Maurice Lacroix Aikon Automatic 35mm

At Baselworld 2018, Maurice Lacroix surprised us by presenting its own (accessible) vision of a luxury sports watch. This watch, named Aikon, bears most of the necessary elements of the genre, yet for a fraction of the price commanded by those of the “Holy Trinity” – exclusivity and high-end finishings apart. Aware that these watches not only appeal to men, the brand now unveils a version dedicated to women without getting too ‘girly’. Meet the Maurice Lacroix Aikon Automatic 35mm.

What is the Aikon? Well, we won’t be revealing anything by saying that luxury sports watches (Nautilus and Royal Oak) are THE hottest watches around. Although the demand for these watches is high, there are two main issues: the first is the price… north of EUR 20k; second is availability. With its usual ‘accessible luxury’ motto in mind, Maurice Lacroix thought it could answer this demand by offering a luxury sports watch with a highly designed case, bold looks, a relatively thin profile, an integrated steel bracelet and an automatic movement for approximately a tenth of the price required by high-end brands. The answer to this issue was the Aikon, a well-made, well-positioned, well-received watch – somehow inspired by the brand’s 1990s Calypso model.

Men aren’t the only ones attracted by these bold, sporty watches. More and more women, especially the younger generation, are looking for a robust yet elegant watch as a daily wearer, a watch that looks contemporary, slightly androgynous, not too girly. Based on that assumption, Maurice Lacroix now offers the look of the Aikon for all genders, with a new 35mm version of the Aikon – and best of all, not with a quartz movement but with a reliable automatic calibre.

The 35mm version is nothing more than an Aikon Automatic 3-hand in a reduced format. All the ingredients are present but in a moderately sized case. The thickness remains at 11mm since both the 42mm and the 35mm models feature the same movement inside. The case retains its cushion-shaped central container with a round bezel on top, adorned with the six signature claws.

Several versions of this Aikon Automatic 35mm will be available. All are based on stainless steel parts, with the exception of a version with gold PVD-coated elements – central links of the bracelet, claws on the bezel and crown. This smaller edition is, for the moment, only available with a 5-link bracelet – still equipped with a clever “easychange” system, allowing to switch the strap in seconds.

The feminine touch is visible on the dials. Available in the classic sunray brushed with Clous de Paris decoration in blue, or in white or black mother-of-pearl, all models are set with eight diamond hour markers combined with applied indexes and baton hands. It would have been wise to offer a pure version though, without diamonds, for a more unisex style. Powering the time-and-date display is the Calibre ML 115, a Sellita SW-200 automatic movement, visible through a sapphire caseback.

The Maurice Lacroix Aikon Automatic 35mm completes an already large collection, offering a nice alternative for ladies. It will be priced at CHF 1,850 (clous de Paris), CHF 1,950 (mother-of-pearl) or CHF 1,990 (white mother-of-pearl and two-tone bracelet). More details on www.mauricelacroix.com.