News · Maurice Lacroix

Maurice Lacroix puts colour inside Frozen Carbon

Six 43mm AIKON-IC references mix carbon fibres with pigment or metallic powders and introduce the ML1000 automatic calibre.

Hen & Mills Editorial · 4 min read · 3 September 2026

• Six 43mm references use Frozen Carbon dials mixed with pigments or metallic powders.
• The ML1000 automatic is rated to minus four to plus four seconds per day with more than 60 hours of reserve.
• US prices run from US$4,300 to US$5,400 across limited and non-limited models.

Maurice Lacroix has expanded the AIKON-IC with six Frozen Carbon references, using the composite material to make dials rather than another uniform black surface. Carbon fibres are mixed with metallic powders or coloured pigments, producing displays that vary from watch to watch. The collection includes three limited editions and three non-limited colour references, all built around a 43mm case and the brand's new ML1000 automatic movement.

Frozen Carbon is the common thread, but it does not create a uniform family. One dial combines carbon with bronze powder, another is framed by a Damascus steel case, and the coloured editions run through red, turquoise and purple. A Deep Forest treatment adds another deliberately mottled expression. The material's irregular structure means no two dials can carry precisely the same pattern.

Carbon with colour and metal in the mix

Traditional forged carbon tends to be sold on low weight and a monochrome, technical appearance. Maurice Lacroix is pushing instead on texture. Metallic particles alter the way the surface catches light, while pigment lets the dial move beyond grey and black. The result is closer to a geological pattern than the tidy weave associated with conventional carbon fibre.

The AIKON architecture gives those dials a recognisable frame. Its six-arm bezel remains present, here made in ceramic, while the integrated profile flows into a rubber strap with a textile-like surface. The case measures 43mm. It is a substantial watch, and the fractured Frozen Carbon display does nothing to make it visually shy.

Three references are limited. Maurice Lacroix specifies 500 pieces for the Damascus steel model, whose rippled metal case creates a second pattern around the composite dial. The brand does not state production totals for the other two limited editions on the announcement page. The bright red, turquoise and purple executions are not presented as limited editions, giving the collection both scarce showpieces and models without a stated production cap.

A new movement carries the serious claim

The ML1000 automatic calibre is the more consequential change. Maurice Lacroix says it created the movement with Soprod, located less than 10 kilometres from the brand's manufacture. It states an average accuracy of minus four to plus four seconds per day, a tighter claimed range than the broad factory tolerances often attached to mainstream Swiss automatics.

Power reserve is more than 60 hours. That clears the practical weekend threshold for many owners, and the movement can be seen through a sapphire caseback. The specification matters because an expressive dial material can easily dominate the launch story. A distinctive display is more convincing when the calibre beneath it brings a corresponding improvement in stated rate and autonomy.

The textile-effect rubber strap is also a sensible choice. Its texture relates to the patterned dial without introducing another metal finish, and it suits the size and sporty character of the AIKON. The ceramic bezel provides a clean, hard-edged counterpoint to the more random composite display.

This variety makes the six-watch launch more than a palette swap. The bronze edition combines a Frozen Carbon dial containing bronze powder with a bronze case, which Maurice Lacroix says will develop its own patina. Damascus steel introduces a controlled wave pattern around the random carbon dial. The pigment versions use colour within the dial material itself, giving each execution a different balance of fibre and hue.

The dial pattern will still vary, which buyers should view as part of the specification rather than a manufacturing fault. Product photography can show the general balance of fibre and colour, but it cannot promise where every streak will fall on a delivered watch. For an object built around irregularity, seeing the individual example before purchase may matter more than it does with a conventional steel AIKON.

Price and availability

US pricing spans US$4,300 to US$5,400 across the six references. Maurice Lacroix also lists prices of US$4,350 and US$4,550 for particular executions. The brand had not published a dedicated Australian price on the release page when checked, so no currency conversion has been substituted for an official local figure.

The official announcement lists six references, three limited and three non-limited, but gives a numerical production total only for the 500-piece Damascus steel edition. Buyers will need to look beyond the shared AIKON-IC name because the six executions differ materially, not merely by dial colour.

Frozen Carbon gives Maurice Lacroix an immediately legible visual hook, but the collection is strongest where that hook is supported by specifics. The ceramic bezel, patterned rubber strap and 43mm integrated case all belong to the same design language. More importantly, the ML1000 contributes a proper technical reason for this generation to exist. The colours will attract attention first. The movement is what makes the update more than surface theatre.