Maurice Lacroix has carved out a distinct identity in the Swiss watchmaking landscape. The brand itself, officially launched in 1975, is a relative newcomer compared to the centuries-old houses of Geneva. It emerged from Desco von Schulthess, a Zurich-based company with roots in the silk trade, which began distributing high-end watch brands. This background gave the fledgling Maurice Lacroix a keen understanding of the market and a solid commercial footing. Instead of trying to replicate the past, the brand focused on contemporary design, solid Swiss quality, and, most importantly, offering complications and high-perceived value at an accessible price point.
During the 1990s, while many were still navigating the aftermath of the quartz crisis, Maurice Lacroix established its horological credentials with the "Les Mécaniques" line, later renamed "Masterpiece." This collection became a showcase for the brand's creativity, frequently featuring retrograde displays, chronographs, and moon phases. They were not afraid to play with mechanics and display time in new ways, earning a reputation for clever engineering that didn't require a second mortgage. This focus on craftsmanship and in-house capability was further cemented when the company acquired the case manufacturer Queloz S.A. in Saignelégier, bringing a critical component of watch production under its own roof.
Courtesy of Maurice Lacroix
This ability to control case production is fundamental to understanding the brand's modern success story, the AIKON. The AIKON collection, which has become a central pillar for Maurice Lacroix, did not appear out of thin air. Its design DNA is a direct evolution of a successful model from the 1990s, the Calypso. The Calypso was a popular quartz watch that defined the brand's aesthetic for a generation, and its most recognizable feature was a bezel adorned with six prominent "claws" or riders. This distinctive bezel, paired with an integrated case and strap design, set the template for what was to come.
In 2016, Maurice Lacroix revived this spirit by launching the AIKON, initially as a quartz collection that directly honored its Calypso ancestor. However, the watch world truly sat up and took notice in 2018 when the AIKON Automatic was released. It arrived at the perfect moment, tapping directly into the massive resurgence of interest in integrated-bracelet sports watches. The AIKON offered the same design language—an architectural case, a textured dial, and that signature bezel—that enthusiasts loved in other, far more expensive models, but at a price that was radically more attainable. It quickly became the brand's flagship, a versatile platform for everything from simple three-handers to complex chronographs.
The AIKON's strong, defined architecture has also made it an ideal canvas for collaboration. This brings us to the latest release, the AIKON Quartz Wotto Limited Edition. This watch is a deliberate and energetic collision between the structured world of Swiss case manufacturing and the free-flowing creativity of contemporary street art. It’s a partnership with the British artist Craig Watkins, known professionally as Wotto, and it transforms the familiar AIKON from a sporty timepiece into a wearable, dynamic piece of art.
Wotto’s artistic universe is the core of this watch's identity. His style is instantly recognizable, characterized by a playful, graffiti-inspired "doodle" aesthetic. He populates his work with what he calls a "fantastic bestiary"—a collection of cartoonish ghosts, expressive skulls, quirky monsters, and other imaginative figures. It's a style that is both slightly macabre and undeniably fun. Applying this illustrative, almost chaotic energy to the precise, industrial lines of the AIKON is a bold move, and the execution is what makes this piece so compelling.
Courtesy of Maurice Lacroix
At first glance, the watch is dark and subdued. The 40mm stainless-steel case, a versatile size that suits a wide range of wrists, is given a gunmetal-colored double PVD treatment. This isn't a simple black coating; it's a deep, metallic charcoal-gray that gives the watch an urban, almost industrial feel. This darker tone serves as the perfect backdrop for the artistic elements, allowing them to stand out without being overwhelming. The watch feels stealthy, but with a hidden personality waiting to be discovered.
The finishing on the case is a hallmark of the AIKON line and is thankfully preserved here. The broad surfaces of the case and strap integration are vertically brushed, which diffuses light and reinforces the watch's tool-watch credentials. However, the edges and bevels are polished. This interplay between brushed and polished surfaces, even under the dark PVD coating, allows the case to catch the light, highlighting its complex geometry. It’s a level of finishing detail that speaks to the brand's in-house case-making expertise.
A key point of contrast on the case is the bezel. While the case itself is gunmetal-gray, the iconic bezel with its six claws is rendered in a deep black PVD. This subtle two-tone monochrome effect—charcoal-gray and black—helps to frame the dial and makes the six claws, the AIKON's most defining feature, pop. The crown, nestled between protective guards, is also finished in black and topped with a cabochon, likely featuring the Maurice Lacroix logo.
Flipping the watch over reveals a solid, screw-down caseback, also finished in black PVD to match the bezel. This secured back is essential for guaranteeing the watch's 100-meter (10 ATM) water resistance, ensuring it's more than capable of handling daily wear, including swimming. The caseback is engraved to certify the watch's special status, bearing the "Maurice Lacroix x WOTTO" co-branding and the all-important limited-edition number, marking it as "1 of 500." The model reference, AI1108, and "Stainless Steel" engravings complete the technical details.
Courtesy of Maurice Lacroix
The dial, of course, is the main event. It’s a charcoal-gray base, perfectly matching the gunmetal case. This surface is entirely covered by a tone-on-tone print of Wotto's characters. The print is done in a glossy black, and because it’s dark-on-dark, the effect is surprisingly subtle from a distance. It might first register as just a unique texture. But as you look closer, the dial reveals its secrets. The entire bestiary is there—skulls, ghosts, and abstract figures all jostling for position, creating a fantastic sense of depth and rewarding close inspection.
Maurice Lacroix and Wotto made a smart decision regarding legibility. To avoid cluttering the artwork, the dial features no applied hour markers or printed indices. The dial is sterile, allowing the art to be the focus. Readability is instead handled entirely by the handset. The faceted hour and minute hands are matte black, but they are filled with generous amounts of white Super-LumiNova. This bright white lume provides a strong contrast against the dark, busy dial, making the time easy to read at a glance, day or night.
The hands themselves are part of the artwork. The hour hand is a relatively traditional, bold baton shape. The minute hand, however, is customized. At its tip, where you would normally find a simple rectangle of lume, it is shaped into a small, white, luminescent ghost, one of Wotto's signature characters. This is an ingenious touch. The ghost appears to float around the dial, pointing to the minutes, fully integrating the time-telling function with the artist's theme.
While the case and dial are almost entirely monochrome, the watch is brought to life by a single, vibrant accent color: an electric, neon pink. This color is used for the seconds hand, which is anything but traditional. Instead of a straight, needle-like hand, it’s a "serpentine" hand, rendered as a long, squiggly line that snakes its way across the dial. This playful, dynamic hand adds a jolt of energy and fun, perfectly capturing the spirit of Wotto's art.
Courtesy of Maurice Lacroix
This collaborative creativity extends to what is arguably the most remarkable feature of the watch: the date display. Located in a rhodium-plated, framed window at 3 o'clock, the date function completely abandons traditional numerals. Wotto has created 31 unique, miniature drawings that are printed on the date disc. Each day, as the disc clicks over, a new piece of miniature art is revealed.
This feature fundamentally changes the owner's relationship with the watch. The date window is no longer a simple utility; it’s a daily surprise. It becomes a miniature art gallery that cycles through the month, encouraging the wearer to look closely each morning to see which character—a small pink monster, a different skull, or a new ghost—has appeared. It’s a brilliant way to make the watch feel alive and engaging long after the initial purchase.
Inside this artistic creation beats a reliable and practical Swiss quartz movement, the Ronda 515. Choosing quartz was a deliberate and logical decision for this model. It keeps the watch robust, highly accurate, and relatively thin, with a case height of 11mm, allowing it to sit comfortably on the wrist. It also ensures the watch remains accessible, adhering to the Maurice Lacroix philosophy of high value. The quartz movement is protected by the solid caseback, contributing to the watch's impressive 100-meter water resistance.
The watch is secured to the wrist with an integrated black rubber strap. The choice of rubber complements the urban, sporty aesthetic of the PVD case and the dial's contemporary art style. The strap features a debossed Maurice Lacroix 'm' logo near the lugs and fastens with a stainless-steel pin buckle, which is also treated in gunmetal PVD to match the case perfectly.
The final flash of color is found on the strap. The two rubber loops, or keepers, are rendered in the same vibrant pink as the seconds hand. This is a small but critical design choice. It balances the entire visual presentation, carrying the dial's bright accent color over to the strap and tying the whole package together. This strap is also equipped with the brand's Easychange system, identifiable by the two small tabs on the underside where the strap meets the case, allowing for quick, tool-free strap changes.
Courtesy of Maurice Lacroix
The Maurice Lacroix AIKON Quartz Wotto is a special project, and as such, it is a limited edition of just 500 pieces available worldwide. This scarcity reinforces its status as a collectible item, a true collaboration rather than a simple color variant. It is delivered in a special presentation box designed specifically for this release, further enhancing its gift-worthy and collectible nature.
This unique fusion of Swiss watchmaking and street art is priced at $1,500.00 USD, (or 1,200 CHF in Switzerland). This price point feels entirely in line with the brand's identity, offering a significant amount of custom artwork, a high-quality case, and a unique complication—the art-wheel date—for a very reasonable sum. It's a watch that doesn't take itself too seriously, prioritizing fun and personal expression. It successfully merges the industrial, architectural identity of the AIKON with the playful, subversive energy of Wotto, creating a piece that is guaranteed to be a conversation starter.
Case: 40 mm gunmetal PVD-plated stainless steel case, 11 mm height. Brushed and polished finishing. Black PVD bezel with six "claws" and special engraved caseback. Sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective coating. Water-resistant to 10 ATM (100 meters).
Movement: Quartz movement (Ronda 515). Functions include hours, minutes, seconds, and date at 3 o'clock.
Dial: Grey dial with special Wotto motif printed in black. Matte black faceted hour hand and ghost-shaped minute hand, both with white Super-LumiNova. Pink serpentine second hand. Date at 3H features unique Wotto characters printed on the date disk.
Strap: Black rubber strap with gunmetal PVD M-logo and pink loops. Stainless steel pin buckle with gunmetal PVD. Features the Easychange system.
Price: 1,500.00 USD / 1,200 CHF
Reference Number: AI1108-PVL20-090-2
Notes: A limited edition of 500 pieces created in collaboration with British artist Wotto. The most unique feature is the date disc, which abandons numerals in favor of 31 unique drawings by the artist.