By John Galt
Ulysse Nardin have released a special edition to commemorate their partnership with Sweden’s Artemis Racing Team bidding to win the America’s cup world series with the winner competing in the America’s cup the most prestige competition in world sailing. Ulysse Nardin have a very rare talent when it come to their ‘Marine’ models, where most other timepieces lose their DNA the minute you change and introduce another similar version, however, small, Ulysse Nardin seem to keep their brand new fresh feel with every variation and make you want to rush out and buy their new model of the brand’s sportier creation, much like this with its blue nautical feel.
At first glance the dial is highly legible and not clustered or busy, just nicely laid out with superb symmetry. This Artemis Racing version mixes a gorgeous deep-ocean blue with splashes of Artemis Racing’s signature yellow. The 44mm case is a perfect size for this sporty piece, not too big to be dominant and yet big enough to have a real presence on the wrist. The ocean blue bezel shows minute indicators for the first 20 minutes then every 10 minutes like most diver pieces, the bezel also features Ulysse Nardin’s iconic wave pattern. Minute markers hug the outer edge of the ocean blue dial featuring an Artemis sailing boat motif with applied white indices with a thin yellow line through the middle. At 12 O’clock is the power reserve indicator with the Artemis Racing logo in yellow in the middle, directly below and keeping the symmetry exquisite is the small seconds counter with Artemis Racing Challenger America’s Cup’ inscribed inside reminding the wearer and anyone that looks that this is a commemorative piece. Also inside the small second dial Ulysse Nardin have inserted the date window to keep the clean crisp feel of the dial with black on white numerals.
Turning the piece over there is no exhibition case but a solid back reiterating this is a tool divers piece, on the back is engraved with the Artemis Racing motif, Challenger 35th America’s cup and limited edition as this is limited to 250 pieces and has a depth rating of 300 meters so can withstand most you throw at it. You will find behind the solid back the tried and trusted UN-26 self-winding in-house caliber.
Finishing off the piece is an ocean blue rubber strap with yellow inlays again a reference to Artemis Racing, one of the characteristic titanium inserts bears the brand’s name and other is engraved with Artemis Racing’s logo further reiterating the collaboration between the two.
Conclusion
This special edition will undoubtedly appeal to the watch buyers that want a versatile watch with marine overtones that can happily be submerged out in the ocean, sailing or other water sports. This is one special edition that will appeal to many and I personally like it a lot with its colour scheme this is another rendition that stands out. For more info, please visit ulysse-nardin.com
JOHN GALT – CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
John Galt caught the horology bug back in 2010 on his first visit to a London watch show and has snowballed since; John has become an avid writer and blogger of timepieces of all kinds, from everyday timepieces to modern Luxury HauteHorology, his favorite brands being HYT and GreubelForsey that push the boundaries of modern watch-making. John keeps a keen interest in the UK watch scene with their many emerging brands and timepieces. John Galt currently contributes watch related articles for online publications in the UK and USA. You can follow John on Twitter @johng73 Read his articles here.
