Sustainable development is a major trend in the watch industry: brands are entering the market with environmentally friendly products.
Some, like Chopard, ensure the sustainable origin of their gold, while others turn to innovative recycled materials with a lower carbon footprint. As a brand with legitimate and historical marine connections, Ulysse Nardin focuses on marine ecology. Among the first watches to use recycled fishing nets were the conceptual Diver Net Concept Watch of 2020. Returning to the Diver collection in 2024, Ulysse Nardin once again gives its Diver and Diver X Skeleton models an eco-friendly appeal using trendy camouflage.
Camouflage is used by animals to blend into their environment and survive predator attacks, and it has migrated into military use to protect soldiers and their equipment from enemy fire. This trend has become widespread in watchmaking, so Ulysse Nardin adorned its Freak One watches in military green. Borrowing the rugged military camouflage form of the Freak, the Diver Net Ops and Diver X Skeleton Ops models (ops - operation) are ready for action above and below the waves.
Diver Net Ops
The more robust 300-meter water-resistant Diver Net Ops model is crafted in a 44mm case. Using Nylo (recycled fishing nets) and Carbonium (carbon fiber used for aircraft fuselage and wings) for the sides and case back in combination with recycled stainless steel for the movement holder, the brand claims the watch reduces environmental impact by 40% compared to traditional cases. Completing the material menu, the marbled unidirectional rotating bezel is made from Carbonium, and the green khaki strap is partially made from recycled fishing nets. The watch can also be ordered with a green rubber strap and a black ceramic UN element.
The khaki sandblasted dial features the signature X mark, chosen for this occasion in green and black colors. Thanks to the application of beige Super-LumiNova with green emission, the indices and hands glow in the dark. A slightly recessed small seconds counter at the “6 o’clock” position with an integrated date window on a green background is balanced at noon by the power reserve indicator.
This automatic mechanism, equipped with the first proprietary base caliber (UN-118), uses advanced nanotechnology in the form of a DiamonSil escapement (a fusion of silicon and synthetic diamond) and a silicon hairspring. The movement uses 50 jewels, operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, and provides a 60-hour power reserve.
Quick Facts: 44mm x 14.81mm - rotating diver's bezel made of Carbonium, case middle and movement holder in recycled stainless steel, case sides and back in nickel and carbon - domed sapphire crystal above the dial, open sapphire case back - water resistance 300m - green sandblasted dial with X embossing, indices and hands with beige Super-LumiNova coating, date and small seconds hand at “6 o'clock”, power reserve at “12 o'clock” - caliber UN-118, automatic, 28,800 vph, silicon escapement with DiamonSil technology, power reserve 60h - green fabric strap partially made from recycled fishing nets, or green rubber strap -… 12,600 SWISS FRANCS / 13,289 EUROS / 11,700 POUNDS STERLING (all with VAT)
Diver X Skeleton Ops
The new Diver X Skeleton model, a fusion of the Diver and Skeleton models, becomes a “commando” and showcases its mechanism from the front and back thanks to the use of a skeletonized automatic UN movement. Still 44mm, but slightly thicker (15.7mm) and water-resistant up to 200 meters, the case also features carbon details on the unidirectional rotating bezel and inside the mechanism on the barrel cover at noon. To reduce weight, the case and back are made of black DLC-coated titanium with sandblasted and satin finishes.
The oversized double cross traversing the open-worked dial neatly frames the large oscillator and silicon escapement at the “6 o'clock” position. Black hour indices, suspended on the flange, are coated with beige Super-LumiNova to match the black hands. The khaki fabric strap is partially made from recycled fishing nets or green rubber, matching the “camo” color scheme. It is secured on the wrist with a folding clasp made of black ceramic and titanium with black PVD coating.
On the reverse side, other features of the UN-372 caliber are revealed. Its large X-shaped rotor has open-worked segments to avoid obstructing the view of the mechanism. The automatic movement operates at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour and provides a reliable 72-hour power reserve.
Quick Facts: 44mm x 15.7mm - rotating bezel made of Carbonium, case and back in titanium with black DLC coating, sandblasted finish - domed sapphire crystal above the dial, open sapphire case back - water resistance 200m - X-shaped open-worked dial, carbon case cover, black indices and hands with beige Super-LumiNova coating - skeletonized automatic manufacture caliber UN-372, 21,600 vph, silicon escapement, anchor and balance spring, power reserve 72h - green fabric strap partially made from recycled fishing nets, or green rubber strap with folding clasp in ceramic and titanium -… 26,100 SWISS FRANCS / 27,570 EUROS / 24,230 POUNDS STERLING (all with VAT)
For more information, visit ulysse-nardin.com.