Ulysse Nardin Diver X Skeleton - Hands-On Review, Price

Watchmaking has always been about evolution, progress, development and functionality. Even more so when those characteristics are taken into account when making a serious tool watch, for diving for instance. With that being said, there’s no reason why a dive watch can’t be bold, fun and very modern. The new Ulysse Nardin Diver X Skeleton breaks from the uniformity that is bestowed in most dive watches. It is a fresh and exciting take, typically UN in style and mechanics, on the traditional traits of a diving instrument.

Ulysse Nardin is no stranger to marine life and aquatic instruments as they rest on a foundation of producing some of the finest marine chronometers from the mid-nineteenth century. Ever since the company started making clocks, marine instruments have been a cornerstone for Ulysse Nardin. The eponymous founder won the Prize Medal in the 1862 International Exhibition in London with a marine chronometer. Within a decade and a half, Ulysse Nardin marine chronometers were used by multiple navies and shipping companies worldwide.

It’s no coincidence that Ulysse Nardin holds that history dear to its heart and keeps its diving collection looking fresh and suited for any maritime adventure you might embark on. New for 2021 is the addition of the Ulysse Nardin Diver X Skeleton to the collection, and it’s a bold one! It merges both the Diver line and the Skeleton X range into one, giving the dive watch a very unique and sporty look.

Done in striking blue PVD coated steel, the case measures 44mm across and has a concave-shaped bezel fitted with a Carbonium inlay, a material also used in the movement. Carbonium is made up of microscopic carbon fibres subjected to high pressure and temperature to bake them. The inlay has white and orange markings, in coherence with the rest of the watch. The case is finished with micro-bead blasting on the side and polished surfaces on the lugs, to create a bit of contrast. The crown is embraced by a bright orange piece of rubber to protect from any sudden impact. 

Of course, the most important part of the Ulysse Nardin Diver X Skeleton is the movement. It has been borrowed from other Skeleton X models but converted to automatic winding instead of being hand-wound. For the Ulysse Nardin Diver X Skeleton, the brand reworked the construction of the movement which now features a large X on the front, finished in PVD blue. This construction allows an almost unobstructed view into the running gears of the UN-371 calibre. As with other variations, it is equipped with a silicium escapement wheel, anchor and balance.

Flipping the watch over will reveal a large X-shaped rotor. Finishing touches include a Carbonium barrel cover, large semi-floating hour markers and large bold hands in blue with luminous coating. The Ulysse Nardin Diver X Skeleton comes on either a blue or orange segmented strap with a steel PVD coated segment on the bottom part of it. This segment holds the Ulysse Nardin logo and anchor in white and orange, as is traditional for UN dive watches. 

The new Ulysse Nardin Diver X Skeleton will be a limited edition of 175 pieces. It will be priced at CHF 19,500 or EUR 17,900.

More information on ulyssenardin.com.