Another Swiss all-time classic

Swiss mountains may not have any particular relation to the open seas, but when connoisseurs look for water-resistant and diving watches, they turn to the home of precision timepieces. In the small town of Le Locle, in the Jura mountains, lies one of the global watch powerhouses, Ulysse Nardin.

Founded in 1846, it has up until this point been managed by five generations of the Nardin family and its latest offering, the Maxi Marine Diver Chronograph, benefits from the inherited experience.

The Maxi Marine Diver, like other chronographs, is a watch with both timekeeping and stopwatch functions. At the same time, it is a rugged all-weather sport diving watch with a self-winding movement that can record seconds and minutes and can be put to zero instantly. These hand-crafted watches are water resistant to up to 200m with anti-reflective sapphire crystal.

Rolf W Schnyder, president, Ulysse Nardin, told Emirates Business: "Ulysse Nardin's history is closely linked to marine chronometers, instruments which laid the foundation of the company's fame and its excellent reputation. Nowadays satellites have replaced the marine chronometers and the sextant as navigation instruments. To honour the past of Ulysse Nardin I launched for the 150th Anniversary the Collection Marine Chronometers and Marine Divers. The Marine Diver Collection has become a classic of Ulysse Nardin and it was a logical development to include a Chronograph edition."

Crafted in stainless steel or 18 carat rose gold sporting screw crown, the timepiece is combined with a three level watch face that enhances the timekeeper's functionality with a modern aesthetic. Twenty-two rotors on execution are visible through the exhibition case back, each individually numbered.

Schnyder, a Swiss with over 40 years of experience in various aspects of wristwatch production, said: "The Maxi Marine Diver Chronograph is not a limited edition but embodies a fusion of the chronograph and diver collections. Ours is not a fashion company, but we always come up with the most innovative designs. "To emphasise the characteristics of the timekeeper, I had the dial designed on three levels. The three-dimensional look enhances the watch's functionality."

The company takes pride in constantly learning something new. They have always looked for new blood and have many young technicians, thus giving them new ideas and innovations.

Schnyder said: "The one thing that sets Ulysse Nardin apart from other brands is that the company is constantly learning something new. If you asked me 12 years ago, I would have told you that the company's youngest staff member would be around 48 years old. Now, we are looking for new blood and I have many young technicians."

Ulysse Nardin has been awarded over 4,300 first prizes and 18 gold medals at world fairs and international exhibitions and its marine chronometers have been used by over 50 navies spanning five continents.

This calibre UN-800, 42.7mm chronograph with a power-reserve of approximately 42 hours comes with a unidirectional clockwise function with a screw type crown and pushers in gold, stainless steel or black titanium, anti reflective sapphire crystal and a 18 carat gold bracelet or rubber with gold or titanium elements and clasp.

The starting price is around Dh35,000 and can go up to Dh1.55 million for the gold version. The new collection of Ulysse Nardin timepieces can be purchased in the UAE from BinHendi Watches and Jewellery outlet located in Mall of the Emirates.

Interestingly, the hundreds of tiny pieces that combine to make up these watches in an intricate web of gears and wheels may never match the precision of a quartz instrument. But the mechanical timepiece is, and will always remain, the essence of traditional craftsmanship with a long-lasting value – sometimes even for several generations.

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