On the 18th of October 2023, at 10 AM CET in Le Locle, Ulysse Nardin, renowned independent Haute Horlogerie manufacturer celebrated for its groundbreaking timepieces and its mastery of artistic crafts and exceptional dials, presents a fresh interpretation of its Diver Starry Night diver’s watch and the Marine Torpilleur Moonphase Aventurine, drawing inspiration from Ulysse Nardin’s legendary marine chronometers—esteemed as the most dependable and cherished navigation instruments ever crafted.
AVENTURINE – A captivating tale surrounds the origin of aventurine. It is said that in the 18th century, on the island of Murano in Venice, renowned for its skilled glass artisans, a craftsman unintentionally introduced copper filings into a pot of molten glass. This serendipitous event gave birth to aventurine glass, known as “avventurina” in Italian, translating to “by accident.” Crafting with this delicate material demands a profound level of skill from the artisans. The initial step involves cutting fine plates from blocks of aventurine. Only those pieces that exhibit absolute uniformity, devoid of imperfections and uniformly speckled with shimmering copper, are chosen for the creation of the watch dials.
MARINE [ TORPILLEUR MOONPHASE AVENTURINE] HERITAGE & PRECISION
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Ulysse Nardin established an unparalleled reputation as a master creator of deck chronometers, which were pivotal for navies worldwide in accurately determining a ship’s position at sea. The Maison garnered acclaim and honors during this era and provided its innovations to more than 50 navies, geodesy institutes, and astronomical observatories. This rich nautical heritage served as the foundation for the creation of the iconic Marine Chronometer, a testament to Ulysse Nardin’s technical expertise.
In 2017, a new generation of chronometers emerged with the Marine Torpilleur, a timepiece that embraced both the technical and aesthetic attributes of the Marine Chronometer. It featured hallmark elements such as a fluted bezel, Roman numeral hour markers, a double counter, and rhodium-plated hands.
The newly unveiled Marine Torpilleur Moonphase Aventurine, offered in an exclusive limited edition of 300 pieces, showcases a shimmering blue aventurine dial reminiscent of a starry night. It is elegantly encased in a 42 mm stainless steel casing. Powered by the UN-119 Manufacture calibre, meticulously designed and assembled within the integrated Ulysse Nardin Manufacture, this movement boasts a silicon balance spring, as well as a DIAMonSIL escapement wheel and anchor. This patented innovation, fusing silicon with synthetic diamonds to enhance abrasion and shock resistance, was originally introduced with the Freak in 2007.
Completing its array of features, the timepiece incorporates a double counter that displays the power reserve at 12 o’clock and small seconds at 6 o’clock, along with a moon phase disc, which adds an extra touch of elegance when it graces the starry night dial. With a water-resistant capability of up to 50 meters, this watch is presented on a blue alligator strap secured with a folding clasp.
The Ulysse Nardin event for this exceptional timepiece took place on the 18th of October 2023 at 10 AM CET in Le Locle, where the renowned independent Manufacture of Haute Horlogerie showcased its prowess in crafting innovative timepieces and exquisite dials. The inspiration for this reinvention was drawn from aventurine, a material with a captivating legend, born inadvertently in the 18th century on the island of Murano in Venice, celebrated for its skilled glass artisans. The artisan’s accidental introduction of copper filings into molten glass resulted in the creation of aventurine glass, known as “avventurina” in Italian, signifying “by accident.” Crafting with this delicate material necessitates the utmost expertise from skilled artisans. The process begins with the precision cutting of fine plates from aventurine blocks, selecting only those pieces that exhibit flawless uniformity, devoid of imperfections, and adorned with even copper glitter speckles for the creation of the exquisite watch dials.
DIVER [ STARRY NIGHT] DIVING INTO THE NEBULA
Drawing inspiration from the mesmerizing hues of the Milky Way, the newly unveiled Diver Starry Night reveals a dial that is both enchanting and resplendent. To craft this masterpiece, the skilled artisans at Ulysse Nardin meticulously layered two plates – one composed of iridescent mother-of-pearl and the other of azure aventurine glass.
The enchantment of the Diver Starry Night extends to its shimmering diamonds, adorning both its bezel (totaling 0.8 carats) and 11 of its hour markers (totaling 0.12 carats). Its mechanical core, the UN-816 caliber, boasts an anchor and escapement wheel made from silicon. This polished and satin-finished steel diver’s timepiece, capable of withstanding depths of up to 300 meters, possesses a 39mm diameter, ensuring suitability for wrists of all sizes.
Presented with a strap option in either dark blue textured rubber or white alligator, this watch ensures excellent readability even in low-light conditions, thanks to its hands and 12 o’clock hour marker coated with white SuperLuminova®.
For more information, please visit Ulysse-Nardin.com.