Ulysse Nardin is introducing the new Diver NET Signature Collection in partnership with Wempe. This is a new diver’s watch made from upcycled high-tech materials. This exclusive limited edition of 75 pieces with striking design accents in orange features a 44 mm case made from 95% recycled stainless steel. Its construction incorporates a combination of breakthrough upcycled materials that Ulysse Nardin has been pioneering Nylo and Carbonium. A continuation of Wempe’s successful series of exclusive watches from renowned watch manufactures.
The Wempe Signature Collection is based on iconic models from the world of watches. Over the years, the Hamburg-based family-owned company has accumulated extensive knowledge about its customers’ expectations, requirements, and wishes and it fulfills these in cooperation with selected watch brands. This results in unique limited editions of watch models that are available exclusively in Wempe showrooms worldwide and at the Wempe online shop.
The Ulysse Nardin Diver NET Wempe Signature Collection features a matte black dial sandblasted with a brushed X, luminescent hour markers, rhodium-plated hour and minute hands with white Super-LumiNova, rhodium-plated hands for the small seconds dial and power reserve indicator with Super-LumiNova in orange, as well as a date indicator at 6 o’clock.
“Ulysse Nardin has always developed watches as statement pieces for individualists who can think beyond traditional Swiss watchmaking and are interested in future-oriented caliber designs,” explains Kim-Eva Wempe (61). This independent innovation workshop long ago stopped using technically obsolete built-in components such as screwed golden settings or swan-neck fine adjustments. Instead, back in 2001 it became the first watch manufacture to develop robust high-performance technology made of silicon. “At Ulysse Nardin they’ve always emphasized ongoing development. That’s why today the brand is regarded as the epitome of contemporary watchmaking,” says Wempe’s managing partner.
But there’s much more to the bond between Wempe and Ulysse Nardin than modern watches that capture the spirit of the times. Both of them have a shared DNA and a predilection for marine chronometers. Since 1905, Wempe has been equipping ships with these special timepieces, whose great precision is unaffected even by rough seas and changing temperatures, thanks to their gimbal suspension and detent escapement. Ulysse Nardin too has been manufacturing marine chronometers ever since it was founded in 1846. These chronometers quickly gained a reputation for being the most precise and most awarded marine instruments worldwide, equipping more than 50 navies across the globe.
“Ulysse Nardin provided us with components such as springs when we had to rebuild our production capacity in Germany in the 1950s. That was a big help for our family-owned company, in particular for my father Hellmut. And that’s why there has been an especially close and friendly partnership between our two brands ever since,” says Wempe.
After the quartz crisis in the 1980s, the production of wristwatches at Ulysse Nardin was revived under the company’s new owner Rolf Schnyder. That was when Wempe became the first authorized dealer in Germany to include these watches for connoisseurs in its product range.
Whether diving among coral reefs, sailing on the ocean-going yacht, enjoying the surf, or making a stylishly confident appearance in sophisticated beach clubs all over the world—at Ulysse Nardin, they know that contemporary diver’s watches can perform perfectly on every occasion while maintaining a modern and elegant look. Behind the refined design of these watches is the CEO of Ulysse Nardin, Patrick Pruniaux, and his passion. He’s an enthusiast of outdoor sports and is especially keen on sailing, kite surfing and freediving.
“We are proud and honored to partner with Wempe, a family-owned company boasting over a century of unparalleled craftsmanship and precision. Our collaboration brings forth the exclusive and thrilling Diver NET Wempe Signature Collection timepiece, a true statement watch blending innovative materials with contemporary design.”
The top performance of this conscientious diver’s watch, which is water-resistant to 300 meters, is underscored by its cleverly integrated and upcycled high-tech materials. The original 44 mm case is made from 95% recycled stainless steel and its construction features a combination of breakthrough materials that Ulysse Nardin has been pioneering. The side parts and the case back are composed of Nylo —60%— and Carbonium —40%. Nylo is a polyamide formed from upcycled fishing nets, while Carbonium is a cutting-edge material with exceptional strength-to-lightness properties that are produced using the same carbon fibers found in state-of-the-art aircraft wings and fuselages.
Carbonium is made using offcuts from the aircraft manufacturing process, reducing its environmental impact by 40% compared to other carbon composites. In addition, this unique material provides a marbling effect to the unidirectional rotating bezel. Finally, this mix of materials makes the watch not only especially robust and scratchproof but also about 50% lighter than traditional diver’s watches. That significantly increases wearing comfort and makes a more casual color combination possible.
Clearly readable contrasts are ensured by a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides and a matte-black dial that is combined with white luminescent material on the hour markers and the hour and minute hands, and with orange luminescent material on the hands of the small seconds dial and power-reserve indicator. As a result, this sports watch can be used under any lighting conditions.
“We believe it’s important to create a powerful look with the vibrant orange color as well as making an impact with mechanical high-performance precision,” explains Bernhard Stoll (64). As a thoroughbred independent company, Ulysse Nardin offers not only contemporary design but also future-oriented watch movements that it develops and manufactures in-house. For the Diver NET Signature Collection, it chose the self-winding caliber UN-118 with a date display and power-reserve indicator, upgraded with an anti-magnetic silicon balance spring and an escape wheel, as well as a pallet made of patented DiamonSil. This know-how guarantees no less than 60 hours of operation and a significantly higher accuracy of the watch’s rate. “Most importantly, this technology requires significantly less maintenance, and that’s why the guarantee has been extended to five years,” says Stoll.
The new Ulysse Nardin Diver NET Wempe Signature Collection consists of only 75 pieces that are individually numbered. This is noted on the case, and on the sapphire crystal case back, which is printed with the logo of the Wempe Signature Collection. The watch comes with an orange-colored rubber strap and an additional rubber strap in black. Both straps are embellished with a black ceramic element and an orange Wempe Signet. The strap of this extroverted diver’s watch is closed by a double-folding clasp made of scratch-resistant titanium and ceramic.
The watch is powered by the Ulysse Nardin manufacture calibre UN-118. This automatic movement with silicon balance spring, escape wheel, and pallet made of DiamonSil is composed of 260 parts and 50 jewels and provides a power reserve of 60 hours when fully wound while beating at a frequency of 28,800 vph.
Sticker Price USD 15,900. For more info on Ulysse Nardin click here.
