Ulysse Nardin’s New Launches are a Celebration of Aventurine

Ulysse Nardin’s new Marine Torpilleur Moonphase Aventurine (Ref. 1193-310LE-3A-AVE/1A), an exclusive limited edition of 300 pieces, and the new Diver Starry Night (Ref. 8163-182B1-3A/3A (rubber strap), 8163-182B1-3A/1A (alligator strap)) sport stunning aventurine dials that embody the brand’s dedication to innovation in watchmaking and its expertise in artistic crafts.

Legend has it that in the eighteenth century, on the island of Murano in Venice—home to the famous glass-makers—a craftsman unwittingly let some copper filings fall into a pot of molten glass, thus creating aventurine glass, or “avventurina” in Italian, meaning “by accident”. Due to the material’s fragility, a high level of care and expertise is required on the part of the artisans. Fine plates are first cut from blocks of aventurine, and only pieces that are completely uniform, free from bubbles and evenly speckled with copper glitter, are used. GMT India takes a closer look at the brand’s two new releases that make use of this special material. 

Marine Torpilleur Moonphase Aventurine

Ulysse Nardin’s exceptional reputation as a master of deck chronometers for naval forces spans the 19th and 20th centuries. These chronometers served as accurate instruments for calculating longitudinal details in order to determine a ship’s position at sea, leading to the Maison raking in awards for its excellence. These inventions were supplied to over 50 navies, geodesy institutes and astronomical observatories. Such a nautical legacy led the brand to come up with the Marine Chronometer, a shining example of Ulysse Nardin’s technical prowess. In 2017, the Marine Torpilleur ushered in a new generation of chronometers. It adopted both 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, a limited edition of 300, is a new iteration of the model and flaunts a sparkling blue aventurine dial reminiscent of a night sky. The double counter displays the power reserve at 12 o’clock and small seconds at 6 o’clock, as well as a moon phase disc, which adds a dainty touch of elegance. Housed in a 42 mm stainless steel case, the timepiece is powered by the UN-119 Manufacture calibre with a power reserve of approximately 60 hours, fully designed and assembled by the Ulysse Nardin Manufacture. Water-resistant to 50 metres, the Marine Torpilleur Moonphase Aventurine is presented on a blue alligator strap that complements the blue, radiant aesthetic of the timepiece.

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Diver Starry Night

The colours of the Milky Way serve as the major inspiration behind the captivating dial of the new Diver Starry Night. To create the dial, Ulysse Nardin’s artisans superimposed two plates, one in iridescent mother-of-pearl and the other in blue aventurine glass. The 39 mm case, crafted from polished and satin-finished steel, has a sparkle accentuated by the use of diamonds set in the bezel (0.8 carats) and in 11 of its hour markers (0.12 carats).

Calibre UN-816 (offering a power reserve of 42 hours) that powers the timepiece, features an anchor and escapement wheel in silicon. While the 39 mm case enhances versatility, making it suitable for a wide variety of wrist sizes, the water-resistance of 300 metres cements its credibility as a reliable diver’s watch. The strap—either dark blue textured rubber or white alligator—harmonises effortlessly with the luminous visuals. The dial, with its hands and 12 o’clock hour marker coated with white SuperLuminova®, offers excellent readability. 

The aventurine dials on both models exemplify the brand’s commitment to championing innovation and showcasing its excellence in artistic crafts.

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