Openwork timepieces have been an integral part of Maurice Lacroix’s watchmaking. It all began with the Calypso Skeleton that goes as far back as 1993. That means that the Swiss watchmaker has been in the openworking business for 25 years now.

Ready for Baselworld 2018, this year the brand has brought us the new Aikon Automatic Skeleton wristwatch. So what’s new this time around?

For one, we have a freshly designed case, based on the 2016 Aikon quartz version. It’s a wider 45mm case that leans towards a more masculine look. The sharp design stands out thanks to the six arms on the bezel, positioned at every other hour.

The main reason why the case was reshaped was to accommodate a new movement, the manufacture ML234 calibre. For its maiden use in the Aikon, the movement is openworked based on a new pattern, designed specifically for this timepiece.

The movement is structured by a series of five concentric circles that cut through the entire watch diagonally. The bridges radiate from the center of the barrel, found at the one o’clock position.

Not having lugs, the case bears two prongs that connect the bracelet and inform its curved shape. Having such a strap system in place makes a quick strap change a bit more complicated, but to get around that we have the so-called ’Easychange’ system allowing for a quick strap swap within a few seconds.

The new Aikon Automatic Skeleton is priced affordably at 5,600 Swiss francs, and at that price it seems like the watch is a great bang for the buck. When it’s all said and done, we again see a high quality, high value timepiece from Maurice Lacroix.

Besides the Aikon Automatic Skeleton, Maurice Lacroix has also made some noise by announcing during SIHH a worldwide treasure hunt. The #CHASEYOURWATCH campaign takes place in four major cities, where four clues are revealed through the brand’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

The mystery will lead participants to a secret location, where they’ll come upon a black and yellow box. Inside each box are plane tickets to Basel to attend, what else, but the 2018 Baselworld watch fair. That’s also where the finale of the promotional campaign will take place.

The prize? The winning team will receive the four first pieces of the Aikon Automatic Chronograph Limited Edition. Not as pricey as is Skeleton cousin, this version will retail for 3,450 Swiss francs and be available in a 500 piece limited edition exclusively online from June 2018.