Maurice Lacroix - The New York Watch Auction: XI New York Saturday, December 7, 2024 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Maurice Lacroix
    Year: 2024
    Reference No: MP7228-TIMEFORART24
    Model Name: MASTERPIECE SKELETON "With what eyes?" by Rodrigo Hernández
    Material: Bronze
    Calibre: Manual, cal. ML134, 19 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: Bronze pin buckle
    Dimensions: 43mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, movement, and buckle signed. Dial signed with handmade "Rodrigo H." engraving at nine o'clock
    Accessories: Accompanied by Maurice Lacroix presentation box and outer packaging.

  • Catalogue Essay

    This year, as part of the TimeForArt auction, Maurice Lacroix has created a unique piece in collaboration with the acclaimed Mexican artist Rodrigo Hernández. The artist was granted full freedom to reinterpret the Swiss brand’s MASTERPIECE Skeleton in his own unique style. Inspired by Hernández’s exhibition at the Wattis Institute in San Francisco and the philosophical question, “Are humans the only dreamers on Earth?”, the watch depicts two monkeys staring at each other. The primates are handcrafted in bronze to form a bewitching dial.

    Equipped with the Masterpiece ML134 Manufacture Caliber, the hand-wound movement features a three-quarter plate, conferring torsional rigidity to the skeletonised structure. Both the plate and bridges are executed in a golden sandblasted finish, complementing the artistic bronze dial. Bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, has been used in the making of important statues for thousands of years. Hernández also selected the material for the model’s case as it is often viewed with reverence, making it an ideal medium for this wrist-worn sculpture. Measuring 43mm in diameter, the case incorporates a sapphire caseback and bears the artist’s signature at 9 o’clock. Lastly, a hand-braided leather strap was selected by the artist to complement the handcrafted dial.

    The Maurice Lacroix MASTERPIECE Skeleton ‘With what eyes?’ unites the worlds of watchmaking and art through a shared appreciation for craftsmanship and design.

96

Lot offered with No Reserve

Ref. MP7228-TIMEFORART24
A unique bronze wristwatch with sculptural dial, sold to benefit Swiss Institute

2024
43mm Diameter
Case, movement, and buckle signed. Dial signed with handmade "Rodrigo H." engraving at nine o'clock

Estimate
$15,000 - 30,000 
CHF13,200-26,400
€14,100-28,100
HK$117,000-233,000

Sold for $20,320

Contact Specialist

Paul Boutros
Deputy Chairman, Watches, Head of Watches, Americas
+1 (212) 940-1293
watchesny@phillips.com

Isabella Proia
Head of Sale, New York
+1 (212) 940 1285
iproia@phillips.com

The New York Watch Auction: XI

New York Auction 7 - 8 December 2024