Ulysse Nardin Announces 2020 “Xplorations” At Kering Gala

Kering, the parent company of Swiss luxury watchmaker Ulysse Nardin, hosted the “Banquet sur la Banquise” (Banquet on the Ice Floe) gala at its headquarters in Paris’s 7th arrondissement to celebrate the “Xploration” to come in 2020.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Ulysse Nardin

The evening started with an introduction by Kering CEO François-Henri Pinault, and a speech by Ulysse Nardin CEO Patric Pruniaux.

“On this momentous occasion, we are weighing the anchor on a new year and a new way of exploring our precious planet”, said Mr. Pruniaux.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Ulysse Nardin

The highlights of the evening included the official announcement by Ulysse Nardin of its partnership with the Vendée Globe race. The competition is a sea race that tests some of the world’s most daring skippers. During it, they sail their sailboats around the world with no stops and no assistance. Vendée Globe Managing Director Laura Le Goff appeared in person to announce the alliance.

French-Australian sailor and navigator Sébastien Destremau was the master of the ceremony throughout the evening. He participated in the Vendée Globe challenge in 2016.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Ulysse Nardin

Furthermore, contrasting her usual attire of wetsuit and fins, the first “female Ulysse” Alessia Zecchini was present wearing an Yves Saint Laurent gown. She is a multiple world champion and multiple record-holding free diver from Italy. Earlier in 2019, she won two gold medals and one silver medal at the European Indoor Championships in Istanbul. Zecchini set two world records at that competition this year. Adorning her wrist was the Lady Diver Great White, part of a fresh line of female diving watches.

“It looks as lovely in the light of a camera flash at a VIP event as it does in the ocean’s depths”, Ms. Zecchini said of her timepiece.

Among the 150 seated guests was photographer Sebastian Copeland, whose pictures have captured the planet in its most vulnerable areas.

The evening’s guests were also granted access to the 17th-century chapel where the Pinault family has placed part of its art collection. Only part of the art works collected by Pinault over the past 40 years 

DJ Jade de Lavreille curated the music for the gala with a custom playlist.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Ulysse Nardin

For more on Ulysse Nardin, visit www.ulyssenardin.com.