Introducing Ulysse Nardin Unveils Limited-Edition Chronograph to Celebrate The Ocean Race

On May 19, 2023, after a four-month race at sea, starting in Alicante, Spain in January and making stops in Cabo Verde, Cape Town, and Itajaí, the crews of The Ocean Race arrived and docked in Newport, RI, United States.

Ulysse Nardin unveiled its latest watch, the OCEAN RACE DIVER CHRONOGRAPH, in the renowned sailing capital. This timepiece was specifically designed to commemorate the jubilee of the historic race, formerly known as the Whitbread Round the World Race and later as The Volvo Ocean Race. Renamed as The Ocean Race for the 2022-2023 edition, this prestigious competition represents an extraordinary feat of human endeavor and serves as the ultimate challenge for sailing crews in the open waters.

Created in partnership with The Ocean Race, this exclusive timepiece pays homage to the mutual love for the sea, the shared spirit of exploration, and the collective dedication to preserving our oceans.

In its role as the designated Official Timekeeper for the race, Ulysse Nardin holds the responsibility of capturing the official timings for each leg of the competition and conducting the countdowns for race starts. Additionally, Ulysse Nardin serves as a partner for the 24-Hour Speed Challenge, where the crew that achieves the highest distance covered within a 24-hour period emerges as the victor.

Apart from its designated role, Ulysse Nardin also actively participates as a partner in the Time to Act program. This initiative focuses on mitigating the detrimental effects of pollution, climate change, and excessive industrial fishing on our precious oceans. Time plays a central role in the race, not only concerning the competition and setting records but also emphasizing the pressing need to take immediate environmental action.

As part of this program, the Racing with Purpose initiative developed alongside 11th Hour Racing, is an integral part of The Ocean Race's sustainability program. One of its major projects involves a scientific scheme aimed at gathering and analyzing crucial data on water health. The race's teams traverse a 60,000 km course through remote areas seldom visited by research vessels, providing a unique opportunity to collect vital information. This data collection effort focuses on addressing two significant threats to the ocean's well-being: the impact of climate change and plastic pollution. It is anticipated that this initiative will result in the largest amount of data ever collected during a sporting event. 

In light of this combination of sporting events and environmental dedication, the company is unveiling THE OCEAN RACE DIVER CHRONOGRAPH, a fresh watch model that commemorates the 50th year since the inception of The Ocean Race, initially commencing in 1973 from the seaside town of Portsmouth in England. With a water resistance of up to 300 meters, the 44mm sandblasted black DLC titanium case of the timepiece accommodates the Ulysse Nardin Manufacture chronograph calibre UN-150, comprising 318 components. This intricate movement can be admired through the transparent sapphire crystal case back, which also features the commemorative number '50' in honor of the anniversary. The ceramic element on the rubber strap, along with its pin buckle, proudly displays The Ocean Race logo. The unidirectional bezel boasts a Carbonium® finish, incorporating upcycled fibers from aircraft fuselage offcuts, resulting in a 40% lower environmental impact compared to other carbon composites. Ulysse Nardin made history as the first watchmaker to utilize this innovative material in a timepiece back in 2019. Offering remarkable resistance despite its lightweight nature.

Ulysse Nardin is launching a limited edition of only 100 timepieces called the Ocean Race Diver Chronograph. This special watch commemorates the renowned sailing race and highlights Ulysse Nardin's dedication to preserving the ocean environment and supporting marine conservation projects. Patrick Pruniaux, the CEO of Ulysse Nardin, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership. The Ocean Race competition recently resumed, with the crews setting sail from Newport on May 21st.

 The race will continue through various locations in Europe, including Aarhus (Denmark), the Kiel Fly-By (Germany), and The Hague (Netherlands), culminating in the grand finale in Genoa (Italy) at the end of June.