Ulysse Nardin Drops Two New Watch Marvels: The Diver Starry Night & Marine Torpilleur Moonphase Aventurine

Ulysse Nardin just dropped two rather stunning new timepieces, giving a nod to aventurine dials: the Diver Starry Night and the Marine Torpilleur Moonphase Aventurine. The art of aventurine traces back to the eighteenth century on the island of Murano in Venice, known for its skilled glass artisans. Legend has it that a craftsman inadvertently introduced copper filings into molten glass, giving birth to aventurine glass, aptly named “avventurina” in Italian, meaning “by accident.” Working with this delicate material requires immense skill from the artisans. They meticulously select uniform pieces free from imperfections and adorned with even speckles of copper glitter to create the dials.

Marine Torpilleur Moonphase Aventurine

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Ulysse Nardin

Ulysse Nardin’s history in crafting precision deck chronometers for naval forces during the 19th and 20th centuries established its reputation as a master of the craft. These instruments were essential for determining a ship’s position at sea, relying on utmost accuracy. The Maison earned accolades for its excellence and supplied its inventions to over 50 navies, geodesy institutes, and astronomical observatories.

This maritime legacy gave rise to the iconic Marine Chronometer, an embodiment of technical mastery. In 2017, the Marine Torpilleur, a new generation of chronometers, emerged, incorporating the technical and aesthetic codes of the Marine Chronometer, including the fluted bezel, Roman numeral hour markers, double counter, and rhodium-plated hands.

The new Marine Torpilleur Moonphase Aventurine, an exclusive limited edition of 300 pieces, showcases a resplendent blue aventurine dial that resembles a starry night sky. It is housed in a 42 mm stainless steel case and powered by the UN-119 Manufacture caliber, meticulously designed and assembled by the integrated Ulysse Nardin Manufacture. The movement boasts a silicon balance spring and a DIAMonSIL escapement wheel and anchor, an innovative patented treatment that combines silicon with synthetic diamonds, rendering the movement abrasion and shock-resistant.

The double counter at 12 o’clock displays the power reserve and small seconds at 6 o’clock. Additionally, a moon phase disc adds a touch of elegance as it graces the starry night. Water-resistant to 50 meters, this timepiece is presented on a blue alligator strap with a folding clasp.

Diver Starry Night

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Ulysse Nardin

Inspired by the mesmerizing colors of the Milky Way, the Diver Starry Night unveils a dial as captivating as it is dazzling. Ulysse Nardin’s artisans meticulously superimposed two plates: one crafted from iridescent mother-of-pearl and the other from blue aventurine glass.

The enchantment continues with the diamonds adorning the bezel (0.8 carats) and 11-hour markers (0.12 carats). At its core, the caliber UN-816 features an anchor and escapement wheel made of silicon. This polished and satin-finished steel diver’s watch is water resistant to 300 meters, boasting a 39 mm diameter suitable for all wrist sizes. It is offered with a strap in dark blue textured rubber or white alligator, ensuring excellent readability even in low-light conditions, thanks to hands and the 12 o’clock hour marker coated with white SuperLuminova®.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Ulysse Nardin