MÉMOIRE 1

Description

This watch has only two hands \u2013 one for the minutesand one for the seconds \u2013 along with a disc to indicatethe hours. And yet, Maurice Lacroix is presenting atBaselworld 2008 with the Memoire 1 one of the mostcomplicated watches ever developed!The reason is that a revolutionary design sits insidethis chronograph, limited to 20 pieces, \u2013 the fi rst memoryfunction for a mechanical timepiece. An indicationat 3 oclockreveals the secret: By pressing the button integratedinto the crown, the mode changes from Timeto Chrono. The hands and the hours disc immediatelychange their positions. If their previous functionwas telling the current time, they are now availablefor the precise measurement of time intervals. Whenthe button is pressed once again, they all return totheir positions for telling time. Even when the chronographis running, it is still possible to shift backand forth between the two modes without losing theinformation provided by one or the other function.The memory function of the ML 128 manufacture movement,which makes possible this unique connectionbetween the time and chronograph indications,is a major new Grande Complication that MauriceLacroix developed to enrich the world of mechanicaltimekeeping. The mechanism and movementwere completely designed and developed in the newAtelier de Maurice Lacroix. The result of this intensiveprocess is a highly complex calibre made of 604components for which Maurice Lacroix has alreadysubmitted two patent applications.MEMOIRE 1 \u2013THE BRILLIANCE OF SIMPLICITYMAURICE LACROIX CREATES THE FIRST MECHANICAL WATCHWITH A MEMORY!CAN A MECHANISM REMEMBER? FROM NOW ON, THE ANSWER IS YES! MAURICE LACROIX DEVELOPEDTHE FIRST MEMORY FUNCTION FOR A MECHANICAL WATCH. THIS COMPLETELY NEW GRANDE COMPLICATION,WHICH WILL FIND ITS INITIAL APPLICATION IN THE EXCLUSIVE MEMOIRE 1 CHRONOGRAPH, LIMITEDTO 20 PIECES, IS A NEW MILESTONE IN THE HISTORY OF THE ART OF SWISS WATCHMAKING.The ML 128 calibre of Memoire 1 is constructed using604 components. Some of these form the base movement,because even the best and most sophisticatedcomplications need to be fed with energy. This iswhy a completely new movement has been created,step by step.Even though the technical features of this movementare imposing, the design and the transparency of itare not of less importance. Because it wasnt simplya matter of creating a new mechanical memorycomplication, the wearer had to be able to admire theworkings and its constituent elements. This is why allthe components and their positions in the heart ofthe watch have been conceived in both logical andaesthetic terms.Thus the automatic winding system consists of anexocentric oscillating assembly, which permits toshow the regulatory system to advantage. Thanksto its small dimensions, the rotor does not cover thesurface entirely and therefore offers a view into theworkings of the Memoire 1 from the underside of thewatch. So that it can perform the necessary rapidand effi cient winding of the barrel, the rotor has beenconstructed in tungsten, which is a heavy material.But with an asymmetrical design and an unconventionalshape, this rotor has been developed with the aimof achieving good, aesthetic integration in the specialturret shape of the bridges of this movement.The pure decoration and the innovative PVD surfacetreatment in tantalum colour bring the image ofMaurice Lacroix to the fore. The specialists have pushedharmony as far as it can go and even went so faras to construct the screws on the bridges in a shaperesembling that of the turret, so that the overall viewforms a harmonious whole.The rotor pivots on a ball bearing developed specifi callyfor the requirements of this new calibre and worksdirectly in the reverse, via the expedient of a magicpawl which optimizes all the wrist movements of thewearer. A bi-directional winding has been retained inorder to allow maximum winding litheness and alsoguarantee maximum torque.WHEELS THAT TURN BACKWARDSThe power supplied by the automatic mechanism istransmitted to a barrel which has a strong energydensity and this allows a power reserve of more thanfour days. From the barrel, the movement turns backwards.This allows a spring to be compressed on thebarrel arbour, which is exactly the same as in a traditionalmovement. However, this spring compressesfrom right to left instead of from left to right. The resultis logical: the wheels which transfer the motorpower to the regulator turn backwards.TECHNOLOGY AND AESTHETICSIN PERFECT HARMONYThese wheels are endowed with the most modernprofi les, which allow optimum performance to beachieved. It is the equivalent of transmitting the energyemitted by the barrel under optimum conditions.Furthermore, the special shape of the wheel arms, aswell as their colour, also give a strong visual identifi cationto Memoire 1. Thus one can sense the philosophythat dominates this exceptional piece: logic marriedto technology and aesthetics. Finally, and as alwaysfor technical and aesthetic reasons, the stones whichdecorate the movement are white and transparent. OfMAURICE LACROIX PRESENTS A NEWBASE MOVEMENTMaurice Lacroix S.A., Brandschenkestrasse 2, 8001 Z\xfcrich, Switzerland, www.mauricelacroix.com, Phone +41 (0)44 209 11 11, Fax +41 (0)44 209 12 52course this is all part of the aesthetic philosophy ofMemoire 1, but it also makes it possible to visualizeand control the intermeshing between pinions andcrown wheels. Moreover, the watchmaker can clearlysee the drop of oil placed in the hollow section of thestone in which the pinion pivots.After having transmitted through the wheels, the energyis passed on to the escapement. This has beendeveloped especially for this new calibre carrying thesignature of Maurice Lacroix because it has been totallyadapted to the needs of its complication. The creatorswanted to show it, to have it valued, as if to giveall their importance to the heart of a watch that beatswithout a break and marks the passage of time.As for the balance, this has been given a core oftransparent sapphire and a felloe of gold, which underlinesthe depth of the movement, yet gives anairy impression to the whole regulation system. Finally,this mechanism is equipped with a new precisionadjustment, different from the traditional swansneck design. This system, developed by MauriceLacroix, will considerably simplify the work of thewatchmaker when trying to obtain the best performancefor the ML 128 calibre, which beats at 28,800semi-oscillations per hour.Furthermore, with an exceptional movement comesexceptional service. In order to be able to guaranteecomplete information for those wearing it, the movementof Memoire 1 is supplied with a plate displayingservice times, so the wearer can see when the nextnecessary service is due. Finally, this movement hasan identity personalized by the name of the watchmakerresponsible for assembling the elements of thisGrande Complication, which bears the signature ofMaurice Lacroix.The base movement of this chronograph is a suffi -ciently major feature alone; it has been perfected,however, through the watchmaking ingeniousness ofits complications.Even if it does not seem so at fi rst glance, theMemoire 1 really is a chronograph. Using the buttonintegrated directly into the crown, you can switchbetween time and chronograph mode. The indicationof the selected mode is taken over by a smallhand near 3 oclock. This operation is made possiblethanks to an ingenious mechanism, which the creatorschristened va et vient (come and go) and forwhich Maurice Lacroix has already fi led a patent.Starting, stopping, and resetting the chronographfunction the same way on the Memoire 1 as with thestopwatch functions on all other similar timepieces:Pressing a button near 2 oclock starts and stopstimekeeping; resetting the hands is done with thebutton at 4 oclock. […]

Supplied by the brand to the GPHG for its entry.