Round-UpMaurice Lacroix Now In India: A Look At Five Signature Watches
With origins in exporting Swiss watches to Asia and then creating watches for other brands, Maurice Lacroix has developed its own high-end timepieces for over 40 years. Here we explore five signature watches from Maurice Lacroix’s contemporary offerings, each of which lend a strong identity and distinctive appeal
May We Recommend
Go back into Maurice Lacroix’s past a little, and you’ll find that it was the name used for the in-house watches manufactured by a company called Desco, which assembled watches for private labels. However, before they even had their own manufacturing facilities, they were exporters of Swiss watches to Asia. Now almost coming full circle, setting up trade with Asia in a different way, Maurice Lacroix makes an entry into India with its refined Swiss watches made with the same technical know-how and expertise that they’ve honed since 1961, initially through other watch brands, before the name Maurice Lacroix itself was established in 1975.
Some of the brand’s key pillars that truly represent what it stands for today include the Aikon, Eliros and Masterpiece collections. Each with their own niche and a strong identity, they appeal to diverse sensibilities that have one thing in common—a taste for quality watchmaking.
Maurice Lacroix Aikon Bronze 44mm
The key feature of each watch from the Aikon collection that makes it instantly identifiable is the chiselled case and a bezel designed to appear as though it is attached to the case with six sets of claws. While the sharp edges are unique to the Aikon collection, the look of the ‘clawed’ bezel is one that the Aikon has inherited from its predecessor—the Maurice Lacroix Calypso collection. With its smoother case and rounded edges, the Calypso collection was first introduced in 1990 and soon became a roaring success for the brand. It became an icon for the brand, and that was perhaps the reason why they decided to call its descendant the Aikon. In 2016, the Aikon collection was born, and since then, the facetted case has held together several variations within the series.
This one though breathes new life into the case itself, owing to the metal of choice. Constructed from the au courant bronze, the 44mm case of this version is as contemporary as it gets, especially with all the blue on its textured dial and calf leather strap. Emulating bronze’s hues are the rose gold-plated hour markers, hands, the brand emblem on the dial itself, and on the strap, among other details. Powered by a quartz movement, and including the date at three o’clock, this watch is water resistant to 100m.
Maurice Lacroix Aikon Automatic 42mm
It may look slightly more mainstream than the bronze Aikon above, but this watch is anything but ordinary. For one, this 2018 release runs on an automatic movement—with a 38-hour power reserve—that immediately elevates its status. Like the bronze, it also features the hours, minutes and seconds with the date on the dial. However, the dial, in this case, has a gorgeous texture, adding nuance to the largely black-and-steel look of this watch. Sun-brushed for added effect, the pattern on the dial—called the Clou de Paris—forms the perfect backdrop for the rhodium-plated indexes and hands. The structured case—42mm in diameter, and water resistant to 200m—is in steel in this watch, with a complementing five-link steel bracelet with a butterfly clasp.
Maurice Lacroix Aikon Automatic Chronograph 44mm Limited Edition
And here’s an Aikon with a chronograph that only adds to the sporty character of this series with its splash of blue, but also brings together different textures on the dial for a combined impact. The snailed blue counters with the silver squares and the polished rings really do make this watch a pleasure to look at. The distinguishing factors of this limited edition of 500 pieces are the red chronograph and seconds hands, complementing the red stitching on the blue perforated calf leather strap that comes with a butterfly steel clasp. The automatic movement offering a 48-hour power reserve, the chronograph feature—with 12-hour and 30-minute counters at six and 12 o’clock respectively—and the day and date displays leave you with nothing to complain about. What more, the sturdy, wholesome timepiece is water resistant to 200m, making this Aikon all you’ll need for your daily-wear needs.
Maurice Lacroix Eliros Chronograph 40mm
Sleeker, smoother and more on the elegant side are the Eliros watches from Maurice Lacroix. With round cases and clean lines, Eliros is suitable for dressier needs, but that doesn’t go to say that they won’t go perfectly with casual, laidback attire as well. Take this chronograph version for instance. Perhaps it’s the chronograph feature, or perhaps it’s the softer tones of the rose gold PVD-treated case and the vintage brown leather strap that makes it more versatile. Yet, elegance is key, especially seen through the sheen on the dial lent by the lacquered finish with textural contrast in the sub-dials—all of which form a fine backdrop for the rose gold indexes and plated hands. Water resistant to 50m, the case houses a quartz movement and at a 40mm size, it’s an understated piece, as one of this nature should be.
Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Skeleton 43mm
And finally, we have the Masterpiece line, which is where Maurice Lacroix really plays up to its strengths as a watchmaker. The origins of the Masterpiece series can be traced back to 1992 when the Masterpiece Cinq Aiguilles was created. An elegant dress watch, this piece laid the ground for the development of in-house movement manufacturing capabilities, which came to fruition in 2006, with the brand’s first in-house mechanical calibre ML-106. By then, Maurice Lacroix was an independent entity, and there was no turning back. The Masterpiece collection continued to display the manufacturer’s mastery in watchmaking, and it has comprised some exceptional pieces over the years, including the Square Wheel, Mysterious Second and Gravity—introduced in 2010, 2013 and 2014 respectively.
This one here is the Skeleton watch, which showcases the mechanism in all its glory, with bridges in blue or grey that liven up the canvas for this Masterpiece. Set in a 43mm steel case, the watch houses a manual-winding mechanical movement, the calibre ML134, offering a significant power reserve of 45 hours, with a display of hours and minutes through central hands and small seconds at nine o’clock. Water resistant to 50m, the case comes fitted with a crocodile leather strap.
Fine watchmaking continues to be the focus of Maurice Lacroix, as the brand grows on its strengths. Relatively new as an individual brand, but with a rich background in watches and the industry, Maurice Lacroix has the know-how to create fine products that are aligned to present just the kind of individuality that we all seek.
Awesome
I can’t get these watches because of limited income but I am the fond off quality watches. Design,metal and machines are designed perfectly. Love watches.
the masterpies edition is aaassssssuuuummmm but my earning is only 10000 imdian rupess but definatly ill by this watch in future.
Lovely ML editions love to see.
Lovely, but TOO costly. Need to compare with other top brands like Omega, Longines, Rolex etc. I quite like the chronograph one in above illustration , BUT……………………………………..