Maurice Lacroix Mémoire 1

This watch has only two hands – one for the minutes and one for the seconds – along with a disc to indicate the hours. And yet, Maurice Lacroix is presenting at Baselworld 2008 with the Mémoire 1 one of the most complicated watches ever developed.

The reason is that a revolutionary design sits inside this chronograph, limited to 20 pieces, – the first memory function for a mechanical timepiece. An indication at 3 o’clock reveals the secret: By pressing the button integrated into the crown, the mode changes from “Time” to “Chrono”. The hands and the hours disc immediately change their positions. If their previous function was telling the current time, they are now available for the precise measurement of time intervals. When the button is pressed once again, they all return to their positions for telling time. Even when the chronograph is running, it is still possible to shift back and forth between the two modes without losing the infor¬mation provided by one or the other function.

The memory function of the ML 128 manufacture movement, which makes possible this unique connection between the time and chronograph indications, is a major new Grande Complication that Maurice Lacroix developed to enrich the world of mechanical timekeeping. The mechanism and movement were completely designed and developed in the new “Atelier de Maurice Lacroix”. The result of this intensive process is a highly complex calibre made of 604 components for which Maurice Lacroix has already submitted two patent applications.

Technical Specifications

Movement: Maurice Lacroix manufacture movement, mechanical movement ML 128 with automatic, bi-directional winding system, hand-decorated with vertical or circular satinized sections and PVD surface refinement in tantalum colour; wheels gold-plated or with black PVD surface refinement; 48 jewels (25 transparent, 23 ruby-coloured); Maurice Lacroix precision adjustment with “vis sans fin” (endless screw) system; transparent Maurice Lacroix balance with white gold ring; KIF shock protection; Nivaflex M mainspring (exclusive to Maurice Lacroix); 28,800 a/h.

Functions: Chronograph with mechanical memory function, real time (time mode) and measured time interval (chrono mode) use the same indications (disc and hands); indication of hours with disc, indication of minutes and seconds with central hands; date indication with disc at 12 o’clock; mode indication with hand at 3 o’clock.

Case: White gold 210 0/00 palladium; sapphire crystals with anti-reflective coating on inside; screwed caseback with sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating (8 screws); water-resistant to 50m (5 atu); diameter 49 mm.

Dial: Black and silver-coloured; 4 parts assembled by hand; functions indicated on different levels; transparent, mineral-based hours disc with anti-reflective coating; minutes hand, hours disc and hours indication at 12 o’clock with white, luminous coating giving a blue radiance; applied and facetted index marks.

Watchband: Hand-sewn, matte alligator leather with buckle in white gold 210 0/00 palladium.

Edition: Limited to 20 pieces, numbered, with certificate.