Introducing Ulysse Nardin Launches the Lightest Mechanical Diving Watch: Diver [AIR]

Ulysse Nardin has maintained its reputation as one of the finest Swiss independent watchmakers, renowned for its history of innovation, including revolutionary silicon escapements. This tradition of pushing boundaries has also strengthened the brand’s connection to the sea, as it once crafted some of the finest marine chronometers and timekeeping instruments for seafarers. Additionally, the brand has turned its attention to the escalating issue of plastic pollution in our oceans, leading to the creation of watches made from recycled materials, such as the “Diver Net.” This year, the brand launches the Diver [AIR], now officially the lightest mechanical diving watch ever created.

Ulysse Nardin achieved its astonishing weight of just 52 grams through an innovative modular construction. The middle case utilizes 90% recycled titanium, sourced from Swiss biomedical waste and processed through a collaboration with the titanium producer TiFast and steel producer Thyssenkrupp to ensure strength and durability. The Diver [AIR] features a 44mm case with a thickness of 14.7mm and offers 200-meter water resistance, an impressive feat for a skeletonized watch.

For the side components, the brand developed Nylo-Foil, an advanced composite blending 60% recycled fishing nets with 40% upcycled carbon fiber reclaimed from IMOCA racing sailboats. The bezel takes this sustainable approach further, crafted from CarbonFoil, a unique material formed by compressing recycled carbon fiber into a striking marble-like pattern. Despite its ultra-light construction, the watch maintains an impressive water resistance, with the sapphire crystal engineered to withstand pressures equivalent to 170kg at depth.

The skeletonized dial showcases the intricate movement beneath, with black indexes and hands treated with white Superluminova for optimal legibility in low-light conditions. An oversized balance wheel and balance spring in silicon are set at 6 o’clock.

Powering the watch is the in-house UN-374 caliber, an automatic movement operating at 21,600 vph (3Hz) with an exceptional 90-hour power reserve. Key technical innovations include a flying mainspring barrel that reduces weight without compromising performance, a silicon escapement that's both antimagnetic and 50% lighter than traditional versions, and a triangular bridge structure that provides rigidity despite the extreme skeletonization. Remarkably, the entire movement tips the scales at just 7 grams, representing a weight reduction of more than half compared to the movement in the previous Diver X Skeleton model and withstands 5,000g shocks despite being 80% “air”.

Ulysse Nardin provides two elastic fabric strap options with the watch, orange and white, each weighing under 6 grams and featuring a scratch-resistant clasp. The straps can be changed quickly without tools, offering both practicality and customization for different occasions. The Diver [AIR] joins Ulysse Nardin's permanent collection, with a price of CHF 36,000, which is equivalent to AED 150,000.

For more information, you can visit Ulysse Nardin’s official website.