nly Watch, the biennial auction of one-off luxury watches, returns in 2023 and promises to be bigger and better than ever. Maurice Lacroix has been a longtime supporter of the charity and returns this year with a remarkable creation housed in a sapphire crystal case. The model encompasses an eye-popping array of hues and features a hand-wound Manufacture movement.

Maurice Lacroix, the Jura-based watch brand is widely known for crafting urban-themed timepieces that deliver high-perceived value. However, despite enjoying much commercial success, especially with its popular AIKON model, the Swiss firm also remains committed to giving something back to society.

In 2009, Maurice Lacroix participated in Only Watch for the first time and has continued to do so ever since. The biennial charity event raises funds for research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. With several brands participating, each creating a one-of-a-kind watch, the popular platform has proved a hotbed of creativity. Indeed, Only Watch has become a laboratory where new materials and techniques are shown for the first time, sometimes prior to eventual commercialisation.

Only Watch has gained a reputation for showcasing the talents of the most accomplished artisans, designers and craftspeople alike, culminating in the auction attracting legions of horophiles, each seeking an extraordinary timepiece.

Over the years, Maurice Lacroix has created some outstanding watches and this year promises to be no exception. The Maurice Lacroix Only Watch 2023 is presented in a 43mm sapphire case, a first for the Maison. The use of the clear material extends to the bezel and crown. The making of a sapphire crystal case is protracted, necessitating numerous hours of polishing. Beyond its colourless purity, sapphire is incredibly hard, measuring 9 on the Mohs scale, surpassed only by diamond which has a hardness of 10.

Capitalising on the see-through properties of sapphire, Maurice Lacroix has equipped this charity watch with a skeleton movement, the hand-wound Manufacture Calibre ML330, affording sublime front-to-rear views. The resultant design allows the wearer to view numerous components, usually hidden from view, pulse with life.

The bold use of colour is a reoccurring theme of Only Watch and this year proves no exception. Inspired by the work of world-renowned artist Victor Vasarely, the charity has always encouraged participating brands to embrace particular hues. This year, shades of blue, red, orange and green are juxtaposed to create a vibrant, rainbow-theme that are referenced with the movement plate.

The hour and minutes are presented off-centre on an anthracite dial with a sunray motif. The Maurice Lacroix name and M-logo sit adjacent twelve indexes, all suffused with Super-LumiNova, each presented in a different hue, once again, subscribing to the rainbow-theme. A small seconds display is located beneath the aforementioned off-centre dial and wonderfully plays with perspective, augmenting the model’s visual allure.

As stated earlier, a notable characteristic of the Maurice Lacroix Only Watch 2023 timepiece is that it reveals a plethora of parts working together. In fact, it is this collection of parts coming together that serves as a metaphor for the watch industry uniting to help a worthy cause, the 10th edition of Only Watch.