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The Maurice Lacroix AIKON Vikings Edition is the special special model in the team colors of the internationally successful Beachvolley Vikings. The chronograph is considered a real premium representative among quartz watches. What makes the sportsman in red and blue so special?
Maurice Lacroix in the Uhrenlounge
For this review, I was provided the Maurice Lacroix Aikon Vikings Edition by my partner uhrenlounge.de. The Uhrenlounge of the Aika jewelers from Dresden is not only an authorized dealer of Maurice Lacroix watches, but also of many other well-known manufacturers like Oris, Tissot, Seiko or TAG Heuer. Thereby, Uhrenlounge is considered to be a true pioneer when it comes to ordering watches online safely and quickly. If you have further questions about watches, the competent customer service of the Uhrenlounge is at your disposal. As always, you can find links to the watch in the store at the end of this review. Have fun with your new dream watch!
Beach volleyball meets chronograph
If you are always interested in the latest watch models, there is hardly a more reliable site than the ‘news’ of Uhrenlounge. This spring, the Maurice Lacroix AIKON Quartz Chronograph made an appearance here, which immediately caught the eye with its unusual color garb and has enjoyed great popularity ever since.
For the new special edition model, Maurice Lacroix worked closely with top Norwegian athletes Anders Mol and Christian Sørum. Mol and Sørum are part of the Beach Volley Vikings and have already won several gold medals in their careers. Two years ago, Maurice Lacroix signed the exceptional athletes. Since then, Mol and Sørum have been part of the so-called Maurice Lacroix Crew. The ML Crew brings together the best talents in their field – top athletes, entrepreneurs and artists come together here and release special models for which they have collaborated with the Swiss watchmaker.
The Maurice Lacroix AIKON Vikings Edition is also the product of such a collaboration. According to Maurice Lacroix, the two beach volleyball players played a crucial role in the design process. So it’s no surprise that the special edition AIKON Quartz Chronograph wears the red, white and blue jersey of the Vikings.
Typical for all AIKON models are the differently designed surfaces and the resulting exciting overall look. I wonder how my red chronograph with reference number AI1018-SS001-530-6 implements this. And anyway, I can’t remember ever testing a quartz watch that costs a hefty 1290 euros. What makes the Maurice Lacroix AIKON Vikings Edition so special?
Unboxing: the first impression
‘manufacture horlgère suisse’ – Swiss watchmaker, it says on the discreet white packaging. “Doesn’t that stand for quality?”, I think and uncover the box, which also bears the team colors of the Beachvolley Vikings. The whole presentation with the sporty and anything but boring colors is simply fun – and still looks high-quality. The inner lid is emblazoned with the logo of the successful volleyball team, the horned beach volleyball. Embedded below it is the watch.
The Maurice Lacroix AIKON Vikings Edition is, at least at first glance, different than much of what I usually test. Loud and very self-confident, the quartz chronograph comes along. But more about that in a moment. The enclosed booklet contains the warranty card and a certificate from Uhrenlounge. Well, the warranty is the usual two years.
The Maurice Lacroix AIKON Vikings Edition on the wrist
I remove the protective foil from the Maurice Lacroix AIKON Vikings Edition, examine the chronograph and then put it on. The sporty dimensions are striking. With a diameter of 44 millimeters, the AIKON special model is relatively thin with a case height of 11 millimeters and lies flat on the wrist. With a quartz movement, however, that’s no wonder. The wristband is also sporty, as it is made of weather-resistant rubber.
So one thing becomes clear to me quite quickly. The Maurice Lacroix AIKON Vikings Edition is a true sportsman – just like its two co-designers. Whether you’re out in nature or on the beach volleyball court, you can take this dynamic chronograph anywhere. With its eye-catching color scheme, the Maurice Lacroix AIKON Vikings Edition thereby underscores its status as a special model. However, this also means that the timepiece is not very discreet. The Maurice Lacroix AIKON Vikings Edition defines an outfit and immediately catches the eye. So, this watch should be worn with confidence. However, I find the integration of the red, white and blue colors very tasteful.
The case of the Maurice Lacroix AIKON Vikings Edition
The core component of the Maurice Lacroix AIKON Vikings Edition is an angular case that is anything but boring with structuring elements. Visually, the many corners and edges thus lend even more power and robustness to the already great timepiece. These two attributes are also confirmed upon closer inspection of the choice of materials. Maurice Lacroix did not skimp here and equipped the AIKON special model with hard and resistant stainless steel. Its surfaces are alternately satin-finished and polished, depending on the case component. This gives the Maurice Lacroix AIKON Vikings Edition an appealing and exciting appearance.
The workmanship of the case is also impressive. Here, the Maurice Lacroix AIKON lives up to the claim of a premium watch. A loving detail has been incorporated into the case back. To underline the status of a true special model, you once again encounter the team’s distinctive emblem, the horned beach volleyball. Like the surrounding specifications, it has been very cleanly engraved into the stainless steel with a sunray look.
As befits a watch in the four-digit price segment, the sapphire watch crystal completes the robust case. Its shape is flat, its hardness unsurpassed. It quickly becomes apparent that Maurice Lacroix wants to underscore its status as a Swiss premium manufacturer with the materials used here. On paper, the manufacturer manages to guarantee the AIKON Chronograph a water resistance of 10 bar or 100 meters. These may not be diving qualities, but the Maurice Lacroix AIKON Vikings Edition still proves to be sufficiently suitable for everyday use.
A quartz movement has its advantages
I am positively surprised, when I wind up the movement for the first time. This is actually done with a winding crown, which also explains the good water resistance of the case. With its rather flat form, it fits well into the sporty and angular design of the Maurice Lacroix AIKON Vikings Edition. To ensure that it is still easy to use, the sides are fluted in keeping with the watch’s status and provide a secure grip for the fingers. Additional praise goes to the crown guard, for which the typically angular Maurice Lacroix design seems to be made anyway. The familiar Maurice Lacroix M on the top of the crown provides an additional dash of detail.
The quartz movement is certainly a matter of taste. The fact that Maurice Lacroix decided against installing an automatic caliber here does not automatically devalue the watch. Like the automatic movement, the quartz version has several advantages and disadvantages. One advantage is the lower weight, which Mol and Sørum would have emphasized during development. More detailed information about the differences between the technologies can be found in my guide automatic vs. quartz watches.
Dial, bezel and bracelet
On the red dial with a chic sunray cut, you’ll find everything a chronograph heart desires. Besides the small seconds at 6 o’clock and the 30 minute time at 9 o’clock, it even contains a 1/10 stop second, which is usually rather rare, but typical for the AIKON models. Visually, the three subdials stand out against the striking red of the main dial with a rich blue hue.
Its legibility is solid, which is mainly due to the dash-shaped indices as well as the shiny hands. In the dark, the dial shines thanks to the evenly applied SLN coating. In order to read the time to the minute, the minute scale on the rehaut is extremely useful. The dial is rounded off by the date window, which is elegantly embedded in the small second hand.
The main design element, apart from the confident colors, is the bezel. It is not distinguished by any important function, but stands out with its six so-called “arms”, which are more familiar to Maurice Lacroix from the much more expensive Masterpiece models. This is an indication of the segment in which the manufacturer would like to position the Maurice Lacroix AIKON Vikings Edition.
Last but not least, we come to the bracelet. This is made of weather and beach volleyball court-tested rubber, which can withstand pretty much anything and is the perfect choice for a sporty watch like the Maurice Lacroix AIKON Vikings Edition. I like the silver logo on the top a lot.
My conclusion about the Maurice Lacroix AIKON Vikings Edition
The Maurice Lacroix AIKON Quartz Chronograph in the special Vikings Edition is THE watch for top athletes of beach volleyball – and all who want to become one as well as big fans of the Vikings. With this sporty chronograph, Maurice Lacroix has probably fully met the taste of the target group.
Soberly considered, the Maurice Lacroix AIKON Vikings Edition is a good chronograph, which despite its quartz movement does not have to hide behind the competition with automatic calibers, but can confidently show its strengths. And those definitely lie in the good workmanship, the choice of materials and the interesting story about the beach volleyball players Anders Mol and Christian Sørum. This Maurice Lacroix AIKON is fun to wear on the wrist, making it a perfect watch for the summer!
My thanks once again to Uhrenlounge for providing me with the Maurice Lacroix AIKON Vikings Edition for this review. The current price is 1.290, – euros. Click here to go to the store!
