Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Jours Rétrogrades Rose Gold Ref. MP6358, ca. 2010

Identity Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Jours Rétrogrades, 18-carat rose gold, Ref. MP6358, ca. 2010. Automatic calibre ML 102. Round rose gold case, 40 mm, sapphire display back, crown monogrammed with the logo. Anthracite sunray dial, applied gilt Roman numerals, big date in a double window at 12 o'clock, retrograde day of the week at 6 o'clock, luminous leaf hands. Domed sapphire crystal. Leather strap, original rose gold folding clasp signed Maurice Lacroix. Horological context Maurice Lacroix was born in 1975, launched by the Zurich trading house Desco von Schulthess. Since 1961 the house had been assembling watches for other brands in its workshop at Saignelégier, in the Franches-Montagnes. The name honours a Desco board member who had died before the brand was created. In 1989 the purchase of the case maker Queloz, in Saignelégier itself, brought case production in-house. 2006 brought the first in-house calibre, the ML106 chronograph. The Masterpiece line was born in 1990 under the name Les Mécaniques, and the maison reserves it for its mechanical movements and complications. The Jours Rétrogrades combines two readings: the date in large numerals beneath the signature, and the day of the week carried by a hand that travels its arc from Monday to Sunday, then springs back to its starting point. Character Beneath the gilt arc of the retrograde days, set in Art Deco lettering, the open-worked movement reveals itself through a window with a sunray motif of its own. The matt rose of the gold answers the anthracite ground of the dial in subtle shades, from the numerals to the hands, from the date window to the arc of the days. The watch stands as a discreet, contemporary homage to classic codes. Serviced. Exceptional condition. Delivered with its original box and papers, and the Contre-Temps 24-month warranty certificate.