With the success of the Aikon, it’s almost easy to forget that Maurice Lacroix has much more to offer than that. Another pillar of the brand is the Pontos, of which they now present an updated version of the 43mm chronograph. This watch was initially introduced in 2020 when the collection celebrated its 20th anniversary. It has previously existed with a white, silver, and blue dial, though Maurice Lacroix now introduces black and gunmetal grey to the lineup.
The Pontos Chronograph is one of those watches that shows the strength of Maurice Lacroix. It is sportive in a classic sense, which gives it an extremely versatile style. The design of the watch is thoughtful, with the stepped lugs and nicely integrated chronograph pushers on the side of the case. Even the crown of the watch hasn’t escaped the attention of the designers. Maurice Lacroix matches the black dial, which has a nice sunray finish, with rhodium-plated hands, numerals, and outlines for the chronograph counters. This solidifies the sporty edge of the design, while its sibling with the gunmetal grey dial dresses up by opting for pink gold plating.
Both watches are available on a black leather strap with alligator printing or a three-link metal bracelet. Maurice Lacroix cleverly avoids going in the direction of the Rolex Oyster bracelet with this and manages to give it a unique fit and finish. It sits very nicely between the lugs and feels great around the wrist. As they also only want a €50,- premium for it, above the price for the version with the strap, it doesn’t make sense not to get it. Even more, because it comes with an Easy-change system, so you can always get the strap later on and swap it whenever you feel like it.
Through the exhibition caseback you get to admire caliber ML112, which is based on the Sellita SW500. This automatic movement offers a power reserve of 42 hours and runs at 4Hz/28,800 VpH. Because of the diameter of the movement, all the chronograph functions are located more towards the center of the dial. It is a matter of preference if this bothers you.
Maurice Lacroix uses the excess space rather well, making the design feel balanced, while the size of the Pontos Chronograph provides you with a substantial watch on your wrist. They also have gotten through the trouble of making it water resistant up to 10 ATM/100 meters, which is quite exceptional for a chronograph. Considering the fair pricing (€3,100 on strap and €3,150 on the bracelet), it is safe to say that the Pontos has indeed earned its place within the Maurice Lacroix universe and that things just got better with these two new dial colors.
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