A Study in Contrasts: Meet the Maurice Lacroix Pontos Day Date Limited Edition

Time moves differently in the city. In pastoral settings, for example, a day just seems to last longer. Then, contrast that with the frantic pace of a big town when 24 hours can pass in what feels like the blink of an eye.

A watch that helps you keep track of not only the minutes and hours but also the day and the date is your friend in urban situations. Extra points if that timekeeper looks correct in an urban environment, like the recent Pontos Day Date Limited Edition from Maurice Lacroix.

Maurice Lacroix has been going from strength to strength recently, especially with its strategy for attracting entry-level enthusiasts.

For instance, when it launched the Aikon #tide – a quartz version of its best-known model, the Aikon (pronounced “icon”) – the Saignelégier-based brand made no secret of going after Gen Z by appealing to their values. Maurice Lacroix did this by highlighting the fact that they crafted the Aikon #tide from recycled plastic, which is brightly colored and attractively priced with a starting price of $750.
 

Now the brand is taking a more enthusiast-friendly revamp of its Pontos collection. And this time, Maurice Lacroix has played with its design codes by offering-up a Pontos model in contrasting textures and shades of khaki and black.

It might seem like an unexpected combination, but it makes sense to younger buyers who grew up in a mashup culture.
 

More specifically, the dial of the Pontos Day Date Limited Edition is a classic khaki with a ‘70s-inspired sunray finish. Meanwhile, the 41mm stainless steel case is coated in black Diamond Like Carbon (DLC). Then, completing the color contrast the watch is delivered on a dark green, branded nylon strap with tone-on-tone stitching.

To further underline the Pontos Day Date’s street-cred, the watch also features black, Super-LumiNova-lined hour and minute hands. Applied trapezoidal indices convey a contemporary feeling, as does the sandblasted inner minute track, also executed in black. Its lume-treated markers neatly display the minutes and seconds.
 

On top of this interesting mix of textures, finishes, and hues, the Pontos Day Date also plays with depth. Most importantly, with the day and date functions.

There is a satisfying symmetry to the sector dial. The day is displayed through a gracefully arcing aperture with white text on a recessed black disc. At the same time, its square date window appears in the lower half of the dial, providing a pleasing sense of balance. The central sweep seconds hand floats above the dial, its tip pointing to the minute track for optimal legibility.
 

One last point on this watch’s aesthetics: The Pontos Day Date Limited Edition is meant to be a gender-neutral timepiece (although anyone can wear any watch they like, whether unisex in design or not).

Ergonomics play a big part in the architecture of the case. The Pontos line is known for its stepped lug design, which helps the case comfortably hug the wrist. And there are many more tactile touches.

For example, the fluted crown provides excellent grip. And it’s always a fun feeling to feel the rotor of the automatic ML143 calibre swing effortlessly back and forth. You can also observe this mechanism and its fine finishes (including Côtes de Genève engraving, circular-graining, and colimaçon snailing).
 

Maurice Lacroix also has a reputation for providing much-perceived value for the buck, and Pontos Day Date delivers in this department as well. The movement is adorned with vertical Côtes de Genève, circular-graining and colimaçon, while the rotor is embellished with sun brushing.
 

These premium details project the kind of confidence that any city kid can admire – noticeable but not too flashy.