BY HARLAN CHAPMAN-GREEN
For 2021, Ulysse Nardin is updating its diving models with three contemporary and stylish yet functional watches, let’s get straight into it.
Diver 39mm
The first piece is for the ladies, evidently, as it features a 39mm rose gold case, and a rose gold bezel set with diamonds. To be honest, this is a fixed bezel, and with no inner rotating bezel to be found, we can’t actually class this as a diving watch. Nevertheless, it’s great to look at. It features a mother of pearl dial with diamond markers (apart from 12 O’clock, which features a lumed marker) and lumed gold hands painted with SuperLumiNova.
Inside the case is the UN-816 movement, a self-winding movement based on the Sellita SW300 modified with silicon escapement components, a 4Hz beat rate and 42-hours of power reserve. It comes with a white alligator leather strap and a white integrated rubber strap too. The price is $25,800.
Diver 42mm
Weirdly, unlike the previous watch, which wasn’t really a diving watch, this particular addition to the collection is. It has a unidirectional rotating bezel and a steel case (featuring grey PVD coating) with rose gold accents. It’s a handsome watch, its design, fit & finish, and pricing put it in the area of a Seamaster Planet Ocean in two-tone, but this is both more subtle and more handsome than the boisterous Planet Ocean.
The grey dial is sandblasted for a pretty finish, and Ulysse Nardin has included the coordinates for their manufacture in Le Locle, in case you were ever lost and needed to get there or something. Inside this is the same calibre UN816 as the previous watch. The price is $10,400.
Diver Chronometer 44mm
Following a 2018 revision, the 44mm Diver Chronometer got a serious makeover making it look a lot more casual and less tool-y. This watch continues that theme, but the tool watch side is still present. The case under that blue PVD coating is made of titanium, and the rose gold diving bezel has rubber inserts for grip. The grained dial is attractive and legible (like, really legible, as I found out in my review of their Diver Deep Diver Hammerhead edition) and features both a power reserve and a small seconds hand as well.
Inside this watch is not a Sellita-based movement. Instead, Ulysse Nardin has fitted the COSC chronometer UN-118. It features their proprietary Silicium balance spring and Diamonsil escapement and anchor. It beats at 4Hz and goes for 60-hours. Surprisingly, there isn’t too much of a price increase for this new movement and titanium case, this one’s yours for $13,300.
Visit Ulysse Nardin here.
Which is your favourite? Let us know in the comments section below.
