My wife got me one of these in 39mm with bronze-color hands and pips and a brown leather strap for Father's Day. "Homage" or "copycat" or whatever, it's the best looking watch in my collection by far and worth every cent.
And that’s why we love watches. It’s what you like what makes it important and personal to you. No time for watch snobs. Who can say categorically what’s good and bad? Nobody! Enjoy your watch 👍
@@davidb5720 watch snobs are just poor people who will spend their every last dime on an entry level Patek pretending to be rich while talking about value retention. I don't care If I loose money owning a watch as I'm not going to sell my watches.
@@antonhallergren588 totally agree. For me they are a personal purchase and would never sell the ones I have. Nobody should ever be judged by what they wear on their wrist! Especially if there is a personal attachment to it. You like what you like but there will always be people who like to show off by only buying a Rolex or a Patek, just to look down on those who have in their minds, an “inferior” watch. No time for that. I’d like to think that they are in the minority though!
@@antonhallergren588 value retention is what is killing the watch hobby for myself. I never purchased a watch to be keeping my money. That’s why I purchased a home. My philosophy on watch buying is love what you buy and buy what you love. If you have to flip watches to buy another you can’t afford it.
I've never cared much for the Royal Oak's looks myself, but this Aikon is lovely. It seems like you get a lot of watch for the money especially considering the level of finishing.
@@Antervis anyone who looks down on anything or anyone needs a reality check. I've had people look down on my glashutte senato, told the should have gotten a Langhe., and I love a Seiko 5 and have one I wear all the time. It's just so odd to me that price matters in people's mind's
Good riddance. Nobody likes pretentious snobs that'll purchase a watch for the sole purpose of letting it rot in a display case as a means of "investing". Artificial scarcity is a plague and it will only get worse. Anybody that invests in timepieces is a fool to begin with.
Well....in this case....2,000$ is a very very very small speed bump compared to the 34,000 mythical Starting price royal oak. smaller still compared to the actual 100,000$+ price tag.
I have an Aikon exactly like the one shown. Black, 38mm. When I bought it, i didn't think at the RO at all. I like Aikon and I'm happy with it. I think the design is very good and I wear it with great satisfaction. I would buy it again, for sure.
Did you mean, 39 mm. I bought the 39mm and although I have small wrist, it looks small on my wrist, like a ladies watch. Am not sure if I should exchange for a 42mm instead. I never had a 39mm, may be which is why I feel it is small or am I dumb ?
@@thegougy >manufacture movement What does that even mean? People throw around iN hOuSe mOvEmEnt but what does that mean? _How_ is Audimar Peakgay’s movement different from an ETA 2824? How is _that_ movement different from a Sellita SW200 or an STP 1-11 or a PT5000? I don’t know and I don’t think _anybody_ in this community does, either. WIS throw this stuff around without any understanding.
@@Mister_Phafanapolis You ever heard of hand finishing? You know what for example beveled edges are? There is a reason why the AP is way more expensive than the ETA, besides marketing.
In a world where so many brands produce similar looking diver watches, I’m astonished that this is even being discussed. For most, the ML is a stretch. For me it’s a choice. A watch at this price or replace the patio doors!
Nope , not for me, I realised years ago that if I buy a cheaper version of the one I want it doesn't scratch the itch, Better to go without than to buy a compromise.
Agreed. I envy those that can, but for me I would be constantly reminded of what I can’t have. If I can’t afford what I want, I look elsewhere, but not for a substitute.
@@MARKO2465 oh I believe you. My intention was not to take away from this watch. Only making the point that substitution is not a good option for some. This watch in a vacuum is a winner.
The Maurice Lacroix Aikon is an excellent watch and a great value. A Royal Oak is so overpriced and unavailable that it makes the Aikon even better. I have a PP Nautilus and I prefer the ML Aikon. Seriously, it could be one of the best buys in Swiss watch land.
Hi Bill, what about the quality of the finishing? I mean of course we will not compare it with Patek, but anyway are there any things you don’t like in Maurice Lacroix Aikon?
This is amazing, such a watch for around $1200 is the best deal in the watch industry imo, though I own an Omega, I got the Aikon just for fun I love this brand!
@@champstation143 Well These must be the people which call every diver a submariner Clone . The aikon is a Tribute to the Maurice Lacroix Calypso which was released 30 years ago. But still Not a Hommage
I've got the blue one with bracelet and leather strap. It is stupidly accurate and I'm over the moon with it. 200m water resistance and details in it you wouldn't expect from something around £1200-£1400. Very happy with it!
I have this exact model! I have worn it for 2 years now as my daily driver, I even use it while working the garden etc and shower with it. Still works like a charm and still looks amazing
I also have this same watch and it also has become my daily wearer. It has replaced watches that cost many ties the price I paid for it.... I have to say its rick solid well regulated and a good looking timepiece.
The cheaper alternative is always worth it when you definitely can't afford the real deal. Otherwise, the regret of not getting the piece will overpower the money saved.
Couldn’t agree less. Cheaper options are always a let down. It will always be a reminder that you don’t own the thing you actually wanted. The only exception is if the cheaper alternative has merits of its own. You may really really want a Lange 1 but can only afford a Panoreserve. The Panoreserve has a history of its own, it’s not just a shameless copy of the Lange.
@@Jabber-ig3iw That is exactly what I meant with "Otherwise, the regret of not getting the piece will overpower the money saved." and even with my first statement as well. So I don't know how can you agree and disagree with me at the same time, but thanks for the comment.
@@Jabber-ig3iw there is a thing called analysis, where you separate the different reasons for your wants and desires, and then decide from there. If you dont really know the reason for your decision, your decision will always be wrong.
Sure, I’ve got the CasiOak and it’s great. Where anywhere, anytime, for any occasion and under $200.00 Canadian, what more do you need. But at $1,375.00 US, that’s a fantastic choice.
There’s a hard core of watch owners who will, routinely, sneer at this brand. A pity really because the reality is that their entry level pieces are priced keenly and very well made. Step up to £5k to £10k price bracket (although you’d haggle for a decent discount) and their Masterpiece collection offers some serious horology. As for the Aikon, it’s typical of a certain genre and not my cup of tea, but it’s no more or less derivative than far more expensive offerings from other makers who’ve drawn heavily on Genta’s design.
Price, especially exaggerated pirce, doesn't equal value. No Daytona is worth 30k+, if it once was given away for free and now has a retail price of 11k.
I love the dry British humour of these reviews, the story about the alien nearly resulted in my drink over my keyboard. The videos are well made and the narration clear are also reasons why I subscribed a long time ago. Incidentally I also have that camera, a Pentax MX with Pentax M F1.7 bottle from the late 70s and it still works today, fully mechanical (battery only for the meter).
Am I the only one that thinks this doesn't really look like a Royal Oak? Sure, I'd prefer a different dial finish to further distinguish itself, but that case bezel is very unique
I had this watch on my wrist and a chance to buy for a reasonable price but went with another i had on my list, I regret not buying it though, I went back but was sold. That’s without even looking at or lusting over the AP…. Just because i liked the watch. Your comment about regret, I heard what you said at the other end of the scale, so true… Thank you. Dave 🇦🇺
If we don’t, we’d all have huge luxury mansions with garages full of supercars, big yachts and so on. In fact, for many people, the AP RO is just a cheap beater watch.
A slightly unfair take on the ML in this video I think. The integrated bracelet has a fantastic quality, feel and finishing. It fits as snugly as the AP’s bracelet. The quick strap change is very well executed. The movement is as good as many other much more expensive brands and looks a lot better than your parent company’s efforts in some of its special editions. For me the Aikon offers amazing value and I enjoy wearing it just as much as more expensive watches I own. When you consider the price, you get a lot of watch for your money
@@champstation143 You do realise that not all sellita's and ETA's are the same. They go from the basic calibre up to chronometer grade with prices vary significantly.
If you are buying a watch dependent on people's reactions probably best not to buy a watch at all. Beside most people could care less what you wear. Guy in work had a vintage Rolex pepsi, nobody ever said nice watch or even mentioned it until I asked him.
Just your insecurities overexaggerating things, mate. No chance anyone will confuse its original bezel design with the Royal Oak's octagonal one with the screws.
Maurice Lacroix in general is one of the best bang for buck brands if you don’t care about name and care about movement. The masterpiece collection lets you own amazing complications for under 10k, even less with discounts. Just look at the gravity, the square wheel, the mysterious seconds... Rolex has nothing close in terms of complications. But of course Rolex is Rolex and brands like Maurice Lacroix will get overshadowed by them.
Don't care about movement? Yeah the entry levels are not in house but the sw200 in this thing runs near cosc standards and for a watch half the price of a entry level cosc certified movement like Tudor it's a pretty good deal. Got one for 1300 after tax brand new. These guys and Oris both put out very good value watches finished close to something like a omega or Tudor which start around 4000 bucks
I was actually on the market for a Royal Oak around the time when the first automatic Aikons were released. One evening, whilst relaxing in my villa resort, I came across some photos and articles of the Aikon and pretty much forgot about the Royal Oak. I dedicated my afternoon to finding Maurice Lacroix ADs and viewing them in person. I'm not a brand whore per se nor do I subject myself to what others find to be popular (I buy what I like most), so I asked myself the simple question about which watch was more beautiful if the brands were not in the equation, and I frankly felt it was the Aikon for a few reasons, and soI bought 1 on the spot within minutes - probably my fastest purchase ever, having been a luxury watch collector of decades with dozens of models from various high end and independent brands. Till today, I own 2 Aikons in different dial colours and they still put a smile on my face every time I gaze at them. Their accuracy is +1 sec per day and 200m water resistance (4x the royal oak's at roughly the same thickness) allows me to do laps in my pool and water sports or diving in the open ocean as well, with zero concerns, which is something that a royal oak would probably not be able to keep up with, as robustly, for many years, and it does end up seeming a little brutishly boring after time passes. In addition, the overall bracelet links of the Aikon are nicely tapered from the side profile which is a very subtle detail, as well as the finishes on the bezel - creating a much more angular and contemporary character with added sturdiness as compared to the royal oak. The Aikon's engineering has proven to be rather equal or superlative indeed. The Aikon is undisputed proof that top quality can be had without overrated hype and opportunistic prices. It helps that the people leading the brand are also very sincere and nice.
I bought a $50 Pagani Daytona homage as a joke. I see strangers eye it all the time and gotten looks from the ladies😍 but the best thing is fooling my mates when they see me wear it the first time. They're all in disbelief saying "can't believe you got one". I wouldn't take it off to show them and they'd keep asking about it. When they ask how much it cost thinking it's a real Daytonal. I'd reply "they wanted eighty but I got it for fifty" (Ali express sale 😜). They all scream "what you paid fifty thousand for a watch!" Lol I'd reply " $50k are you crazy! It's 50 bucks from Ali express!" 🤣🤣🤣
The best way to wear a Pagani Design is to not take it seriously at all and wear it as kind of a joke, that's how you enjoy it the most. It's a good watch after all that won't disappoint you if you know what you're paying.
The problem I had with the Royal Oak was that I was actually constantly hiding it. This was due to the constant robberies. Simply I was not ready to lose a hand or my life for a watch. Ended up selling it for a nice profit.
I wonder about that a lot. It seems like such a liability nowadays to wear a nice watch in public. Especially something as obvious as an AP. I've really been into this Riviera watch from Baume and Mercier that has a similar design for 3-4k. But i'd be worried too about getting stabbed over it bc someone mistook it for a royal oak or something lol
It really depends where you live. But I can understand this point very well. Every time I travel to poorer countries and regions I switch my luxury watches with my G-Shock 😁
I’ve got a Maurice lacroix aikon myself and I love it! 200m water resistance, open case back with a good looking movement, great weight and proportions, and amazing finishing 😎 definitely recommend this watch and brand, considering they do many complications in their masterpiece line too as well as more simple timepieces
i haven't gotten one (yet), but I tried them in the store, they fit amazingly well despite my small wrist, because of the way the integrated bracelet fits to the case it wraps my wrist well. Both the 42 and 39mm versions
@@lndyrd I have 19 cm wrists and went for the 39. I think it looks more like its own thing and it feels higher quality as the dial is shrunk not just cut to a smaller size
@@ThousandFo0tKrutch I went for the anthracite dial, it’s a blackish brown face with rose gold hands. In the right light it almost has a bit of a copper tint to it 😊 really attractive watch
*Plot Twist:* none of these luxury watches are "worth it." They're all made from nothing special stainless steel, sapphire and brass and none of them can keep time as well as a $10 quartz. They sure look cool, but they're asking a big premium for a technically inferior product. Hell, for $500 all the way up to $2,000 you can get the exact same watches, same finishing, same details, same features without having to degrade your wife by offering her sexual services to an AD, _AND_ you'll have money leftover for a REAL investment product.
I think it was Mr Hands who said, why carry around a rotor when when you can have the satisfaction of hand wind every 2-3 days. Hanhart featured a short while back is my dream watch.
I actually love the Aikon irrespective of its derivative relationship to the RO and would enjoy not having to lay out the costly maintenance fees involved with Royal Oak ownership. I would miss the experience of the AP’s glorious bracelet. You can spot every of the eleven hours that go creating them and it really shows in evening lighting.
If you need something anything a watch that steal sports watch with an integrated bracelet let’s say. Buy the best one you can afford 🤷🏻♂️ It’s a modification of the buy cheap by twice saying. Need a car? Get the best one you can afford. Need a house? Get the best one you can afford. Life will be good then.
Not ashamed to say it but I got mine from AliExpress. And got it for the name only. Maurice Lacroix just sounds like a luxurious French brand. Person A. Hey bud what kind of watch is that Person B. Oh you like it? Its a Maurice Lacroix
What is wrong with this movement? You didn’t go into detail? The Royal Oak movement is basic, the date movement is prehistoric and the case provides less water resistance than the ML. Why is the AP so sought after yet so dainty?
Actually really well made and comfortable. Been enjoying one in rotation for about three years. Given how unwelcome new customers are at AP boutiques, it’s not like getting the “real deal” is even an option so I’ll wear my Aikon with a smirk on my face and not a hint of shame.
Well its all about the people. I visited AP boutique in Prague last year wearing Seiko and being poor enthusiast I recieved over 30 minutes speach (I stopped him because I knew I dont have a wallet to buy anything there and felt sorry about "wasting his time") about brand, watches and history and salesman even let me try his steel Royal Oak when I asked him if its possible to see it in close up. Oh boy that day I knew if I ever get rich I wouldnt hesitate to spend money there unlike my PP boutique experience that was very blend but still polite. Being honored to try Royal Oak on my wrist was same kind of experience when pilot showed me cockpit during the flight being small boy.
I’m a watch enthusiast for many years now but I still don’t understand the Gerald Genta hype. I guess there must be something wrong with me but they just don’t do it for me.
This channel is the olny watch channel that does reviews without talking about the watch itself. No "41 mil automatic, stainless steel to etc. And all the better for it!
I tend to find that buying a cheaper version of something just leaves me hollow, so I'd rather just not buy anything and keep the dream of maybe. While there is generally nothing new under the sun, with many watches borrowing ideas, something that is as unique as it can be to itself speaks to me more. Some of the mico Swiss brands produce some epic pieces for a fraction you'll pay for an AP, and you won't see them on the wrist of your neighbour.
Honestly, if you buy a luxury brand. Buy something solid. Then trade up with maybe some cash along the way. Your end goal is the grail. This is the best way to go step by step
People need to stop comparing watches to the best of the best. Is the Aikon cheaper and lesser quality than a Royal Oak? Of course, but a BMW 8 series is also cheaper and lesser quality compared to an Aston Martin. Is that a good enough reason not to buy a BMW 8 series? Hell no. It's an amazing car.
Evolution from their Calypso, sure it's taken some pointers from its peers to become this form. But this watch is its own,it is instantly recognizable as an Aiken not an homage watch. I personally don't see it, the bezel is not octagonal for a start. I see it more in the line up with the frederique constant highlife or others of a sports dress watch
Sorry for disagreeing but look at the case shape… look at the bracelet which is a straight up Royal Oak clone… look at the square shapes on the dial… It is a Royal Oak homage, let‘s not lie to ourselve, accept that and like it how it is.
@@SoftCrunch917 As soon as you start copying the dial, I think we can say it starts to be an hommage. The general case shape is also „inspired“ by the RO and i mean the bracelet… it is just a copy. I like the looks but I would never buy it, I want some thoughts of an own design going into my watches.
AP is 20x more expensive than ML but its not even twice better in terms of performance. AP huge advantage than ML is the name and the pride of wearing it.
ive never been effected by brand name. im 100% attracted to design alone. if its a cheap watch or an expensive watch i won't buy it if its design does nothing for me. most high end brands however have some of the best designs and superior quality
I wouldn't even consider a Royal Oak as I don't really like the watch that much. The only thing I'm not keen on with this Lacroix is the winder - it really lets the watch down. But it would be a nice upgrade for a beater / daily wear.
Devine, very relaxing video to watch after 17 hours on shift. Perfect EOW watching material. Love this channel, thank you for your exquisite attention to detail.
I have a royal Oak!! Saw the blue dial 42mm version of this and bought it on a whim at a massive discount 800 euros to be precise !! Except for the pin and collar link pins the maurice lacroix bracelet is amazing not better but highly comparible to the ap !! I love this watch the ap lives in the safety deposit box now !!
I already own a Speed Master and a Rolex Oyster, so the question is; if I also owned this watch, would I ever wear it? Yes, pretty sure I would. So will I buy one? Maybe one day.
I've never thought about a Royal Oak. I saw this watch and I loved it. Don't really think it's homage either. Got this watch and its one of my favorites! I also have their Masterpeice Gravity! It's amazing too. That one was close to $10,000 and its a show stopper. Love this brand! At the end of the day buy the watch you love. You will be happy with it.
One doesn't need an expensive watch and particularly if you are reading this on your phone then you don't even need a watch at all. Therefore any watch is a luxury item no matter what you pay for it. So choose what you can afford after you have taken care of life's necessities or save up if the one you want it is out of reach at the moment.
Or there's the Tissot PRX...may not have the finishing, but has a bucket more brand heritage if that's your vibe, and you could buy 2 of them for this price.
As much as we would like to, not everyone has the financial means to acquire a high end timepiece. Indeed, the whole point of "premium' watch brands is their exclusivity. Not everyone can have them. Not everyone is supposed to have them. That said, always buy the best watch you can afford.
Really depends on the consumer, for me the slim/integrated bracelet/oddly shaped/do-everything steel sports watch is just something that AP did first and now every brand should do to scratch that itch. When I find one that fits me well and doesn't bust my budget I'll get one.
Jokes aside, I believe if you are going to purchase a watch, you should pay cash for it, be it by methodically saving over a period of time, or because you have the money in the bank and are able to afford a little sin. Having said that, ostentatious watches have no place in the workplace. This is a beautiful watch I would have no problem spending the money on and wearing on a daily basis. AP? When I retire, if I ever do.
Buying any watch as a ’cheaper alternative’ is never a good idea. You need to honestly want the watch you buy. If you buy a watch as a substitute to what you really want, you just waste your money, even if the watch is a good one.
Great little underrated watch. Owned one for a while. Best to get them second hand though as they take a resale hammering. Picked up my around 60% under retail used.
People who are calling an aikon a cheaper alternative is just looking it top down. An aikon is a splendid watch, mind you is also chronometer certified. You have to see it bottoms up. Someone with a golden spoon since childhood will never appreciate An aikon. For someone like me who started with a timex, rising up to Seiko to then a Tissot. I have the aikon in my list, someday will reach there and make good memories with that. May be then I target a speedy who knows. But the aikon will be there to tell a wonderful story someday just like the casio is still there to tell a story when I moved around in tuk tuk and skip hanging out with friends to save some money to get that timex. So it's not a cheap man's oak but rather every watch including the aikon is the story of growth. Also it has a splendid Clous de Paris designed dial with a sunburst blue, just a treat to the eyes.
When it comes to watches, I really hate the word "cheap". In the back of my mind cheap refers to garbage, trash or refuse. I rather refer it to as more affordable. It's more easy on the mind to know that I am still wearing a well above average brand than to wear a "cheap" watch.
There’s absolutely no point in saying “this looks like X, and this looks like Y”. In the end, 95% of all watches look the same and serve to the same purpose, so choosing between A or B boils down to personal taste and the amount of money you think is fair to spend on a little machine that tells time, of which there are countless aesthetic variants but are essentially the same machine. If C copied D is irrelevant. Even those brands spoken with great fanfare, based their inner and outer workings on someone else’s work, which in turn was based on someone else’s work, and so on until the very first human who thought it would be a great idea to measure the passage of time by mechanical means. We’re nothing but dwarfs standing on the shoulders of giants.
The issue is the ML ownership, the brand has been for sale for years and they can't find a buyer, so the brand has been pretty much left in limbo. It's sad because it has potential but a lot of watch fans won't touch the brand because of the uncertainty of the future of the brand this is also affecting the resel value of the ML watches. If you buy one they are very hard to flip sadly, if you buy it new expect to lose money on it when you resell it.
Since a few weeks I have the 42 mm Aikon in black and OMG the Quality is stunning for that Price, I really love that Watch. Can I recommend it? Sure 100% sure. The build Quality in every Detail, especially the Bracelet is fantastic.
I have one, with the steel strap pictured in the video, large box and a silicone strap as a sort of set. Very nice, plus 3 seconds per day accuracy 👌. £1600 for the set or £1400 for the watch on a steel bracelet when i purchased in 2002. Prices have risen a bit as of December 2023. The set now retails at £2200 if you can find one for sale.😊
Thanx for yet another great video! Not exactly my style of watch, but I like it :-) I own a Maurice Laxroix Masterpiece Petite seconde, and are always in awe of the details and feel of quality when I wear it. Even the most expensive of Seiko (Not GS of course) does not come close to the ML. Very much worth to check out Maurice Lacroix!
It's always an existential crisis when your grail watch is duplicated in a cheaper form. A watch is a few hundred dollars of materials and hundreds of dollars of labour mixed in with thousands of dollars of distribution and marketing. Nobody wants to be reminded that the value of an expensive watch is just your willingness to overpay for something that others won't.
I have this watch now one year and already destroyed. After buying this watch (leather) strap don't stay in place and watch falls from wrist on the floor. This happened more than 10 times and only the glass is in tact, the whole body is scratched. I bought an other bracelet, the one from stainless steal, and after one year! A pice is missing in the band (just let loose) and now there is a hole in the bracelet. I complained at my jewellery store where I buy this watch and guess what! I needed to pay for the shipping costs to sent the watch to Germany. NO repair No exchange and NO contact possible with Maurice Lacroix about warranty after they sent it back to me. People never buy this watch for that ridiculous Price.
I bought this watch as a daily wear to rotate with my Rolex Datejust 41. I save my Royal Oak for when... I feel like wearing my Royal Oak. This Aikon has exceeded my expections. Lots of bang for the buck in the esthetics department. The 200m water resistance is a nice touch. Pretty on the wrist without the worry.
