Solar power has arrived in the Pontos S collection, and Maurice Lacroix has done an excellent job. The Pontos S Solar and its sibling, the Pontos S Solar Chronograph, represent a genuine first for the line, bringing Swiss solar quartz technology to a collection already known for its athletic credibility and purposeful design language.
This is not a timid experiment, but a fully formed sports watch proposition, built for those who demand precision under pressure, prefer sustainability over planned obsolescence, and want a timepiece that genuinely earns its place on a dive watch enthusiast’s wrist. The 42 mm stainless-steel case, the 200-metre water resistance rating, the unidirectional bezel, the luminescent hierarchy, Maurice Lacroix has thought this through, and the result is a compelling addition to a crowded but well-loved category.
Bold colours, good legibility
The dial design across the Pontos S Solar range centres on a smoked, translucent construction that transmits between 20 and 30 percent of available light to the solar cell beneath. This semi-transparency is both functional and visually interesting, lending depth to the surface. Available in black or blue, the dial pairs rhodium-faceted indices and hands with Super-LumiNova in two distinct emission colours: green for the hour hand, the indices, and the remaining markers, and blue for the minute hand and the first 15 minutes on the bezel. That bicolour lume approach creates an immediate and intuitive reading hierarchy, you find the hour first, then the minute, without thinking. The silver or green fluo flanges provide a crisp minute track boundary, reinforcing readability at a glance.
On the fluorescent green version, the flange, minute hand outline, and seconds hand tip all adopt vivid fluorescent green, coordinating with the Gun DLC-treated case. The orange fluo chronograph version extends its colour to the 30-minute counter at 9 o’clock and the 1/10-second counter at 6 o’clock, ensuring the timing registers stay as legible as the time display itself.
Ronda 215 Solartech
Inside the three-hand Pontos S Solar sits the Ronda 215 solartech movement, a Swiss-made quartz calibre measuring 25.6 mm in diameter and just 2.89 mm in height. The 215 uses a lithium metal MT920 rechargeable battery that sustains eight months of operation at full charge in complete darkness, and critically, just one minute of sun exposure triggers a quick-start function. Current consumption sits at a typical 0.96 µA, rising to 1.35 µA at maximum draw. The movement delivers a rate of -10 to +20 seconds per month, and its power-saving mechanism reduces consumption by approximately 70% when the crown is pulled.
The Pontos S Solar Chronograph uses the Ronda 2040.D, a 12½-ligne calibre measuring 28 mm across and 4.4 mm thick. It delivers a full chronograph with centre stop-second, 30-minute counter, 1/10-second counter, and a 10-hour counter, alongside a date complication. Both movements achieve over 10 years without a battery change, a practical advantage that renders this watch far less demanding than a conventional quartz.
42 mm Steel
The 42 mm case in brushed and polished stainless steel follows the established Pontos S silhouette, keeping the signature lugs that have defined the line. At 13 mm thick, the proportions feel right for a solar sports watch — enough room for the slightly taller solar cell stack without tipping into the ungainly. The unidirectional rotating bezel uses an aluminium insert with the bicolour SLN diver marker system. A screw-down crown protector and a caseback engraved with a maritime compass and wave motif complete the specification, delivering a certified 200-metre water resistance.
This limited fluorescent versions receive a Gun DLC coating over the steel, providing both scratch resistance and a darker, more purposeful aesthetic that justifies the price premium. Every reference ships with the Easychange strap system, accepting either an FKM rubber strap embossed with the Maurice Lacroix name or a five-row brushed and polished bracelet.
Verdict
As summer 2026 arrives, the Pontos S Solar reads as one of the most practical propositions in the segment. The solar charging removes any anxiety about battery life during extended holidays or water sports weeks, the 200-metre rating covers every realistic dive scenario, and the bold fluorescent variants bring genuine seasonal energy to the wrist. Pricing starts at 1.190,00 € for the rubber strap Pontos S Solar, rising to 1.290,00 € on bracelet and 1.490,00 € for the fluorescent green limited edition. The chronograph begins at 1.490,00 € on rubber, 1.590,00 € on bracelet, topping out at 1.790,00 € for the orange fluo limited. For a Swiss-made solar dive watch with this level of specification and real appeal, those numbers represent exceptional value going into the warmest months of the year. Should I ask Maurice Lacroix for some watches for a more extended review?
