Maurice Lacroix, a name synonymous with contemporary design and Swiss watchmaking prowess, unveils a captivating addition to its esteemed AIKON collection: the Automatic Wotto Limited Edition. This striking timepiece, limited to a mere 1,000 pieces, represents a bold fusion of urban culture, artistic engraving, and horological mastery, marking a vibrant entry into the brand’s evocative Urban Tribe series. More than just a watch, this is a wearable canvas, a testament to the dynamic interplay between fine watchmaking and the boundless creativity of street art.
The genesis of this remarkable collaboration is a modern tale of artistic inspiration and digital connection. In 2021, Hungarian artist @Timeengraver, an independent engraver with a distinctive style, took it upon himself to adorn an AIKON watch with his unique artistry, sharing his creation with the world via Instagram. This spontaneous act of creative expression sparked an unexpected chain of events, inspiring Maurice Lacroix to embark on a journey that would further explore the intersection of horology and urban art.
The result was the highly sought-after AIKON Automatic Urban Tribe and AIKON Automatic Skeleton Urban Tribe, both launched with the blessing of @Timeengraver. Two years later, the narrative evolved further when @Timeengraver unveiled a new creation, this time featuring the whimsical illustrations of British artist Wotto, a prominent and influential figure within the vibrant street art scene.
Now, the story comes full circle with the AIKON Automatic Wotto Limited Edition, a timepiece that seamlessly blends Maurice Lacroix’s renowned Swiss watchmaking expertise with Wotto’s unrestrained and imaginative universe. This collaboration underscores the power of urban culture as an artistic dialogue in perpetual motion, where inspirations converge and respond to one another, pushing the boundaries of creative expression. With this latest offering, Maurice Lacroix delves deeper than ever before into the fascinating frontier where horology and art intersect, resulting in a timepiece that is truly a work of art to be worn and admired.
The new AIKON Automatic Wotto Limited Edition transcends the notion of a simply engraved watch; it is a horological embodiment of Wotto’s distinctive artistic vocabulary. The 42mm steel case, the elegant integrated bracelet, and the prominent bezel are entirely engraved with a tapestry of motifs drawn from Wotto’s prolific imagination. Playful mushrooms, endearing little hearts, mischievous skateboarding ghosts, and energetic lightning flashes intertwine with the artist’s signature capital W, forming a series of hieroglyphic-like symbols that flow seamlessly across the links of the bracelet, extending onto the case and bezel. Like a visual rebus, each engraved link seems to tell its own miniature story, inviting closer inspection and sparking the imagination. The contrast between the polished finish of the steel and the intricate engraving of the ornaments lends the watch a striking sense of depth and texture, creating a captivating visual experience.
The true pièce de résistance, however, lies in the dial. For the first time within the Urban Tribe series, Wotto was granted complete creative freedom to conceive his own graphic universe. Against a simple grey backdrop, serving as a neutral yet sophisticated canvas, the artist has placed a vibrant roundel of mischievous characters, rendered in a captivating gradation of colour transitioning from sunny yellow to cool blue.
Positioned at the very centre of this otherwise monochromatic timepiece, this colourful design immediately captures the eye, drawing the viewer into Wotto’s whimsical world. To ensure that this central artistic tableau remains the focus, the hour indexes are intentionally discreet, marked simply with small metal tips that subtly indicate the passage of time.
Beneath this swirling work of art resides the reliable automatic ML115 calibre, a Swiss-made movement offering a power reserve of 38 hours. The case, water-resistant to a depth of 200 meters, is equipped with an anti-reflective sapphire crystal on both the front and the reverse – the latter providing a transparent window through which the intricate mechanics of the movement can be admired, a work of art in its own right.
The Maurice Lacroix AIKON Automatic Wotto Limited Edition embodies the perfect synthesis of bold, contemporary design and traditional Swiss watchmaking expertise. True to the brand’s core philosophy, this timepiece offers exceptional quality and a remarkable level of finish, while remaining resolutely accessible at a price of CHF 2700 (approximately £2300 based on current exchange rates). With its striking aesthetic and undeniable artistic DNA, this limited edition AIKON is destined to turn heads and inspire admiration in all who encounter its unique charm.
