Maurice Lacroix AIKON-IC Frozen Carbon Turns Carbon Into A Work Of Art

Six new AIKON-IC references introduce a crystallised carbon material where metal powders and pigments create a unique pattern on every dial.

Maurice Lacroix is expanding its AIKON-IC collection with Frozen Carbon, a new material that turns the structure of carbon itself into a decorative element. Introduced across six new references, the material combines carbon fibres with bronze or titanium powders, or coloured pigments, creating random patterns that give every dial its own visual identity.

The concept continues the Innovative Craftsmanship philosophy behind the AIKON-IC collection. First introduced in 2025 with a Carbon UD dial, the AIKON-IC was created to explore new materials and local expertise while maintaining the contemporary character that has defined the AIKON since its launch in 2016. With Frozen Carbon, Maurice Lacroix adds another layer of texture, depth and colour to that approach.

When Carbon Becomes The Decoration

Frozen Carbon is based on a composite developed for Maurice Lacroix by a specialist in the region. Rather than applying a decorative pattern to the surface, the appearance comes directly from the structure of the material itself.

In the bronze and titanium versions, fine metal particles are introduced into the carbon structure. Once machined, the distribution of the particles and fibres is revealed, producing organic lines that can resemble the veining found in marble. Because the particles are deliberately distributed at random, no two dials follow exactly the same pattern.

The coloured versions take a different approach. Shorter carbon fibres are suspended in a greater quantity of pigmented resin, allowing the final shade and depth to change according to the concentration of pigment, the orientation of the fibres and their position within the dial. The result is what Maurice Lacroix describes as a crystallised, almost mineral-like appearance.

It is an interesting distinction because the uniqueness of each dial is not simply the result of decoration. It is a consequence of how the material is made.

Six Interpretations Of Frozen Carbon

The new Maurice Lacroix AIKON-IC Frozen Carbon collection is divided into three limited editions and three non-limited references, with each configuration giving the material a different personality.

The AIKON-IC Frozen Carbon Bronze pairs the black carbon composite with bronze powder and a bronze case. The contrast between the warm metal and the black ceramic bezel gives the watch a particularly strong character, while the bronze case itself will gradually develop a patina according to its environment and the owner’s use. Limited to 500 pieces, it is fitted with a 43mm case and priced at CHF 3,450.

The AIKON-IC Frozen Carbon Damas takes the material concept even further by combining Frozen Carbon with genuine Swedish-made Damascus steel. Its DS95X™ Austenitic Damascus case features a Concentric Layer pattern created within the steel itself, while titanium powder produces a separate pattern in the carbon dial. Each of the 500 watches therefore carries two naturally varying surfaces.

The third limited edition is the AIKON-IC Frozen Carbon Deep Forest, where green pigment replaces metal powder. The carbon fibres are suspended in a green epoxy resin, producing deep variations in colour and depth that reinforce the forest-inspired character of the watch. Like the other limited editions, production is restricted to 500 pieces.

Completing the collection are three non-limited AIKON-IC Frozen Carbon references in sky blue, purple and red. Here, coloured pigments are mixed with carbon fibres to create the same frosted, mineral-like effect, with each dial displaying its own distribution of fibres and depth. Matching stitching on the rubber straps adds a final touch of colour.

A Material Made By Hand And Pressure

The Frozen Carbon dials are not simply cut from a pre-existing decorative sheet. Their appearance is created through a carefully controlled manufacturing process.

For the bronze and titanium versions, carbon fibres are cut to 25mm and impregnated with resin before the metal particles are manually sprinkled into the composite. The material is then compressed under one tonne of pressure and hardened at temperatures above 130°C before machining reveals the final pattern.

This process means that the pattern only becomes fully visible once the dial is machined. The resulting surface is left raw and lightly smoothed, preserving the contrast between the carbon fibres and the metallic inclusions.

The coloured versions use shorter, 6mm carbon fibres suspended in pigmented epoxy resin. The mixture is integrated under vacuum and cured at just below 100°C, with the random orientation and depth of the fibres determining how light interacts with the material.

The AIKON-IC Platform

All six watches retain the contemporary architecture of the AIKON-IC, with 43mm cases and a combination of modern materials. Depending on the reference, Maurice Lacroix uses bronze, stainless steel, titanium, Damascus steel, ceramic and carbon.

The cases are paired with black ceramic bezels and the characteristic AIKON bezel claws, while sapphire crystal casebacks reveal the automatic movement beneath. Water resistance is rated at 100 metres across the collection.

The result is recognisably AIKON, but the material combinations give each reference a considerably different personality. Bronze brings warmth and develops a patina, Damascus steel introduces a naturally layered pattern, titanium reduces weight, while the coloured Frozen Carbon versions move the collection towards a more expressive aesthetic.

The ML1000

Powering the AIKON-IC Frozen Carbon watches is the ML1000 automatic calibre, developed by Maurice Lacroix in collaboration with Soprod, whose facilities are located less than ten kilometres from Saignelégier.

The movement is adjusted to an average accuracy of -4/+4 seconds per day and provides approximately 60 hours of power reserve. It operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour, or 4Hz, and contains 26 jewels.

Visible through the sapphire caseback, the ML1000 is decorated with Côtes de Genève, snailing and blued screws. Its skeletonised oscillating weight receives additional Côtes de Genève, snailing and sunray finishing, giving the technical side of the watch a decorative presence of its own.

Six Watches, No Identical Dial

Frozen Carbon gives the AIKON-IC something that conventional finishing cannot easily reproduce: individuality created by the manufacturing process itself.

Across bronze, titanium, Damascus steel, green, sky blue, purple and red executions, the same basic material concept produces noticeably different results. The random arrangement of fibres, pigments and metal particles ensures that the surface of each dial has its own structure, meaning the watch on the wrist is not simply one example of a design, but a slightly different interpretation of it.

With three limited editions of 500 pieces and three non-limited colour variants, Maurice Lacroix is using the AIKON-IC Frozen Carbon to demonstrate how contemporary materials can become part of the identity of a watch rather than merely serving as its construction.

Technical Specifications

For more information, please visit the official Maurice Lacroix website.

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