A renowned Swiss watchmaker, Maurice Lacroix, created one-of-a-kind Masterpiece Roue Carrée Seconde for Only Watch 2011. It is a spectacular timepiece, based on the last year’s model with the world’s first square-wheel mechanism. This amazing combination of the advance technology and the top-end craftsmanship displays the passage of time in a completely new and exciting way.
An engineer, Michel Vermot, the head of the development department at Maurice Lacroix and its team from the Swiss Higher Education Institution, the Haute Ecole Arc, spent several years in Le Locle, in order to develop the first ever square-wheel mechanism.
The main problem was the fact that the gear profile of non-circular wheels cannot be regular. However, the Swiss watchmaker achieved the constant transmission of power by using a silicon-machining technology to craft very accurate, light and self-lubricating micro-components.
Thus, not only that the square wheel, driven by a toothed, cloverleaf-shaped wheel, works perfectly (as accurate as the traditional round wheels), but it is also used as a small seconds indicator. The hypnotizing movements of these wheels provide an extraordinary visual spectacle for the wearer.
Especially for the Only Watch model, they are made from silicon, in a unique and inimitable patterned design that playfully changes its colors, depending on a viewing angle, on illumination, or on wheels’ movements. Another sign of uniqueness is engraved on the square wheel. The small Only Watch logo is visible only through a magnifying glass.
Decorated with a black sandblasted finishing, the main plate of the mechanism is used as the watch dial, featuring raised polished indexes (hours, minutes and power reserve). PVD-coated black gold, diamond-polished hours, minutes and power reserve (at the 3 o’clock position) hands are attached directly to the main plate.
The Masterpiece Roue Carrée Seconde for the Only Watch 2011 is powered by a ML 156 hand-winding movement which is developed in association with the HE-ARC, and manufactured and assembled by Maurice Lacroix. Incorporating patented square and cloverleaf-shaped wheels, this mechanism is decorated with a Grand Colimaçon design. It oscillates at the frequency of 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5 Hz) and provides a power-reserve of up to 45 hours.
Featuring 43 mm in diameter, a stainless steel case with a sand-blasted finish looks very masculine. A domed sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating covers it on both sides. This exceptional Maurice Lacroix’s watch is available with a mat black large-scale crocodile strap, lined with black calfskin and black over-stitching.
