Maurice Lacroix Aikon Collection, which was highly acclaimed by us with its superior features and stylish design as well as its competitive price scale. Here we are with the flagship model Maurice Lacroix Aikon Automatic Skeleton (Ref: AI6028-SS001-030-1) introduced as a part of brand’s Baselworld 2018 novelties.
Maurice Lacroix is ??one of the first names that come to mind when it is all about the entry and mid level Swiss watchmakers. The well-established brand, which often offers complications and features that we are familiar with far more high priced models, was appreciated by me and the rest of the Horobox team.
The "luxury stainless steel sports watch" product group, which is becoming more and more interesting with the names that are new or re-included in the game as well as the cult brands, is one of the headlines that watch enthusiasts follow closely. This trend, which started in the 1970s under the leadership of Gerald Genta, the famous clock guru, with perhaps the most iconic models of the horological world like Patek Philippe - Nautilus, Audemars Piguet - Royal Oak, Vacheron Constantine - Overseas and IWC - Ingenieur, continues with the re-addition of familiar models like Piaget – Polo S and Girard Perregaux – Laureato.
The Aikon Collection, which was recently added to the Maurice Lacroix product line and included in this group with its design details, technical specifications and construction qualities, rather than its price range, is the guest of our Hands On corner with its flagship model Maurice Lacroix Aikon Automatic Skeleton (Ref: AI6028-SS001-030-1).
The new model is offered in a stainless steel case like the rest of the models in the Aikon Collection. Unlike the other models, Maurice Lacroix Aikon Automatic Skeleton comes in a larger case measuring 45mm in diameter and 13mm in height. The case is equipped with scratch resistant sapphire crystals on both sides and is water resistant to 100 meters which is good enough for a luxury sports watch.
It is possible to come across some details that we are familiar with from brands such as Audemars Piguet and Hublot in the design of the case. However, I do not think that this resemblance is too obvious to hurt the originality of the design. I am sure some will say the opposite. And I suggest them to compare Rolex Submariner with the rest of the dive watches and think again.
Thanks to the model’s skeleton design concept, it is not possible to talk about a conventional dial. There is nothing else than hour markers and three hands on the dial related to time display function. Therefore legibility is not the best asset of this model. However, I don’t think it would be a priority for the potential user of the timepiece either.
Maurice Lacroix Aikon Automatic Skeleton is powered by a newly developed in-house movement Caliber ML234. The caliber is a three-hand self-winding movement with a small seconds counter at 6 o’clock. It is basically an automatic winding system added version of the Caliber ML134 that we remember from the Masterpiece Collection of the brand. 34 jewels movement beats at 2.5Hz and offers 52 hours of power reserve when fully wound.
Skeleton movements are not quite new to Maurice Lacroix and the brand manufactures open worked timepieces since 1993, mostly within their Masterpiece Collection. Since Aikon Collection is a contemporary product line, Maurice Lacroix designed the Caliber ML234 movement with a modern, industrial look. The bridges feature a black-DLC surface treatment. The central canal of the bridges is lower and sandblasted while their outline is a tad higher and satin-brushed. The majority of the technical components are also hollowed, such as the barrel, the winding mechanism and the oscillating rotor.
Maurice Lacroix Aikon Automatic Skeleton is available with a black alligator strap that is secured by Maurice Lacroix signed folding clasp.
With a MSRP of USD 5,990 (US list) Maurice Lacroix Aikon Automatic Skeleton is a model that definitely deserves to be seen in person. I strongly suggest the Aikon Collection especially to the watch enthusiasts who have a taste for the "luxury stainless steel sports watch" concept like me. Considering there are more affordable versions in the collection like a non-open worked three hand automatic and even quartz the price/performance ratio is unbeatable.
