Horologii

Maurice Lacroix Aikon Master Grand Date Black Watch Review

Back in 2021, Swiss watch manufacturer Maurice Lacroix launched their inaugural Aikon Master Grand Date watch which beautifully combined the integrated architecture of their sporty Aikon watch with an in-house movement and technical characteristics seen within their Masterpiece series. Now swapping out the original steel case and blue dial for something entirely monochromatic, Maurice Lacroix unveils the new Aikon Master Grand Date Black watch with a jet black PVD coated case and a matching black dial.

The Maurice Lacroix Aikon watch officially launched in 2017, inspired by the Swiss watch brand’s Calypso watch from the 1990’s. The design reinterpreted the sporty aesthetic and high precision quartz movement of its predecessor for a modern audience. The Maurice Lacroix Aikon debuted first as a quartz model and then later as automatic, endowed with integrated bracelets, six-claw bezels, and sapphire crystal glass. Over the years, we’ve watched as the flagship design has continued to evolve, electing new complications like GMT and chronograph, complex skeletonised dials and bold limited-edition styles. As aforementioned in the introduction, the Aikon saw one of its more recent evolutions last year with the launch of the Maurice Lacroix Aikon Master Grand Date watch, borrowing the characteristic off-centred display of the Masterpiece collection housed within the sporty Aikon case.

Joining the Aikon Master Grand Date collection is a new all-black model suitably named the Maurice Lacroix Aikon Master Grand Date Black watch. It follows in the footsteps of the design from last year with a 45mm stainless steel case, making it the largest Aikon model in the family. Instead of being left bare and traditional, the stainless steel receives a black PVD treatment for a stealthy and masculine finish. The PVD coating covers the entire architecture including the angular, integrated lugs, the six claw bezel and the knurled crown at 3 o’clock. There’s still the same sapphire crystal glass for protection of the dial and a 100 metre water resistant rating.

Pairing with the jet black case is a new dial colour for the Maurice Lacroix Aikon Master Grand Date watch, a black vertically brushed DLC coated surface. Like before, the dial features an off-set display with the hour and minutes positioned in their own subsidiary dial in the right-hand corner. To distinguish the hours and minutes from the smooth backdrop is Clous de Paris decoration. Below that is a small running seconds skeletonised counter and to the left of it is sizable double-digit date window. The most noticeable feature on the dial of the Maurice Lacroix Aikon Master Grand Date Black watch is the large irregular-shaped aperture in the bottom left corner which neatly shows off the reversed escapement, the balance wheel held under an arched skeletonised bridge and the silicon escapement. Allowing for readability of the complications on the dial, the numerals and hands are finished in white and decorated in a luminous material.

The movement shown off on the Maurice Lacroix Aikon Master Grand Date Black watch is the brand’s in-house Calibre ML331 automatic movement. It’s the same movement used within the stainless steel model from last year offering a frequency of 18,000vph (2.5 Hz) and a power reserve of approximately 50 hours. The appearance of the movement has changed however, conforming to its new black profile with the bridges and oscillating rotor sandblasted in black. You can admire the Calibre ML331 through both the dial and exhibition case back of the watch.

Finishing the Maurice Lacroix Aikon Master Grand Date Black watch is a black rubber strap embossed with the Maurice Lacroix logo. You’ll also receive a second strap with each order of the design, this one a black synthetic leather band with textile effect on its outer surface combined with the brand’s signature ‘M’ logo. The straps can be easily swapped over thanks to Maurice Lacroix’s innovative Easy Strap Exchange system. Both straps also closed by a black PVD finished stainless steel push-button deployment clasp.

If you’d like to learn more about the new Maurice Lacroix Aikon Master Grand Date Black watch and shop the design for yourself, head over to the Jura Watches website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at help@jurawatches.co.uk.

Specifications:

  • Case Size: 45mm
  • Case Material: Stainless steel with black PVD coating
  • Bezel: Fixed
  • Glass: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
  • Crown: Screw in
  • Case Back: Exhibition
  • Water Resistance: 100 metres
  • Movement: Calibre ML331, in-house automatic winding
  • Functions: Off-centred hours and minutes, small seconds, large date window
  • Power Reserve: 50 hours
  • Jewels: 43
  • Frequency: 18,800vph
  • Dial: Black DLC, vertically brushed with Clous de Paris off-centred hour and minutes, openwork small seconds and large aperture for balance wheel and silicon escapement
  • Strap: Black rubber and black leather
  • Buckle: Deployment
  • RRP: £8,570
  • Limited: No
  • Reference: AI6118-DLB0B-330-2