Category: MAURICE LACROIX

In 2016, Maurice Lacroix launched for the first time the AIKON model, an attractive sporty model with a steel case, 100m of water resistance and internal quartz movement, it ended up registering an unexpected success and today six years later the brand is back to bet strongly in the new AIKON #tide aimed at a distinctly young and contemporary audience.

The new Maurice Lacroix AIKON #tide is all colour and environmentally friendly, in all, there are 10 new models, built from a 100% sustainable base, which includes the case, bezel, case back, crown, end-piece and buckle. The composite which is made of ocean-bound upcycled plastic (17 bottles are needed to produce each unit) combined with glass fibre, is twice as hard as standard plastic, five times more resistant and has a carbon footprint considerably lower than the production of virgin PET.

AIKON #tide comes in a 40mm diameter, 11mm thick case, flat sapphire crystal, screwed crown and case back and 100m of water resistance. The dial is adorned with an ocean-inspired ‘Vague du Jura’ motif, a date window at 3 o’clock, baton hour markers (which in four variants are replaced by diamond-set indexes) and central hands all filled with Super-LumiNova. Inside and just like its beginnings in 2016, it comes with a quartz movement that guarantees high precision. All models are offered with a rubber strap that comes with the Easy Strap Exchange system.

Regarding the variants, as already mentioned there are ten. Five variants are presented with black bezel, crown, case back, bracelet and indexes varying only in the single colour of the case and dial which are offered in orange, yellow, green, blue or in black (the monochromatic model).

Another variant comes with a blue case, bezel, crown, case back and indexes, and a white dial and strap.

Finally, there are four variants that, in addition to distinguishing themselves from the other six already mentioned by coming with diamond-set indexes, have a case, bezel, crown, case back and dial in a single colour, available in pink, rose, light blue or turquoise tones. These four variants also come with an inner ring, indexes and strap all in white.

The watches are already available at the brand’s official stores and retailers, with prices starting at CHF 690 and CHF 850 (variants with diamond-set indexes).

Our Opinion

It is without a doubt a balm for the Spring/Summer season that is now beginning, the range of vibrant colours should arrive to satisfy the most differentiated tastes, however, it will not be for everyone, especially for a more conservative audience.

We definitely liked the size of 40mm, not being small it is not excessively big, the option for recyclable materials has to be without a doubt the way of the future for the brands and that’s why Maurice Lacroix, like many other brands that have followed this path, is of congratulations.

What’s our favourite? Undoubtedly the black monochrome model is the most versatile, but probably the most boring, the five models with a black strap and bezel are all very attractive and therefore would probably be our choice, but we have to recognize that the other five variants with a white bracelet and lighter tones, they are more inviting to summer activities.

More information here.

General Specifications:

Brand: Maurice Lacroix

Model: Aikon #tide

Reference: AI2008-50050-300-0 (orange dial), AI2008-60060-300-0 (yellow dial),  AI2008-70070-300-0 (green dial), AI2008-80080-300-0 (blue dial), AI2008-00000-300-0 (black dial), AI2008-FFFF1-3A0-0 (pink dial), AI2008-EEEE1-3A0-0 (rose dial), AI2008-AAAA1-3A0-0 (baby blue dial), AI2008-CCCC1-3A0-0 (turquoise dial), AI2008-BBB11-300-0 (white dial)

Dial: Orange, yellow, green, blue, black, pink, rose, baby blue, turquoise, white

Lume: Super-LumiNova

Case Material: Made from ocean-bound upcycled plastic

Case Dimensions: 40 mm Diameter x 11 mm thick

Crystal: Flat Sapphire Glass

Case Back: Made from ocean-bound upcycled plastic

Water Resistance: 100 Meters

Strap: Black rubber strap, white rubber strap

Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date

Winding: Quartz

Price: CHF 690, CHF 850 (diamond-set indexes).

Availability: 2022

Maurice Lacroix has just expanded its Aikon collection with the new Venturer GMT, the first model in the collection equipped with a dual time zone function. With a small retrospective, the Aikon line was born in 2016, whose first watches were equipped with a quartz movement, two years later the automatic movement was introduced in the line and naturally, a sportier model called the Venturer also appeared.

The new Aikon Venturer GMT comes in a 43 mm stainless steel case, unidirectional steel bezel with black ceramic insert, with a 24-hour scale that works in partnership with the GMT hand, still, on the bezel, it should be noted that it comes with rider tabs ( Breitling Chronomat style) every 4 hours and with an inverted triangle at 12 o’clock. Black lacquered crown with a recessed steel insert with brand logo at 3 o’clock and discreet guards that follow the shape of the case, solid back case fixed with 8 screws, engraved with the globe, and 24 cities with the respective GMT timing.

The dial is offered in two variants, in sunbrushed black and in sunbrushed white (cream). The minimalist dial comes with applied hour indices and baton hands, black plated on the white variant and rhodium plated on the black variant all filled with Super-LumiNova, central lollipop seconds hand, arrow shape GMT hand in orange in the white variant, and in red in the black variant and last date aperture at three o’clock in black.

The new Venturer is powered by the ML165 automatic movement based on the Sellita SW330 and offering up to 42 hours of power reserve.

The watches are offered with three strap options, one that includes an integrated steel bracelet with 5 links and a black rubber strap, a second option with an integrated steel bracelet, and a third option with a rubber strap. All strap options include the brand’s “EasyChange” system that allows you to change bracelets quickly without the need for any kind of tool. Prices start at CHF 2,350 and go up to CHF 2,650.

Our Opinion

The new Aikon Venturer GMT is a beautiful watch, although we have some reservations about its 43 mm diameter, we especially liked the cream dial variant equipped with the rubber strap, which in addition to the sportier look features an interesting color scheme. As for the black variant, it is presented in a more classic color scheme and therefore a little more boring.

Read more here.

General Specifications:

Brand: Maurice Lacroix

Model: Aikon Venturer GMT

Reference: AI6158-SS00F-330-A (black dial and bracelet plus strap), AI6158-SS00F-130-A (white dial and bracelet plus strap), AI6158-SS002-330-1 (black dial and bracelet), AI6158-SS002-130-1 (white dial and bracelet), AI6158-SS001-330-2 (black dial and strap), AI6158-SS001-130-2 (white dial and strap)

Dial: Black sunbrushed, white sunbrushed

Case Material: Stainless steel and ceramic insert bezel

Case Dimensions: 43 mm diameter

Crystal: Sapphire Glass

Case Back: Stainless steel

Water Resistance: 300 Meters

Strap: Stainless steel bracelet, black rubber strap

Caliber: ML 165

Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, GMT

Winding: Automatic

Frequency: 28,800 Vph

Jewels: 25

Power Reserve: 42 Hours

Price: CHF 2,650 (stainless steel bracelet and rubber strap), CHF 2,490 (stainless steel bracelet), CHF 2,350 (rubber strap)