Baselworld
Introducing: The Maurice Lacroix Aikon Automatic Collection
Inspired by the Calypso model, which was an absolute icon for Maurice Lacroix in the 1990s, the Aikon line, for the first time, comes fitted with an automatic mechanical calibre. The future is bright for this brand.
By Vincent Daveau
Contributor
Since the dawn of the third millennium, watchmakers have understood that a model's success lies in finding the right combination of elements to arouse the consumer's desire. Just as wine is often a subtle blend of different varieties, so too a watch's commercial success depends largely on the sum of the component parts of its personality. Thus, it is rare to see a timepiece achieve widespread iconic status solely based on the strength of its design or movement.
Finding the right combination
This year, keenly aware of this behavioural approach, Maurice Lacroix decided to give a new direction to the Aikon line, first launched in 2016 and until now only available in a quartz version. The direct heir to the famous Calypso, the brand's bestseller since the 1990s, this collection hones a reference that has always been a mainstay of the company's catalogue to modern tastes.
Based on the original model, the new Aikon Automatic line is produced in a number of versions comprising three-hand date and chronographs. Not only does it display the same widely acclaimed exceptional craftsmanship and integrated inside a water-resistant case, but it also sports the bezel embraced by six "arms" and the famous signature 'M' logo integrated into the leather strap. The new fine and precious Aikon family is an attention-grabbing statement on the wrist with its reworked design, in which successive machining operations have lifted to new realms of beauty, adding yet more dynamic angles and more accentuated polishing and satin finishing.
Desire begins with a look
Clearly, the new Aikon Automatics are attention-grabbers, designed to catch the eye of even discerning enthusiasts. It's almost as if the designers have purposely sought out the most stylish combination of ideas to capture a watch-lover's heart. As the art director at Maurice Lacroix once stated: "the dynamic tension of the model's curves clearly expresses Maurice Lacroix's modern masculine design approach". The new design is at once incisive, soft and gentle. In an interplay of graphical tensions, this collection has achieved its goal: to capture the interest of audiences in search of an aesthetically accomplished instrument, powered by a top-quality mechanical calibre.
The Aikon Automatic: an essential synthesis
The graphically balanced Aikon Automatic comes crafted in steel and measures 42 mm in diameter, relatively classic dimensions given today's oversized trend in watchmaking. Water-resistant to 200 metres, this piece comes with a 'clous de Paris' guilloché dial available in three shades (blue, silvered and anthracite grey), and sports either an alligator skin strap in a co-ordinating black, blue or brown, or a flexible five-link steel bracelet.
Authoritative and efficient, this new reference fastens to the wrist by means of an ergonomic deployant buckle that displays a painstaking attention to detail, because, as we well know, every detail counts for Maurice Lacroix. But the cherry on top of the cake must be the highly textured links that meld seamlessly into the case. The bracelet may be easily detached thanks to the Easy Change system, which enables aficionados to adapt their timekeepers to the season or to any other use as they may see fit.
Aikon Chronograph: efficiency guaranteed
Thoroughly modern and yet totally timeless and inspired in design, the Aikon chronograph dares to explore a certain synergy that will appeal to those in search of products with a strong identity. Impressive, without being overly demonstrative, at 44mm in diameter, this striking model crafted in steel is fitted with a chronograph calibre with automatic winding that is popular with fans for its robustness and durability. This action-ready timepiece displaying the elapsed hours, minutes and seconds (at 9 o'clock), and equipped with octagonal pushpieces to accentuate its sporty character, also features separate date and day apertures.
Available with a blue, black or silvered square guilloché dial, the chronograph also comes with an alligator skin strap. By the way, like the Aikon Automatic, the Aikon Chronograph is equipped with the new EasyChange system allowing the proud owner of this splendid instrument water-resistant to 200 metres to switch from metal bracelet to leather strap, or vice versa, at will.
(Photography by Liam O’Donnell)
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