SpotlightMaurice Lacroix Presents New Aikons In Watchmaking
Presenting off-site in Geneva during SIHH, Maurice Lacroix brings out a few interesting new novelties, with the Aikon Mercury as the clear standout among their 2019 timepieces
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The strength of a watchmaker, in a big way, lies in the distinctive look of the products it creates. And striking the right balance of creativity and wearability is where some of the biggest names in watchmaking excel. Maurice Lacroix is a relatively smaller name in timekeeping, but in no way do they fall behind on this front. The signature look of the Maurice Lacroix Aikon series has been their strength, and this year, they enhance it further.
The Aikon Mercury
The recognisable case structure of the Aikon is presented this year in a special Mercury edition, which, like the fluid metal, gives us a quirky presentation of time, but still in a way that can be worn on a regular basis. The face of the watch presents the time, but when you move the piece, the hands swing around to meet at 12 o’clock, owing to the weight lever system, only to go back to the current time when you hold it upright as you would when you read the time on your wrist. A watchmaking feat and an interesting interpretation of time, this one is definitely the brand’s highlight for 2019.
A Masterpiece Combination
The more classical watch from Maurice Lacroix, the Masterpiece this time comes with two features that haven’t been combined before. One is a retrograde calendar—an analogue display wherein the hand jumps back to the first at beginning of the month. The other is the square wheel small seconds. A nice timekeeping combination, this one is available with a silver Clou de Paris dial with blue details and one with an anthracite Côtes de Genève dial with gold details.
Drawing From Two Sources
The Masterpiece has had skeleton versions in the past, which today inform the brand’s present, in the form of a new Aikon Skeleton. A faceted version of the brand’s successful 90s’ Calypso series, the Aikon now combines its predecessor’s design principles, while incorporating an update of an earlier Masterpiece Skeleton movement.
The updates are the automatic winding and a bridge decoration that appears like a segment of concentric circles. The black PVD case in 45mm completes the look.
Other new releases from Maurice Lacroix include additions to the Aikon Chronograph line in panda dials, combining blue or black with white.
The Eliros range too has interesting updates, with nuanced grey brushed dials set in gold PVD cases and with distressed brown leather straps.
A good mix of simple and mechanically superior watches, Maurice Lacroix’s 2019 novelties have a little bit for everyone, all the while maintaining its strength in identifiability.
