As a preview of Baselworld 2018, Swiss watch brand Maurice Lacroix announces a band new AIKON watch that features a freshly restyled case housing a new manufacture, open-worked, automatic caliber of unique design.
Openwork timepieces are an integral part of Maurice Lacroix’s history and watchmaking culture. Several successive generations of its watches have featured this graphic and horological principle. The brand has more than 25 years of expertise in the production of skeleton watches, a tradition started in 1993 with Calypso Skeleton, the first such creation from Maurice Lacroix.
In a wide AIKON case, reshaped in order to house this new type of movement, Maurice Lacroix gives the manufacture ML234 calibre is open-worked according to a whole new pattern, designed purposefully for this timepiece. At the crossroads between two Maurice Lacroix ranges, AIKON Automatic Skeleton blends the AIKON design cues with the watchmaking substance characteristic of the Masterpiece collection. And as its affordable watchmaking brand guidelines command, always offering an outstanding quality/finishings/price ratio, this timepiece delivers a uniquely high perceived value.
Based on the 2016 AIKON Quartz design, the AIKON Automatic case leans towards a more masculine, sharper state of mind, one that is also more polarizing. It is 45 mm wide, yet only 13 mm thick, which provides it with strong and harmonious proportions. Entirely made of steel, both brushed and polished, it stands out thanks to the six arms on its bezel, positioned once every two hours. This is a signature feature of the AIKON collection, as is the one piece case shape. Without lugs, it bears two prongs that descend on the bracelet and shape its curve.
AIKON Automatic Skeleton also introduces Maurice Lacroix’s Easychange system. These fast swap attachments allow to single-handedly remove the bracelet, in a few seconds. At case level, the leather is cut out to accommodate two small vertical prongs, which commands the spring bars’ opening. And so is detached the long piece of alligator leather with black on black stitching, which features Maurice Lacroix’s signature M logo applique. It is coupled with a double deployant buckle, which allows a fine length adjustment.
Entirely designed for AIKON Automatic Skeleton, caliber ML234 is a mechanical movement with automatic winding. It is the result of a thorough aesthetic and functional reshuffle of the ML134 caliber, one of the first to have come out of the Maurice Lacroix manufacture.
It is structured by a series of five con centric circles that run diagonally through the entire watch. Bridge after bridge, they radiate from the center of the barrel, at one o’clock. Said bridges are black due to a DLC surface treatment. Their central canal is lower and sandblasted. Their outline is one level higher and satin-brushed.
All of the components including – barrel, balance wheel, winding mechanism and oscillating weight are hollowed out, a rare feat. Visible at the back side, the skeletonised rotor features a brand new design, with the highest level of open-working possible, and includes the drawing of the brand’s logo. One level above this mechanical lattice, a sapphire dial bears rhodium plated indices and the small seconds hand, at 6 o’clock.
Technical details
Model: Aikon Automatic Skeleton
Reference: AI6028-SS001-030-1
Case
Diameter: 45 mm
Height: 13 mm
Material: Stainless steel
Water resistance: 10 ATM
Dial
Sapphire
Indexes: Rhodium plated
Hands: Rhodium plated, white SLN
Movement
Automatic ML234
Vibrations: 18’000 vph / 2.5 Hz
Power Reserve: 52 hours
Number of jewels: 34
Decorations: “Colimaçon and sandblasted in black DLC for the main bridge. Rhodied Colimaçon for the other bridges. Rhodied rotor with vertical brushed, sandblasted and colimaçon finishings.”
Functions
Hours, minutes
Seconds at 3 o’clock
Strap
Black alligator leather strap with easy-change system
Buckle: Butterfly in steel
