Luxury watchmaker Maurice Lacroix has unveiled the new PONTOS S Diver, a watch that’s not afraid of getting wet!
Revisiting the first generation model of 2013, the brand has created a divers’ watch incorporating numerous enhancements, while still retaining the spirit of the inaugural model, especially its iconic design. During the development phase, the Swiss marque turned to ML Crew member, Lidija Lijic, a world champion free diver who holds the record for staying underwater for 5 minutes and 43 seconds. Lidija inhabits a world of extremes, exploring the limits of human performance, which made her the ideal person to put the watch through its paces.
While this model is new, it subscribes to the same proven design language and perpetuates the brand’s fondness for urban-inspired styling. Housed in a 42mm case, the watch is available in a choice of stainless steel or, for the first time, bronze. The hour and minute hands are facetted and lined with Super-LumiNova®. Moreover, the minute hand is endued with a coloured border. The hours are denoted with applied indexes and, once again, lined with luminescent treatment. Subtle changes to the original dial design include making the indexes and minute markings crisper and more prominent. Likewise, the date is framed with a raised border, making it stand out from the rest of the dial. Each detail is optimised to deliver peerless readability.
A dedicated crown, positioned at 2 o’clock, provides the wearer with the means to adjust the internal rotating bezel. Featuring a count-up scale, the rotating bezel is a useful way of measuring the elapsed time spent underwater. The watch also features a centre seconds hand and a date display at 6 o’clock. A second crown, located at 3 o’clock, adjusts the various indications and can also be used to manually wind the movement.
This latest PONTOS S Diver is offered in a number of variants. Steel models come with a choice of black grained or white lacquered dial options. The bronze model, limited to just 500 pieces, is paired with a sumptuous blue grained dial. The aforementioned crown at 2 o’clock is enlivened with a colour-coordinating circlet, ensuring it remains visible when underwater.
The automatic ML115 calibre sits at the heart of the PONTOS S Diver, obviating the need for manual winding when worn. The bronze version comes supplied with two straps, one in vintage dark blue leather, incorporating the company’s M-logo, and a second in dark blue rubber embossed with ‘Maurice Lacroix’.
For the launch, the steel models are supplied with three colour-coordinating straps: an M-branded fabric strap and two rubber straps incorporating Maurice Lacroix branding, presented in relief. The watch is equipped with the company’s Easy Strap Exchange System, providing a simple, user-friendly means of swapping the strap for an alternative without the need for tools.
The stainless steel models are priced at RM9,300 each; and the bronze model is priced at RM12,000.
