Latest news with #UlysseNardin
Business Times
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Times
Action-packed trio of new watches
Tudor Pelagos FXD Chrono 'Pink' [SINGAPORE] Tudor continues its bold partnership with the Giro d'Italia, unveiling the Pelagos FXD Chrono 'Pink' – a limited edition of just 300 pieces, inspired by the race's iconic Maglia Rosa. The vivid pink jersey is worn by the winner of the race, which is not only one of the most beautiful and celebrated in the Grand Tour calendar, but also one of the most challenging. Over the course of the competition, riders will experience the elevation gain of going up Mount Everest six times. As the official timekeeper of the Giro, the new chronograph is meticulously engineered for the demands of professional cycling. Just like the Pelagos FXD Chrono 'Cycling Edition' from last July, the standout feature is a cycling-specific tachymeter scale – this time in pink – spiralling around the dial for quick speed readings at cyclist-friendly intervals. The 43 mm matte black carbon composite case, paired with titanium hardware, ensures lightweight durability; and powering the new Chrono 'Pink' is the COSC-certified Manufacture Calibre MT5813, offering a 70-hour power reserve. Completing the package is a jacquard-woven technical fabric strap with a pink stripe, woven in France for comfort on and off the bike – a fitting tribute to those who dare to chase victory. Hublot MP-10 in Sapphire and Black Ceramic Hublot, renowned for its boundary-pushing designs, has just reimagined its already-iconic MP-10 Tourbillon with two striking new editions. The latest releases – one in deep black ceramic, the other in radiant sapphire – showcase Hublot's mastery of both material innovation and horological artistry. The new deep black ceramic MP-10 Tourbillon pays homage to Hublot's iconic All-Black series. PHOTO: HUBLOT The MP-10 Tourbillon is no ordinary timepiece. Eschewing traditional dials and hands, it instead dazzles with a roller display for hours and minutes, a colour-coded circular power reserve, and a mesmerising tourbillon inclined at 35 degrees, all powered by Hublot's intricate HUB9013 movement. With 592 components and a 48-hour power reserve, the MP-10 is as much a feat of engineering as it is a work of art. The sapphire edition offers a bold, transparent look that reveals every detail of the watch including its innovative movement. PHOTO: HUBLOT The black ceramic version, limited to 50 pieces, pays homage to Hublot's iconic All-Black series, while the sapphire edition – just 30 pieces worldwide – offers a bold, transparent look that reveals every detail of the movement. Both models boast a futuristic, curved case with not a single right angle, encapsulating Hublot's philosophy of fusing tradition with innovation. For collectors and design aficionados alike, the new MP-10 Tourbillon editions are the ultimate statement of modern luxury. Ulysse Nardin Diver Hammerhead Shark Ulysse Nardin pays a striking tribute to both high horology and ocean conservation with its new Diver Hammerhead Shark timepiece. Crafted in a bold 44 mm blue PVD-coated titanium case, this limited edition dive watch boasts 300 m water resistance, a uni-directional rotating bezel and luminous detailing for optimal underwater performance. Ulysse Nardin's Diver Hammerhead Shark is both a statement for the seas and their most misunderstood inhabitants. PHOTO: ULYSSE NARDIN Powered by the in-house UN-118 automatic movement with antimagnetic silicon technology, it offers a robust 60-hour power reserve and a unique forward/backward date corrector. The watch's design features red accents, a hammerhead shark motif, and an engraved caseback, all underscoring its conservation mission. In keeping with previous 'shark line' releases, Ulysse Nardin will pledge 1 per cent of annual sales of the watch to shark protection efforts via the Shark Trust, reinforcing its commitment as a 1% for the Planet member. Supported by shark attack survivor and conservationist Mike Coots, the Diver Hammerhead Shark is more than a precision instrument – it's a statement for the seas and their most misunderstood inhabitants.
CNA
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
Making history: These 5 timepieces set world records at Watches and Wonders Geneva 2025
Records are meant to be broken and nowhere was that spirit more alive than at Watches and Wonders Geneva 2025. While every maison brought its A-game, five timepieces stood out not just for their beauty or craftsmanship, but for pushing the boundaries of what's physically and technically possible in modern horology. Vacheron Constantin unveiled the world's most complicated wristwatch boasting 41 complications. Bvlgari reaffirmed its dominance in ultra-thin watchmaking with its 10th world record – the slimmest tourbillon ever made. Ulysse Nardin introduced the lightest mechanical dive watch in the world that weighs less than a tennis ball. Elsewhere, Parmigiani Fleurier made material history with the first watch to be rendered in the avant-garde alloy Cermet. And from Japan, Grand Seiko debuted what may be the most accurate mainspring-powered wristwatch ever, with an astonishing deviation of just ±20 seconds a year. Here are the five record-setting creations that are redefining the frontiers of the watchmaking world today. BVLGARI With the new Octo Finissimo Ultra Tourbillon, Bvlgari writes the 10th chapter in its record-breaking saga of ultra-thin marvels. Measuring a mere 1.85mm thin, the watch sets the world record for the thinnest tourbillon ever made. This 20-piece limited edition builds on the legacy of the Octo Finissimo line, which has consistently pushed horological boundaries for over 10 years – from the 1.95mm-thick tourbillon (2014) to the minute repeater (2016), tourbillon chronograph (2020), perpetual calendar (2021), and COSC-certified chronometer in 2024. Yet, this latest marvel is more than a numbers game; it's an extraordinary feat of modern engineering that carries with it a price tag of over S$1.1m. To achieve such radically thin proportions, Bvlgari had to completely rethink conventional watchmaking principles. Boasting a 42-hour power reserve, the BVF 900 calibre is integrated directly into the tungsten carbide caseback, which doubles up as the mainplate. This ultra-dense, highly rigid material is essential in supporting the delicate architecture of components packed into a movement just 1.5mm high. Central to this achievement is the flying tourbillon. Skeletonised and positioned for maximum visibility, it's driven by a patented differential gear system that separates winding and time-setting across two steel planar crowns at 3 and 8 o'clock. These innovations eliminate the need for vertical crown components and shave precious millimetres off the overall thickness. Aesthetically, the 40mm case stays true to the Octo Finissimo's signature monochromatic grey palette and distinctive geometric silhouette. A microbead-blasted titanium bezel, case middle, and lugs accentuate the geometric profile, while a circular-grained steel ratchet engraved with geometric motifs adds visual intrigue and depth. An integrated microbead-frosted titanium bracelet – just 1.5mm thick, including the clasp – seamlessly completes this masterpiece. GRAND SEIKO As watchmakers tirelessly pursue ever-greater precision, Grand Seiko quietly raises the bar with the Spring Drive U.F.A. (Ultra Fine Accuracy). According to the Japanese manufacture's own research, this could be the most accurate wristwatch movement powered by a mainspring today. Unveiled as part of the Evolution 9 Collection, the new calibre 9RB2 boasts an extraordinary annual rate of ±20 seconds accuracy. To put that into perspective, that's 20 seconds out of over 31 million seconds in a year. To achieve this milestone, the movement relies on a specially aged quartz oscillator and newly designed IC (integrated circuit), a critical component that regulates the movement's speed with high precision. Both are vacuum-sealed to minimise environmental disturbances like temperature shifts and static electricity. Thermo-compensation is calculated precisely for each oscillator, ensuring consistently reliable timekeeping. And for the first time in a Spring Drive movement, a regulation switch allows for accuracy corrections during after-sales servicing. Two ultra-refined 37mm models showcase this innovation: The High-Intensity Titanium (SLGB003) and 80-piece platinum boutique exclusive (SLGB001). Rendered in pale blue hues that vary in tone and depth, their dials reflect the frost-covered trees of the Kirigamine Highlands east of the Shinshu Watch Studio, where all Grand Seiko Spring Drives are produced. The titanium version features a silver-tinged blue dial and tempered blue seconds hand, evoking ice forests under crisp skies. The platinum edition's deeper blue dial offers a refined contrast to the smooth sweep of a silver-toned seconds hand. The Calibre 9RB2 is revealed in all its glory through a sapphire crystal caseback. Its bevelled, mirror-polished edges shimmer like frost, while the jewels gleam like stars in a Shinshu winter sky. Every surface reflects the seasonal beauty surrounding the watch's birthplace. Practicality is matched by comfort: The titanium model includes a newly developed three-step micro-adjustment clasp, operable without tools, for precise 2mm tweaks, while the platinum version is paired with a crocodile strap for classic elegance. PARMIGIANI FLEURIER The high-end Swiss watchmaker breaks new ground in luxury sports watchmaking with the Tonda PF Sport Chronograph Ultra-Cermet, the world's first timepiece crafted entirely from Cermet. Known for its exceptional hardness, scratch resistance, and lightweight qualities, the cutting-edge alloy – a high-tech fusion of ceramic and titanium – has previously been reserved for aerospace and engineering applications. The Cermet used here undergoes an extreme selection of fine powders and boasts a unique cool-to-the-touch sensation, which introduces a new sensory dimension to high-end horology. A total of 72 components – from the case, fluted bezel, crown and pushers to even the pin buckle – are fashioned from this material that took three years to perfect. The dial is coated in Blackor, a 9k gold-nickel alloy that lends it a distinctive grey-black hue, which beautifully enhances the timepiece's metallic sophistication. Offered in two 42.5mm references of Milano Blue and London Grey, both chronographs feature matching subdials and textured rubber straps for a chic look. Powering the watch is Parmigiani Fleurier's COSC-certified PF070 integrated chronograph movement with a 65-hour power reserve. Adding to the technical allure are satin-finished openworked bridges, as well as a polished and sandblasted 22k rose gold rotor that are visible through the sapphire caseback. ULYSSE NARDIN The dive watch has long been the workhorse of the horological world, typically defined by its substantial heft, rugged construction, and commanding wrist presence. It's a formula that has remained largely unchanged since the 1950s – until now. Enter Ulysse Nardin, which has achieved the seemingly impossible with its game-changing Diver [AIR]. Weighing only 52g with its strap – and under 46g without – it holds the title of the world's lightest mechanical dive watch. Yet, in true Ulysse Nardin fashion, this radical lightness doesn't sacrifice its serious underwater credentials. With a 44mm case water resistant up to 200m, a movement capable of withstanding shocks up to 5,000G, and an impressive 90-hour power reserve, the Diver [AIR] delivers professional-grade specs in a watch that weighs less than a tennis ball. The secret lies in its skeletonised UN-374 manufacture calibre, which comprises 20 per cent material and 80 per cent air. When Ulysse Nardin designers removed material from the movement, they counterintuitively made it even stronger and more robust. This ingenious move was done by using the slender bridges to form triangles, a rigid shape often used in engineering and architecture to resist bending and warping. The bridges and other movement components are rendered in lightweight titanium that's 90 per cent recycled, while the escapement features an ultra-light, upcycled silicon wafer that further reduces weight while ensuring precision. The technological breakthroughs extend throughout the watch's construction. The modular case construction combines a water-resistant, recycled titanium core with sides made from Nylo-Foil, a hybrid material incorporating repurposed fishing nets and carbon fibre salvaged from IMOCA racing yachts. Even the CarbonFoil bezel insert features 100 per cent upcycled carbon fibres from IMOCA boats that are chopped and compressed into a distinctive marbled pattern. Despite all its technological innovation, the Diver [AIR] still feels like a proper tool watch on the wrist. The bezel rotates with satisfying clicks, while the lume is as bold as any traditional diver's watch. A final flourish: Two interchangeable straps (in orange and white) ensure versatility in any environment. VACHERON CONSTANTIN Vacheron Constantin once again defies the limits of haute horlogerie with the Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication – La Premiere, a fitting tribute to the Swiss watchmaker's 270th anniversary. Housing an unprecedented 41 complications, this one-of-a-kind masterpiece is the result of eight years of dedicated research, development, and innovation. At the heart of the mechanical symphony beats the all-new Calibre 3655, a movement composed of 1,521 painstakingly miniaturised components, all housed within a 45mm white gold case that's 14.99mm thick. This double-sided marvel breaks new ground not only in mechanical sophistication, but also in terms of precision miniaturisation, pushing the limits of how much complexity can be achieved in a wearable watch. Its compact dimensions belie an intricate architecture achieved through revolutionary engineering techniques – most notably, an innovative plug-and-play modular system that neatly connects two intricately designed sections: A base calibre that integrates the time, chronograph, and chiming functions, and an additional module housing its rare astronomical displays. The Solaria occupies a special place in horology, notably for its five innovative astronomical complications, four of which are dedicated to tracking the Sun's position across the sky, including its altitude, culmination point, and angle of declination. A fifth complication marries a split-seconds chronograph with a representation of the celestial vault that enables the wearer to calculate precisely the length of time it will take for a selected star to reach the centre of his viewpoint. A previously unattained feat in mechanical watchmaking, it makes its world premiere on the Solaria. It's significant to note that these functions have never been featured on a single wristwatch. Equally remarkable is the watch's innovative chiming mechanism, a Westminster carillon minute repeater, widely regarded as the most sophisticated chime sequence in watchmaking. Featuring four gongs and four hammers, this acoustic complication alone demanded seven of the 13 patent applications filed for this timepiece. The challenge was integrating the mechanism into a dense movement without compromising resonance and clarity. Vacheron Constantin engineers developed rectangular-section gongs anchored directly to the case, complemented by steel and gold hammers to maximise acoustic purity. Despite its encyclopaedic complication count, the Solaria remains highly legible. Its front dial features four counters, two of which carry up to five functions each, arranged for clarity with a contrast-enhancing palette of black, white, and grey. The reverse side, which is dominated by the star chart and split-seconds chronograph, maintains visual balance through the thoughtful use of colour-coded indicators, notably red and green chronograph hands and a fuel gauge–style power reserve indicator. The sheer technical complexity of Solaria's Calibre 3655 is matched by its unparalleled finishing. Components are hand-decorated with no fewer than nine haute horlogerie techniques, including sunray brushing, circling, sandblasting, and brouillage. Even the smallest parts, such as the jewel sinks, barrel ratchets, and cam wheels, are finely polished.
Times
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
All the fun of the Geneva watch fair
At this month's Watches & Wonders shindig in Geneva, the international watch crowd — geek, enthusiast, collector, specialist — gathered for the year's timepiece 'novelties' and innovations. The trends included smaller case sizes and dizzy complications including a clutch of perpetual calendars. The colour blue proliferated, with a smattering of lilac. Platinum stood out amid the precious metals. There were certainly myriad watches, and quite a few wonders too. Patek Philippe unveiled a blockbuster collection in which the handsome square-design Cubitus family expanded with two new pieces at the smaller size of 40mm, in rose gold and white gold. The most impressive of the many Grand Complications on offer has to be the self-winding Ref 5308 Quadruple Complication featuring a minute repeater, split-second chronograph and an instantaneous perpetual calendar. At the less complex end a new dress watch favourite is the manually wound Calatrava Ref 6196P in platinum with rose-gilt opaline dial and faceted anthracite hour markers and hands, exuding refined vintage vibes. • Over at Cartier there was something glamorous for everyone. From a sparkling version of the all-yellow gold baignoire bangle, now decorated with a nonchalant dusting of tiny diamonds, to a Cartier Privé romantic reimagination of a Tank à Guichet watch (a watch with an aperture) from 1928. It also presented the voluminous and sculptural Tressage pieces, braided with gold and lacquer or diamonds, and an abundance of chic jewellery watches. More jewellery watches, in the form of swishy sautoirs (watches on long necklaces), softened from their original 1969 designs, were sashaying at Piaget. Also echoing their free spirit is the very wearable Sixties line-up, which boldly reimagines the asymmetrical trapeze shape. The Piaget Andy Warhol, in tribute to the artist who adored the brand's original Black Tie watch, had a good reception. Now formally renamed, it features a four-piece collection with stone dials from blue meteorite to tiger eye, in a play of silhouette and style. As well as the impressively designed and sparkling pieces on show, there were also records being broken. For the thinnest (for a tourbillon, or perhaps any watch), there was Bulgari's Octo Finissimo Ultra Tourbillon, which is barely the depth of a sheet of paper. It's so slender it almost disappears when turned sideways. The ones that can go deepest must include Tudor's new Pelagos, with water resistance of up to 1,000 metres. The most complicated watch prize goes to Vacheron Constantin's Les Cabinotiers Solaria Ultra Grand Complication, rightfully called 'the world's most complicated wristwatch', with 41 highly complex functions packed into the 45mm case. • The accolade for lightest watch goes to the independent Swiss watchmaker Ulysse Nardin with its Diver [Air], a marriage of high horology and high tech. Ulysse Nardin decided to partner with start-ups and market leaders to use innovative materials — such as carbon fiber, Nylo foil and 90 per cent recycled titanium — reducing mass without compromising performance. Weighing in at an ultra-light 46g or 52g (less than a tennis ball) with the specially developed composite strap, it's water resistant to 200 metres and can withstand 5,000 g-force. The result is the lightest mechanical dive watch yet made, with interesting and authentic eco credentials. It's arguable that the distinction for best value for money should go to Nomos Glashütte's enduring Club Sport neomatik, now available with a world time complication, powered by the new in-house movement. Sleek and stylish with its Bauhaus-inspired dial design in two classic colours, it's also offered in six limited edition colourways, referencing earth and sea tones. Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds in 18 carat pink gold, £37,600; Just when you think that Jaeger-LeCoultre can't do much more with the very covetable art deco-inspired Reverso, which has been around since the 1930s, along comes the Reverso Tribute Monoface Small Seconds, which, despite its functionally descriptive name, is a thing of beauty and imagination. In pink gold throughout, with a grained gold dial and Milanese gold mesh bracelet, driven by a self-winding mechanical movement, it has a sophisticated allure. Land-Dweller in steel, from £12,250; Finally, Rolex, the most omnipresent of the trophy beasts, pulled out all the stops, introducing the Land-Dweller collection. This is a handsome integrated sports watch in 36mm and 40mm sizes and the company's first new model line in 13 years. Featuring a honeycomb-patterned dial, it's based around the Oysterquartz from the 1960s and 1970s, an angular take on the Oyster, with a 'flat Jubilee' bracelet. It's powered by an innovative movement with a Dynapulse silicon escapement for even greater precision.
Euronews
08-04-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Watches & Wonders 2025: how the industry is adapting to growing demand from young collectors
ADVERTISEMENT Watches & Wonders 2025 gathered 60 brands, with colours, materials, and innovation defining this year's trends. Hublot celebrated 20 years of its Big Bang collection with a striking red ceramic model, while Ulysse Nardin introduced the world's lightest mechanical diver's watch. Luxury brands are adapting to younger buyers, who demand both craftsmanship and modernity. Parmigiani Fleurier embraces discreet luxury, while Tudor invests in sports partnerships to broaden its appeal. Meanwhile, tech start-ups explore blockchain authentication and bespoke watchmaking. With heritage meeting innovation, the industry continues to evolve, ensuring fine watchmaking remains relevant for the next generation.
Forbes
01-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Ulysse Nardin Unveils ‘The World's Lightest Mechanical Dive Watch'
The Ulysse Nardin Diver [AIR] Ulysse Nardin has introduced a new skeletonized timepiece that it says is the world's lightest mechanical dive watch. It is appropriately called the 'Diver [AIR]' because only 20% of the watch movement consists of material. The rest is 'air,' the Swiss watch brand said. The watch was unveiled Tuesday at the 2025 watches and Wonders watch fair, being held till April 7 in Geneva, Switzerland. There are few skeletonized dive watches, particularly professional quality ones with a water resistance of 200 meters. Creating such a high horology sports watch required a new skeletonized movement, the use of ultra-light and strong high-tech materials, innovative materials engineering and a modular design. The result is a dive watch that weighs a mere 52 grams with a strap and 46 grams without it. To do this Ulysse Nardin developed a new caliber, the UN-374, and removed as much of the excess material as possible while maintaining its structural integrity. This was done by using the slender bridges to form triangles, a rigid shape found in engineering and architecture to resist bending and warping. Because of this the highly skeletonized caliber UN-374 can withstand an impact of 5,000 grams. It has been tested for general knocks and vibrations, cycling thousands of shocks over several days in the lab and in the real world, the company said. The Ulysse Nardin Diver [Air] with its ultralight white and orange elastic straps The bridges are barely a few millimeters wide, hollowed out to save even more weight, while the winding rotor has been minimized to the essentials. The mainspring barrel was reconfigured into a flying arrangement to reduce the mass of the top bridge. Material was stripped from the barrel to lighten it further, bringing the total weight of the caliber down to just 7 grams, less than half the weight of the already lightweight UN-372 movement for the Ulysse Nardin Diver Skeleton X introduced in 2021. The automatic winding mechanism for the Diver [AIR] remains to adhere to official standards that a dive watch must meet, with automatic winding being one of the criteria. Ulysse Nardin credits its innovative flying barrel for the movement's impressive 90-hour power reserve. The movement is made of light-weight titanium, which is 45% stronger than steel but difficult to manipulate. It also tends to catch fire during machining, requiring careful and slow processing, which is why it is so rarely used in watch movements, Ulysse Nardin said. It's the first time Ulysse Nardin chose titanium for a movement. The movement is housed in a 44mm case made of several materials led by titanium and carbon fiber (another strong and lightweight material) using a modular construction method for visual appeal and to take advantage of the low density of carbon fiber while specifying titanium to make the watch water resistant to 200 meters. The middle case is made of 90% recycled titanium acquired through a company called, TiFast, which recovered the material from the Swiss biomedical industry, recycling it in Tuscany. Another company, Thyssenkrupp, then processed the recycled titanium to enhance its machining and deformation characteristics. The side parts of the case are made from Nylo-Foil, a registered product made of 60% Nylo (a proprietary foil made of nylon) and 40% carbon fiber, making it even lighter than traditional carbon fiber, Ulysse Nardin explained. The Nylo is recycled from ocean netting, supplied by Fil & Fab, a French recycling start-up. The carbon fiber is recovered from some of the world's fastest monohull sailing yachts manufactured by CDK Technologies and is recycled back into its original fibrous state by company called Extracthive. Both the Nylo and the carbon fiber are then processed by Lavoisier Composites to create the high-tech material known as Nylo-Foil. The luminous bezel insert is forged from CarbonFoil. The escapement plays its part in this innovative approach, as it is produced from an upcycled silicon wafer supplied by company called Sigatec. The Ulysse Nardin Diver [Air] is completed with two interchangeable ultralight, elastic straps in white and orange.
