Maurice Lacroix Pearl Buoy: A Pearl Mosaic for TimeForArt

This time, at Maurice Lacroix, the pearls aren’t on the dial—they’re right in the middle of it. For the 1975 Master Skeleton “Pearl Buoy,” the New York-based duo Ficus Interfaith created a semi-transparent mosaic. The watch is a one-of-a-kind piece for the TimeForArt charity auction.

Terrazzo on the scale of a wristwatch

Ryan Bush and Raphael Martinez Cohen usually work on larger objects. For “Pearl Buoy,” they embedded pearls in epoxy resin. Slices about one millimeter thick were cut from the cured block. The appearance of the finished pattern depends on where the cut intersects the pearls.

The Mechanics Behind the Mosaic

The skeletonized ML234 caliber shimmers through the dial. It can be viewed through sapphire crystal from the back. Another pearl, this time a cabochon, is set in the crown. The lacquered Japanese leather strap echoes the shimmer of the pearls.

Contemporary Art Auction

Phillips will auction this one-of-a-kind piece on December 5, 2026, in New York. The proceeds from the TimeForArt auction will benefit the Swiss Institute, which, among other things, funds exhibitions and programs for artists.

Featured image: Maurice Lacroix.