The Maurice Lacroix Aikon | family history
Launched in 2016, the Aikon is Maurice Lacroix's answer to a question the market was asking: can you build a serious integrated-bracelet sport watch for under $2,000? The answer is yes. The Aikon borrows its design language from the hexagonal case-lug treatment that defined the brand's earlier 1970s sport pieces, then wraps it around a modern in-house movement and a bracelet that holds its geometry on the wrist. It is the best value proposition in the integrated-bracelet category.
Maurice Lacroix's sport-elegance integrated-bracelet line, launched 2016. The Aikon features a distinctive pentagonal bezel, 200 m water resistance, and accessible pricing with ETA/Sellita movements. The AI6008 steel is a direct competitor to the Tissot PRX and Oris Aquis at its price point: solid Swiss-made quality with an attractive integrated-bracelet design.
2016 · Launch and the integrated-bracelet argument
Maurice Lacroix introduced the Aikon as a direct move into the sport watch segment dominated by AP, Piaget, and IWC at multiples of the price. The initial Aikon Quartz and Aikon Automatic 42 established the hexagonal integrated case that linked the bracelet to the case mid. The ML115 automatic (in-house) carried a 38-hour power reserve and COSC-adjacent tolerances at a production volume that kept pricing accessible.
2019 · Chronograph and case expansion
The Aikon Chronograph 44 arrived with a column-wheel Valjoux 7753-based movement. The 44mm sizing gave it wrist presence that matched the sport-chrono segment without the Royal Oak Offshore bulk. Maurice Lacroix positioned the chrono as the statement piece and the 42mm automatic as the everyday anchor of the line.
2022 · Material upgrades and skeleton dials
The brand pushed the Aikon toward premiumization with skeleton dials, bronze cases, and limited-edition colorways without raising the movement specification meaningfully. The core value proposition of the 42mm automatic on bracelet remains intact. Buyers chasing the skeleton versions pay a premium for aesthetics, not added mechanical complexity.
No references from this era in the catalog yet.
How to read this family
Three questions buyers should settle before purchasing an Aikon.
- 42mm Automatic or 44mm Chronograph? The 42mm Automatic is the cleaner value: integrated bracelet, in-house automatic, clean dial, sub-$2,000 new. The 44mm Chronograph is larger and adds complication but uses a Valjoux base rather than a fully proprietary movement. If you want the sport complication, the chrono is compelling. If you want daily wearability, the 42mm automatic wins.
- How does Aikon compare to entry Royal Oak alternatives? The Aikon draws direct comparison to the Royal Oak 15500 and the Piaget Polo because all three share the integrated-bracelet geometry. The Aikon delivers similar visual weight at roughly one-fifth the price of the Royal Oak. The movement finishing is not at the same level, and the brand carries less secondary-market gravity, but as a working watch with genuine sport credentials the Aikon competes honestly.
- Pre-owned Aikon vs. new? The Aikon was not produced in scarcity, so the secondary market is well-supplied and pricing is soft. Buying pre-owned saves roughly 30 percent with minimal quality risk if you stick to references less than five years old. New makes sense if a specific limited colorway matters or if warranty coverage is a priority.
Related families: Maurice Lacroix Pontos · Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece
References in this family
Which ref to buy
The Aikon is Maurice Lacroix's integrated sports watch, launched to compete with the Royal Oak on design language while sitting at a dramatically more accessible price point. The ML231 in-house movement and proper case finishing make this one of the more serious competitors in the accessible-sports-luxury segment.
- 1Open
42mm three-hand Aikon: integrated bracelet, ML231 in-house automatic, sports-luxury proportions at a fraction of the AP price.
- The case for it:
- The Aikon 42 is arguably the best value in the integrated-sports watch category below $2,000. In-house movement, proper bracelet integration, finishing above what the price suggests. For a buyer who wants the integrated-sports aesthetic and cannot or will not pay AP money, this is the most defensible option.
- Consider instead if:
- The Royal Oak and Nautilus have decades of market history and strong secondary values; the Aikon does not. If you are buying for investment protection, the Tudor Black Bay 54 has stronger resale at similar prices. The Aikon is the buy-to-wear argument.
- 2Open
44mm Aikon Chronograph: column-wheel chronograph in the integrated-bracelet format, ML164 column-wheel caliber.
- The case for it:
- Adding a column-wheel chronograph in the integrated-sports format at this price point is genuinely notable. The Aikon Chrono is a technically complete sports chronograph for buyers who want more than a three-hand watch.
- Consider instead if:
- 44mm is large. The base Aikon at 42mm is the more versatile daily wear. Chronograph buyers who want secondary market strength should look at the Tag Heuer Carrera or Omega Speedmaster.
Rankings last reviewed 2026-06-18. Editorial perspective only. Not financial advice.