Ulysse Nardin Diver NET Vendée Globe

Quick specs Ulysse Nardin Diver NET Vendée Globe
Price: $ 14,200 | € 14.400 | £ 12,540 | CHF 13’500
Size: 44 mm
Reference:
1183-170LE-2A-VG/0A (grey strap)
1183-170LE-2A-VG/0B (red strap) – limited to 300 pieces in total

The Ulysse Nardin Diver NET Vendée Globe is a limited-edition dive watch designed for the Vendée Globe, one of the most challenging solo sailing races in the world. Created for professional sailors and enthusiasts, this watch embodies sustainability, and durability, making it ideal for harsh maritime environments. And it’s partly made of recycled fishnets.

Ulysse Nardin’s partnership with the Vendée Globe began in 2020-2021, marking its commitment to marine exploration and innovation. This Diver NET Vendée Globe celebrates the race’s 10^th edition in 2024 and highlights the brand’s focus on sustainability and ocean conservation.

A Heritage of Marine Innovation

The Vendée Globe race, established in 1989, is often referred to as the “Everest of the Seas.” It challenges solo sailors to navigate the globe non-stop and unassisted, with only 114 competitors completing it to date.

Ulysse Nardin’s association with marine chronometers since 1846 makes its involvement with this race fitting. And this Diver NET Vendée Globe extends the legacy of Ulysse Nardin’s Diver collection.

Sustainable Design

The Diver NET Vendée Globe features a 44-millimeter case constructed with 95% recycled steel and NyloFoil, a composite of recycled fishing nets and carbon fiber. Its notched unidirectional CarbonFoil diving bezel, which is upcycled carbon fiber, enhances durability.

A sandblasted grey dial with red and blue accents represents the Vendée Globe’s official colors. Functions include a small seconds sub dial at 6, a power reserve indicator at 12 o’clock, and a date window at 6 o’clock. The 10^th on the date appears in red, a nod to the 10^th edition of the Vendée Globe. A screw-down crown with protective guards enhances reliability during intense conditions. Perfect for a diver.

Movement and Horological Innovation

The Ulysse Nardin Diver NET Vendée Globe houses the Ulysse Nardin caliber UN-118. It is an in-house automatic movement with a DIAMonSIL escapement. Here made from upcycled silicon, that improves durability and precision. This movement builds on Ulysse Nardin’s pioneering use of silicon since 2001.

The UN-118 offers a 60-hour power reserve and is visible through the sapphire crystal case back. Its case back also features an engraved map of the Vendée Globe race route, underscoring the watch’s maritime inspiration.

Strap Options and Practicality

The Diver NET Vendée Globe comes with two strap options. A red fabric strap incorporates recycled fishing nets, while the grey option is made entirely from NyloFoil. Both straps use a scratch-closure system, also known as Velcro, for secure and convenient wear.

Of course, these straps align with the watch’s eco-conscious design ethos, ensuring comfort and durability in extreme conditions. And given the price of the watch, a package with the two straps would be a nice offer.

Pricing and Competitors of Ulysse Nardin’s Diver NET Vendée Globe

The Ulysse Nardin Diver NET Vendée Globe has a price tag between 12.5 and 14.5k. Limited to 300 pieces, it targets collectors and enthusiasts, divers perhaps, who also value sustainability.

It can be an alternative for watches like Blancpain’s Fifty Fathoms and certain models of Omega’s Seamaster collection, which offer similar maritime functionality but lack the same sustainability focus. More of the watch in the video below the specs.