Ulysse Nardin’s links with the sea are as deep as the ocean itself. The Swiss Maison was a pioneer in watchmaking innovation from 1846, when the brand cemented its reputation for incomparably accurate marine chronometers; robust navigational instruments that allowed sailors to calculate longitude at sea. Now Ulysse Nardin is reaffirming its status as a watchmaker destined to rule the oceans with the arrival of the Diver X Skeleton.
This cutting-edge evolution of the DIVER X retains its sporty appeal, while taking a radical step towards transparency. As the new hero watch of the Diver collection, the Diver X Skeleton is an explosive fusion between the sporty design of a Diver and technical prowess of the Executive Skeleton. The Diver X Skeleton is designed to withstand the potentially fatal pressures that exist at a depth of 200m. To achieve this, it is equipped with a concave inverted unidirectional rotating bezel, which protects the domed sapphire glass against impacts.
The engineering team has completely redesigned the UN-371 movement, creating the UN-372, which is visible through the 44mm case. The barrel cover at 12 o'clock is of blue Carbonium®, matching the bezel, and the hours, minutes and seconds hands are coated with Super-LumiNova, to enhance underwater legibility.
The dial of the Diver X Skeleton is one of the most technical and complex developments ever undertaken by Ulysse Nardin. The hour markers had to be secretly connected to the dial, so they appear to be floating. To achieve the sensation of depth, overlaid layers were used to emphasise the tiered construction of the central “X” element. Different levels of finish were also employed to cause a play of light, amplified by the transparency of the skeleton movement.
The case, microbeaded on the sides with satin-polished lugs, has been coated in blue PVD. Orange details, such as the hour markers, the internal lines of Ulysse Nardin’s signature “X” and the protective rubber around the crown, add vibrant pops of colour and emphasise the model’s sports origins. The bezel is of blue Carbonium®, a material originally used on the Ulysse Nardin Freak X. Carbonium® is an extremely lightweight aerospace material is highly robust and durable. It is made from the same fibers as those used for the fuselage and wings of the latest generation of aircraft. Because its manufacturing process involves using waste materials, it has a 40% lower environmental impact than other carbon fibre composites.
This high-performance material is created using a complex process which involves subjecting carbon fibers, which have a diameter of only 7μm, to high pressure and temperature conditions. The process causes the fibers to form a pattern that is unique to each watch.
The Diver X Skeleton comes on a rubber strap in either ocean blue or supercharged orange with an element adorned with the Ulysse Nardin anchor, also in orange — a constant reminder that Ulysse Nardin has always ruled the waves by looking to the stars.
