BY HARLAN CHAPMAN-GREEN
Imagine it’s the 1980s for a moment (or, remember it, in some cases). There are neon signs everywhere, colossal action movies are hitting the silver screen, music from the likes of The Police and Bruce Springsteen have taken worldwide sensations to a new height and everyone seems to have a lot of hair. It’s a cool time to be alive, a time focused on both style and substance, and if you’re into your Swiss watches, then you might just be sporting one of Maurice Lacroix’s FIABA watches. The word “fiaba” is Italian for ‘fairytale’, and for 2025, the fairytale has returned with a new pebble-inspired look.
All of the new watches feature ergonomically designed cases made of stainless steel, measuring 24mm x 34mm x 6.5mm and boasting 50m of water resistance each. Buyers have a choice between three different finishes: stainless steel, stainless steel with a PVD 2N finish, and stainless steel with a PVD 4N finish. Expanding on that, we have an array of bracelets and straps to choose from, including full-colour PVD steel bracelets, two-tone PVD steel bracelets (matched to the case colour) and a variety of leather straps embossed with the Maurice Lacroix logo. All the watches also feature a quick-change system for their straps and bracelets. Despite what the sizing may indicate, Maurice Lacroix is keen to point out that the new FIABA watches are all unisex models, a trend that more and more brands are leaning towards. Could this hint at more sizes coming in the future?
The majority of the dials feature a silver sunburst finish with flinqué decoration for the central part of the dials. This finish serves as the basis for the 2N or 4N gold hands above black-printed Roman numerals. Purchasers of the steel models without PVD finishing will also be able to choose a stylish white mother-of-pearl dial contrasted by blue hands. The lack of a date window, or even a running seconds hand, lends all of the new FIABA watches a timeless and classy appearance, especially on the watches sporting the mother-of-pearl dials.
Inside all of these new watches is the Swiss-made Ronda 762E quartz calibre. This battery-powered movement has an industry-leading power reserve of ten years, meaning the new FIABA will remain an accurate timekeeper and a reliable daily companion for many years to come.
The new FIABA is priced differently depending on how it’s optioned. For the stainless steel model on a leather strap, the price is CHF 850. If you opt for the steel bracelet, the price rises to CHF 900. If you wish to buy that mother-of-pearl dial, I can understand why you would, and then the price rises again to CHF950.
Fancy yourself one of the 2N or 4N PVD models? On a leather strap, the price is CHF1,050. For the two-tone stainless steel bracelet, the price is CHF1,150. If you opt for the full 2N or 4N PVD bracelet, the price increases to CHF1,200. All models are parts of Maurice Lacroix’s permanent collection.
