Maurice Lacroix has relaunched the Pontos S Diver watch, an event eagerly awaited by tool watch enthusiasts. Initially launched in 2013, production was halted in 2016. The reissue remains true to the original model’s DNA while offering significant improvements in design and performance.
This meticulous work stems from a successful collaboration between Maurice Lacroix’s team and multiple freediving world champion Lidija Lijic. As a friend of the brand, Lijic is more than just an ambassador, lending her image to the watch. Stéphane Waser, Managing Director of Maurice Lacroix, explains, “We wanted to establish a genuine collaboration with Lidija. We enjoy many interactions and she is an authentic, extremely talented athlete. We are delighted with our relationship, which has been in place for four years now.”
The new Pontos S Diver maintains its iconic design, featuring the kind of urban-inspired styling the watchmaker prefers. Waser adds, “We were determined to retain the spirit of the first-generation model.” Now offered in a 42 mm diameter case (instead of 43 mm), the Pontos S Diver is available in steel and, for the first time, bronze, as a limited edition of 500. The faceted hour and minute hands are even more luminescent, and the minute hand is now broader. Along with luminescent indices and a date window at 6 o’clock, they provide optimal readability against the grained black, lacquered white, or grained blue dials for the bronze version.
The bronze Pontos S Diver comes with two straps, one in blue leather and the other in blue rubber, while the steel version includes three straps, one in blue fabric and two in rubber, available in blue, black, orange or white. This variety allows for different looks, making it easy to adapt the watch to different styles and circumstances in an instant. All straps feature an easy-change system that doesn’t require tools. As a finishing touch, the case back, now secured with six screws, is engraved with the Jura Waves motif.
Beneath the striking exterior lies true performance, tested in extreme conditions on the wrist of the multi-talented champion, who is equally at home in both tropical seas and icy depths. The Pontos S Diver withstood her intense and demanding training, proving its potential. “Visibility was immediately Lidija’s top priority,” Waser shares.
The crown at 2 o’clock enables easy adjustment of the internal rotating bezel with its graduated scale from 0 to 60, which measures diving times and decompression stops. This essential feature for a diving watch is combined with the automatic manufacture calibre ML115, offering a 40-hour power reserve.
The Pontos S Diver is a true diving watch – now water-resistant to 300 metres, compared to the original model’s 600 metres. Waser explains, “We opted for a 300-metre water resistance, which is more than sufficient considering Lidija’s 80-metre vertical freediving record, in order to remove the helium valve. This decision reduces the case thickness from 15 mm to 13.35 mm and lowers production costs. The new Pontos S Diver is even more affordable, at CHF 1,990 for the steel version.” This new must-have watch strikes the perfect balance between a professional instrument and a sport-chic accessory.
