Pre-Baselworld 2018 – Maurice Lacroix Aikon Automatic Skeleton

Maurice Lacroix is known for its affordable approach to watchmaking, bringing complex displays and complications to a larger audience. Another field often pursued by the brand is skeleton watches, with modern and rather bold openworked movements. Expected to debut at Baselworld 2018, the Maurice Lacroix Aikon Automatic Skeleton introduces a new self-winding skeleton movement in the recently introduced sporty Aikon case. Overview.

Previously only available with quartz movements, the Maurice Lacroix Aikon goes mechanical at the Basel Watch Fair, with the introduction of not only a self-winding calibre, but a skeletonised one too. Skeleton movements, or openworked movements, consist in creating hollowed areas in the movement’s parts in order to retain and expose the functional structure. Many possibilities are available to watchmakers, from a classical engraved style to a more modern, architectural approach. Maurice Lacroix has been “open-working” movements since 1993, with the Calypso Skeleton, its first such creation. This signature style is widely used in the Masterpiece collection and now makes its debut in the Aikon line.

Based on the bold and sporty case designed in 2016, the new Maurice Lacroix Aikon Automatic Skeleton is enlarged to house its new mechanical movement. From 42mm in the quartz versions, this new openworked model grows to 45mm in diameter, with a case thickness of 13mm. Quite a statement watch. Also, the overall style is quite complex, with a tonneau-shaped case and a round bezel with six arms positioned at two-hour intervals. The steel case alternates between brushed and polished surfaces and is secured to the wrist thanks to an integrated alligator strap.

The pièce de résistance here is the new calibre ML234. For this sporty Maurice Lacroix Aikon Automatic Skeleton, the brand has decided to add automatic winding capacity to its manufacture hand-wound skeleton ML134 movement. This movement is based on the Unitas architecture, yet highly modified by ML to become an almost entirely new movement. A whole new pattern has been applied on the bridges, which are structured by a series of five concentric circles that run diagonally through the entire watch. Adding to the contemporary spirit of the watch, the bridges feature a black-DLC surface treatment. The central canal of the bridges is lower and sandblasted while their outline is one level higher and satin-brushed. Most technical components are also hollowed, such as the barrel, the oscillating weight and the winding mechanism.

The movement of this new Maurice Lacroix Aikon Automatic Skeleton retains the technical specifications usually seen on Unitas bases: a 2.5Hz (18,000vph) frequency; time indicated by central hours with small seconds at 6 o’clock; but upgraded with a longer power reserve of 52 hours.

This new Aikon Automatic Skeleton will be officially presented during Baselworld 2018. Anticipated price: USD 5,990. More details on www.mauricelacroix.com.