ULYSSE NARDIN Diver X SKELETON

Not all dive watches are created equally! Some of them end up looking like this, the striking result of a fusion between the world’s haute horologie and diver’s watches. This is the new Diver X Skeleton from Ulysse Nardin; it sports a bezel made from blue Carbonium®, a material that UN debuted for FREAK X Carbonium ®.

An incredibly lightweight aerospace material, Carbonium is said to be one of the most robust and highly durable materials ever developed by men in white coats. 

It is created using the same type of fibers used for the fuselage and wings of the latest generation of aircraft.

And because its manufacturing process involves the use of use of waste materials, it has a 40 lower environmental impact than other carbon. I’m sure Greta would approve, right?

The high-performance material is created using a complex process which involves subjecting carbon fibers, which have a diameter of only 7 µm, to high pressure and temperature conditions. 

Much like forged carbon the end product forms a random pattern that ends up making each watch unique.

Limited to just 175 pieces, the Diver X Skeleton’s 44mm case is made from UN’s Titanium Blue; it has a water-resistance of 200m – which isn’t exactly abyssal but you have to remember that this is a fully skeletonized dive watch. 

The case btw has been micro-beaded on its sides with satin polished lugs, which have been coated in blue PVD.

Meanwhile the watch’s key feature has to be its dial complete with that big-f#ck-off “X”, an integral component on any UN X Diver. 

In this instance UN magically connected its hour markers to the dial, so that they have the illusion of floating.

In order to achieve the sensation of depth, overlaid layers were used to emphasize the tiered construction of the central “X”. 

Different levels of finish were also employed to create a play of light, further accentuated by the transparency of the skeletoninzed, UN-372 Manufacture movement.

The Diver X Skeleton comes on a rubber strap in either ocean blue or supercharged orange with an element adorned with the Ulysse Nardin anchor also in orange. MSRP is 21’000CHF. Thoughts? Sure this won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but despite its mad scientist vibes, you can still see that at its heart it’s still a dive watch, a bonkers looking but it wouldn’t look at all out of place strapped over a neoprene clad wrist.

But what do you think; surely not all dive watches should look like they’ve plucked out of a time capsule from the last century?