As you might guess, the brand owes its name to its founder, Ulysse Nardin, born in 1823 in Le Locle. He initially trained in the art of watchmaking with his father, Leonard-Frederic Nardin, and later perfected his skills with two other masters – Frederic William Dubois and Louis JeanRichard-dit-Bressel. He established his own production at the young age of 23 in 1846 and managed it until his death in 1876, when control passed into the hands of his 21-year-old son, Paul-David Nardin.
From those distant years to the present day, Ulysse Nardin has flourished, creating some of the finest and most complex movements in the industry. A series of celebrated achievements and models followed, with which the brand established itself as one of the leading players in watchmaking. Every self-respecting collector has – or at some stage plans to own – at least one representative of this manufacture.
Ulysse Nardin Maxi Marine Diver Black Sea 45mm 263-92B2-3C/922
Undoubtedly, the Maxi Marine is as iconic a model for Ulysse Nardin as the Breitling Navitimer is for Breitling and the Omega Speedmaster is for Omega. Its history begins back in the 19th century – a time when sailors used sextants to determine their ships' positions and chart their routes. Even then, Ulysse Nardin chose a strategy that subsequently proved to be extremely successful – specializing in the creation of marine chronometers.
Although the company was founded and is based in Neuchâtel – a region with no direct connection to the seas – Ulysse Nardin managed to foresee the potential of the marine line and achieve serious success with it.
Starting from the second half of the 19th century, marine chronometers were subjected to rigorous tests at the Neuchâtel Observatory and the Geneva Observatory. As one might expect, Ulysse Nardin's chronometers passed these trials with exceptional success and were quickly recognized as some of the best marine timepieces on the market.
The Maxi Marine Diver is the modern interpretation of the legendary marine chronometers created for decades, and it is undoubtedly a model that continues the tradition and worthily defends its heritage.
The model offered today is part of the special Black Sea series, first launched in 2010, and is distinguished by several key characteristics. First is the case size – 45.8 mm, which is not found in other models from the line. Second – the transparent case back. And third – the case, made of high-quality steel with a vulcanized rubber coating, which gives a completely different feel and look.
The timepiece presented today is a newer interpretation of the model, introduced in 2016, and has two key distinctive features. The first is the skeletonized dial – using a special technology, the characteristic "waves" of the Black Sea series' guilloché are applied onto a transparent sapphire, while revealing parts of the movement beneath. The second distinctive feature is the bezel – it is also covered with vulcanized rubber, but additionally, nine polished ceramic elements are inlaid in six segments, giving the watch an exceptionally impressive and unique appearance.
The double anti-reflective coating is extremely effective – at certain angles, it creates the feeling that the dial and hands can be touched directly. The luminescence is very strong – thanks to the large markers, the dial and hands remain perfectly legible even in minimal light. During the day, the anti-reflective coating makes the dial exceptionally clear, and the magnifying glass over the date allows for quick and easy reading.
Ulysse Nardin makes no compromises with the case back either – it is transparent, with engraved model and serial number markings, and through it, the movement is revealed, its finish executed with great attention to detail.
On the side opposite the crown, the individual number of the watch is engraved in an elegant cursive script. The characteristic look of Ulysse Nardin is often associated with a rubber strap with "links," and in this model, they are ceramic – a detail that further emphasizes its individuality.
This is one of those timepieces that leaves no doubt about its purpose. Whether we use it during sports, underwater adventures, or an evening at a seaside bar, one thing is certain – this jewel on the wrist will not go unnoticed. But not with the obtrusiveness of models like the Breitling Super Avenger, but with a confident and unobtrusive presence that few watches possess.
