Maurice Lacroix 1975 Legacy

Maurice Lacroix, a watchmaking firm established in 1975, is marking its 50th anniversary with the introduction of three distinct limited-edition timepieces. These new models, collectively known as the 1975 Legacy collection, serve as a direct tribute to the brand’s origins and its continuous operation in the scenic Franches-Montagnes region of Switzerland. The collection is not merely a retrospective but a modern interpretation of the brand's core principles, blending classical aesthetics with contemporary functionality and a deep-seated connection to its home in Saignelégier. Each watch is a narrative of place, crafted with a level of detail that speaks to the company's five decades of accumulated expertise.

The foundation of Maurice Lacroix is intrinsically linked to Saignelégier, a village nestled within the Swiss Jura. The natural environment of this area, characterized by rolling hills and dense fir forests, has been a consistent source of inspiration for the company's designs. To commemorate its semicentennial milestone, the brand has deliberately channeled the spirit of this landscape into the new 1975 Legacy watches. The collection comprises three models, each with a unique personality yet unified by a sophisticated case construction and finishing that is typically reserved for the brand's more exclusive Masterpiece collection. This decision underscores Maurice Lacroix’s commitment to delivering high-quality craftsmanship and tangible value.



A unifying element across all three anniversary models is the intricate dial pattern known as "Vagues du Jura," or "Waves of the Jura." This unique guilloché-style motif is not a generic pattern but a specific design created by Maurice Lacroix to emulate the visual texture of the undulating hills that surround its manufacture. The pattern creates a dynamic surface that interacts with light, adding a significant layer of depth and visual interest to the dials. This shared decorative DNA ensures that while each watch stands on its own, they are all clearly part of a single, celebratory family, rooted in the topography of their origin.

The first of the trio is the 1975 Automatic Saignelégier Blue. This model is a direct homage to the brand’s hometown, featuring a dial in a distinctive shade of blue that the company unearthed from its historical archives. This specific "Saignelégier Blue" makes a return for this limited edition, connecting the present-day creation with the brand’s earliest years. The Deep Blue surface is the canvas for the Vagues du Jura pattern, creating a rich visual experience that shifts and changes as the watch moves on the wrist.

The time is indicated with sharp, facetted dauphine-style hands for the hours and minutes, which point to hand-applied, trapeze-shaped hour markers. This combination ensures excellent legibility. A date window is positioned at the traditional 3 o'clock location, and in a detail appreciated by watch enthusiasts, the date disc is color-matched to the blue of the dial, framed by a subtle silver-toned border. This maintains a cohesive and uninterrupted aesthetic across the dial. A slender, sweeping central seconds hand completes the time-telling functions.



The 40 mm stainless steel case is a study in contrasting finishes, with expertly brushed surfaces playing against highly polished bevels and accents. This interplay of textures gives the case a refined and substantial feel. One of the standout features of this model is its slim profile, measuring just 9 mm in height. This is made possible by the use of the automatic ML155 calibre, a movement thinner than that used in the standard collection models.

Despite its svelte dimensions, the ML155 movement boasts a notable power reserve of 56 hours. Turning the watch over reveals a sapphire crystal exhibition caseback, which offers a clear view of the decorated calibre. The movement is finished with traditional techniques like perlage and colimaçon, and the oscillating mass is further embellished with the same Vagues du Jura pattern found on the dial, creating a harmonious link between the front and back of the watch.

The 1975 Automatic Saignelégier Blue is presented on a matching blue leather strap that is debossed with the brand's "M" logo. It is equipped with the Maurice Lacroix Easy Strap Exchange system, a user-friendly mechanism that allows the owner to quickly swap straps without the need for tools, offering versatility in its appearance. The caseback is engraved to denote its exclusivity, reading "Limited Edition of 888 pieces."



The second piece in the anniversary collection is the 1975 Automatic Day Date Sapin Green. As its name suggests, this model draws its inspiration from the abundant fir trees—sapin in French—that define the landscape surrounding Saignelégier. The dial is rendered in a deep, forest-like shade of green, again featuring the signature Vagues du Jura motif. This verdant dial is protected by a box-style sapphire crystal, a vintage-inspired design choice that slightly magnifies and distorts the edges of the dial, enhancing the play of light across its textured surface and enriching the nuanced green tones.

This model shares the dauphine hands and trapeze markers of its blue sibling, but adds a functional complication. In addition to the date window at 3 o'clock, it features a full day-of-the-week display, presented in an arched aperture at the 12 o'clock position. This "Day-Date" configuration is a classic and practical layout that adds to the watch's daily utility.

Unlike the blue version, the Day Date Sapin Green features a solid stainless steel caseback. This solid back provides a canvas for a special engraving that deepens the connection to the Franches-Montagnes region. It depicts a pastoral scene of two horses standing amidst fir trees, a direct reference to the famous "Franches-Montagnes" breed of horse, which is native to the area. The caseback also bears the inscription, "Limited Edition of 500 pieces."

The watch maintains the 40 mm diameter but sits slightly taller at 10mm to accommodate the ML168 Day-Date movement. It is fitted with a robust and versatile 5-row stainless steel bracelet that combines brushed outer links with polished smaller inner links, creating a sophisticated look. This bracelet also incorporates the Easy Strap Exchange system, allowing for simple removal and replacement. The automatic ML168 movement within provides a power reserve of 38 hours.



The final watch in the 50th-anniversary triumvirate is the 1975 Automatic GMT Silver Mist. This model is designed for the world traveler and captures a different mood of the Jura landscape: the serene, ethereal quality of the hills at dawn, when a blanket of silver mist settles over the scenery. The Vagues du Jura dial is executed in a soft, shimmering silver that evokes this sense of calm and tranquility. A vintage-style box sapphire crystal again enhances the visual depth of the richly textured surface.

While the fundamental design of the hands and markers is consistent with the other two models, the GMT Silver Mist distinguishes them with a warm, golden tone. This PVD 4N gold treatment on the hands and indices creates a striking contrast against the cool silver dial. The key feature of this watch is its dual-time function. An additional, co-axial central hand, which is openworked and tipped in a vibrant red, indicates a second time zone, or "home" time, against a 24-hour scale printed on the dial.

The 40 mm case has a height of 10 mm and features the same solid caseback as the green model, adorned with the identical engraving of the Franches-Montagnes horses and fir trees. The inscription, however, is unique to this model, noting its status as a "Limited Edition of 200 pieces," making it the most exclusive of the three. Behind this decorated caseback resides the automatic ML165 calibre, a reliable Swiss movement that powers the hours, minutes, seconds, date, and GMT functions and provides a power reserve of 56 hours.

The 1975 Automatic GMT Silver Mist is paired with a black alligator-imitation leather strap, which adds a touch of classic refinement. The strap is secured with a stainless steel deployant buckle for a secure and comfortable fit and also includes the brand's convenient Easy Strap Exchange system.



The creation of the 1975 Legacy collection is a reflection of the company's deep pride in its heritage and location. Stéphane Waser, the Managing Director of Maurice Lacroix, has remarked on the collective effort behind the brand's success, acknowledging the designers, watchmakers, and craftspeople at the manufacture. He also emphasizes the profound influence of the Franches-Montagnes itself, stating, "collectively we are proudly crafted in Saignelégier." This sentiment encapsulates the spirit of the anniversary editions, which are as much a celebration of place as they are of time.

The Maurice Lacroix 1975 Legacy collection offers these commemorative pieces at distinct price points reflecting their features and exclusivity. The 1975 Automatic Saignelégier Blue, limited to 888 pieces, is priced at $1,600 and is available now. The 1975 Automatic GMT Silver Mist, the most limited at just 200 pieces, is also available now and is priced at $2,250. The 1975 Automatic Day Date Sapin Green, in a limited run of 500 pieces, is scheduled for release in the autumn of this year, with its price to be announced upon release.

Maurice Lacroix 1975 Automatic Saignelégier Blue

Case: 40 mm diameter, 9 mm height. Brushed and polished stainless steel. Water resistance 10 ATM. Open caseback with "Limited Edition of 888 pcs" engraved.

Movement: Automatic ML155. 42 hours power reserve, 25 jewels. Functions include hours, minutes, seconds, and date at 3 o'clock.

Dial: Blue with Vagues du Jura pattern. Rhodium facetted trapeze index and dauphine hands.

Strap: Blue leather strap with debossed M-logo and Easychange system. Stainless steel pin buckle.

Price: $1,600

Reference Number: 756108-SS001-430-4

Notes: Limited to 888 pieces. This model features a slim 9mm case and a sapphire exhibition caseback showing the decorated movement. The "Saignelégier Blue" is a historic color from the brand's archives.



Maurice Lacroix 1975 Automatic Day Date Sapin Green

Case: 40 mm diameter, 10 mm height. Brushed and polished stainless steel. Water resistance 5 ATM. Solid caseback with special Jura pattern engraved and "Limited Edition of 500 pcs".

Movement: Automatic ML168. 38 hours power reserve, 26 jewels. Functions include hours, minutes, seconds, date at 3 o'clock, and day at 12 o'clock.

Dial: Green with Vagues du Jura pattern. Rhodium facetted trapeze index and dauphine hands.

Strap: 5-row stainless steel bracelet with polished and brushed links and Easychange system.

Price: Price On Release

Reference Number: 756048-SS002-630-1

Notes: Limited to 500 pieces. Features a Day-Date complication and a caseback engraving depicting the Franches-Montagnes horse. The color is inspired by the fir trees surrounding Saignelégier.



Maurice Lacroix 1975 Automatic GMT Silver Mist

Case: 40 mm diameter, 10 mm height. Brushed and polished stainless steel. Water resistance 5 ATM. Solid caseback with special Jura pattern engraved and "Limited Edition of 200 pcs".

Movement: Automatic ML165. 56 hours power reserve, 25 jewels. Functions include hours, minutes, seconds, GMT, and date at 3 o'clock.

Dial: Silver with Vagues du Jura pattern. PVD 4N gold-toned facetted trapeze index and dauphine hands. PVD 4N GMT hand with a red tip.

Strap: Black croco-imitation leather strap with Easychange system. Stainless steel double-pushers deployant buckle.

Price: $2,250

Reference Number: 756048-SS001-131-2

Notes: Limited to 200 pieces. This model is the most exclusive and features a GMT complication for tracking a second time zone. It has the longest power reserve of the trio at 56 hours.