough for Maurice Lacroix. It is a groundbreaking movement because of its silicium escapement,” notes Ong Ban, Chief Executive Officer of Sincere Watch Limited.

The spiral and balance wheel of the Calibre ML230 were produced by specialist component manufacturer Altokalpa which is related to Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier while the silicium escapement parts were made by Sigatec.

Like the Masterpiece No. 2 Gravity “40th Anniversary” Limited Edition, this “Sincere Limited Edition” features two blue-lacquered dials.

What is genuinely pleasant is the fact that the pricing is similar to the other three Gravity timepieces that have been launched in 2015, despite the extreme rarity of the Masterpiece Gravity “Sincere Limited Edition”.

Kudos to DKSH South East Asia and Maurice Lacroix for the attractive pricing strategy.

Other related articles on timewerke.com that may be of interest:
i. Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Gravity: Gravitated towards Gravity
ii. Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Gravity “Only Watch 2015”: Well-priced