MAURICE LACROIX Pontos S Diver VINTAGE 2ndLook

By TLex The first thing to mention is, that although it is clearly vintage inspired (ML spoke of adding a 'vintage touch' to their retro design) - and no doubt by the famous compressor cased divers from JLC, Longines et al, it isn't actually called the 'Vintage'.



It is is simply called the 'Pontos S Diver', and it is the new 3-hands divers model of the Pontos S family. Nevertheless I think for arguments sake we could just dub it so. And whilst we're on the subject, if ML could have only moved the winding crown to 4 o'clock this watch would have been a perfect (more) affordable answer to the the current JLC and IWC compressor cases!



Nevertheless ML have outdone last year's release of the Pontos S (chronograph), which was launched amidst a fair amount of hype regarding a French Job blogging on the exploits of a certain French free diver -  I digress. For the money and for the fact that it was ML's first noteworthy 'diver' (ever) last year's Pontos S was well received by all. I conducted an in-depth review of it, which you can read HERE. My findings were very positive. 



So what of the new three hands, vintage model? Well to start with the watch is more clearly defined as a diver. It has an impressive 600m water-resistance, you can't see it at the moment, but there's a Helium Escape Valve at 9 o'clock (hopefully we all know what that's for by now, unnecessary as it is) on the left lateral side of the case,



the dial is clean and simple - no Arabic numerals, just well sized hour markers and easily distinguishable minute and second hands outlined in red. If last year's Pontos S had an internal 'timing' bezel, this year's Ponto S Diver clearly has an internal 'divers' bezel!



The watch shares the same basic case as the Pontos S, which is constructed from Stainless steel, measuring � 43 mm. It features a sandblasted aluminum turning scale to match the dial finish, an automatic helium escape valve at 9 o�clock, a vertically brushed mid-case and side lugs, with a polished bezel and facet on lugs.



If is fitted with an engraved screw-down case-back and a domed Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides. As mentioned earlier is is water-resistant to 600m (60 atm).



The dial is available in either a black sun-brushed or off-white opaline with applied indexes with large area of luminescent coating for excellent legibility when diving! The hands have been diamond-cut (again) with a large area of luminescent coating for excellent legibility when diving. The minute and second hands are with a red outline and tip.



The watch is powered by a mechanical automatic movement, the caliber ML115 with 26 jewels, 2628,800 vibrations per hour, 4 Hz, and a power reserve of 38 hours. It has been adjusted to 3 positions after full winding and after 24 hours. It is D=decorated with rhodium-plating. Functions include: hours, minutes, seconds indicated by central hands and as date (aperture at 6 o�clock)



The watch comes with either a very cool genuine leather NATO strap or a robust three-link Stainless steel bracelet. An extra NATO strap is also provided. There are Stainless steel buckles on both straps provided and the bracelet is with a double security deployment clasp.



Read up on the new Pontos S EXTREME - more from ML coming soon!