ReviewExperience The Thrill Of The Maurice Lacroix Aikon Special Edition Mahindra Racing

The deeply rooted and intrinsic relationship between cars and watches is more than a century old. It all began during the 1890s when early race drivers started to wear timepieces to keep a tab on their performance and since then, the two industries have shared a strong bond and passion for flawless precision, innovative engineering, and mechanical harmony. Therefore, it seemed nothing but perfectly fitting when, last year, Maurice Lacroix announced their collaboration with Mahindra Racing—a motor racing team, based in Banbury, United Kingdom, who compete with an Indian racing license—and became the team’s official timekeeper for the Formula E World Championship, which is a motor-racing event for electric cars, organised by FIA (International Automobile Federation). In a bid to commemorate this partnership, the Swiss watch manufacturers have now introduced three variants of their famous Aikon models—the Aikon Automatic Chronograph, Aikon Chronograph Skeleton and the Aikon Chronograph Quartz. Each of these chronographs showcases the racing team’s livery, features urban design and delivers high perceived value.

A Drive Towards Mechanical Excellence And Sustainability

Established in 2011, Mahindra Racing are not only the lone top-level Indian motorsport team but also one of the 10 founding members of the all-electric racing series, Formula E. The annual championship, which began in 2014, comprises 14 races across 12 cities and serves as a platform for showcasing the world’s most advanced e-mobility technologies, which are helping to drive progress towards a more sustainable future. Moreover, Formula E aims to accelerate EV adoption across the globe, improving air quality and addressing climate change.

Each iteration of the new Maurice Lacroix Aikon Special Edition Mahindra Racing showcases the racing team’s livery, features urban design and delivers high perceived value. Seen here is the skeleton variant of the timepiece, which comes with a small seconds counter at three and a 30-minute chronograph counter at nine o'clock position

Having participated in every season since the series began, Mahindra Racing have enjoyed four victories and stood on 18 podiums—a highly impressive record that surpasses the results of some big-budget teams. Apart from their unparalleled performance and pursuit for mechanical perfection, the team have remained deeply committed to the idea of sustainability. They were also the first motorsport team to join the FIA’s sustainability programme that focuses on helping the motorsport and mobility stakeholders to measure and enhance their environmental performance. It’s these attributes and principles of Mahindra Racing that Maurice Lacroix share and profoundly understand.

“It is important to us that we work with companies that share our passions and values. As you can see, Maurice Lacroix and Mahindra Racing are closely aligned,” states Stéphane Waser, managing director, Maurice Lacroix, explaining the connection between his brand and the racing team. “We both share a passion for success and a concern for the planet. We are both dynamic companies with in-house expertise. We also choose to spend much time in cities around the globe, engaging with our customers and responding to their desires. I look forward to both companies working together, embarking on this exciting adventure and sharing much success.”

A Cosmopolitan And Modern Design

To design the new models, Maurice Lacroix took inspiration from the urban mind-set of the drivers of Mahindra Racing who travel the globe, racing through city streets, while embracing each host city and understanding the subtle nuances of the track. Each timepiece is housed in a 44mm case and exhibits the sheer resolve shared by both the companies in crafting high-quality and robust products. What Maurice Lacroix have done here is build the automatic and skeleton versions with stainless steel and the quartz model with ultra-light titanium. Regardless of which iteration you choose to wear, all of them feature perfectly executed finishing, with the collection’s distinctive six ‘claws’ straddling the bezel, and the hexagonal crown. Additionally, the timepieces have been paired with super-comfortable and well-built strap. The automatic and skeleton variants are fashioned with elegant leather straps and the quartz model comes with a flexible rubber strap. Each of these is accompanied by an easy strap-interchanging system and the brand’s ‘M’ emblem.

A Captivating And Legible Display

 Bound to appeal to motorsport enthusiasts in particular, all the three new racing-themed models of the Aikon offer the chronograph complication with an uncluttered layout and optimal readability. On the one hand, there’re the plain automatic and quartz variants with similar-looking dials, adorned with a white grid-pattern finish that adds a sense of depth and detail to the overall look of the watches. Both of these models display time with the help of centrally located hour and minute hands and feature counters at six, nine and 12 o’clock positions, but with subtle differences. The automatic iteration features a 12-hour chronograph counter at six and a 30-minute counter at 12—both in dark blue—as well as a small seconds display presented in red at nine. Whereas, the quartz variant shows a small seconds sub-dial at six and a 1/10-of-a-second counter at 12—in blue—in addition to a 30-minute chronograph counter at nine o’clock, depicted in red. Another difference between these two models is that the automatic variant offers neatly placed day and date windows at three, while the quartz iteration doesn’t feature this display.

The automatic iteration of the watch features a 12-hour chronograph counter at six and a 30-minute counter at 12—both in dark blue—as well as a small seconds display presented in red at nine

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The mesmerising skeleton variant of the Aikon gives a glimpse of the inner workings of the timekeeper, making it a perfect fit for those who are mechanically curious

On the other hand, we have the mesmerising skeleton variant of the Aikon that gives a glimpse of the inner workings of the timekeeper, making it a perfect fit for those who are mechanically curious. Nothing short of an ideal trackside accessory, this watch features a small seconds counter at three and a 30-minute chronograph counter at nine that lend agreeable of symmetry to the dial. Meanwhile, adding a pop of colour to the overall greyish aesthetic of the timepiece are the red accents that grace the minute markers on the bezel, the central chronograph seconds hand, and the sub-dial at three.

Impeccable Performance And Longevity

One of the foremost reasons for Maurice Lacroix’s success is that they have never stopped listening to their customers. Ever since their inception in 1975, the brand have offered a wide variety of timepieces, which have lured watch enthusiasts from all walks of life. So, it’s not at all surprising to see the Swiss watchmakers introduce their latest novelties both with quartz and mechanical movements. The Aikon Automatic Chronograph and Aikon Chronograph Skeleton are equipped with self-winding calibres—the ML112 and ML206 respectively—that promise flawless precision and durability. Running at the frequency of 28,800vph, both the movements provide a sufficient minimum power reserve of 48 hours and can be admired through exhibition casebacks. The Aikon Chronograph Quartz version runs on an accurate quartz movement that promises remarkable longevity, without the hassle of requiring regular servicing.

The Aikon Chronograph Quartz version runs on an accurate quartz movement that promises remarkable longevity, without the hassle of requiring regular servicing

The timepiece comes with a solid caseback that features the Mahindra Racing logo in red and black along with an image of an FIA Formula E World Championship car in green and orange

With the release of the new variants of the Aikon, Maurice Lacroix have once again demonstrated their innovative, avant-garde, and perfectionist spirit. Available at accessible price points, these timepieces not only exhibit the special relationship that the Swiss watchmakers and Mahindra Racing share but also showcase both the brands’ enthusiasm for a better and sustainable future.