Ulysse Nardin Diver Air: The Lightest Mechanical Dive Watch in the World

Ulysse Nardin’s Diver Air is a 52 g skeletonized titanium dive watch, the lightest mechanical model globally.

In the last two editions of Watches and Wonders Geneva (WWG), Ulysse Nardin presented only one timepiece. The watch in question was the Freak, shown in multiple iterations, with the intention of directing global attention to a singular timepiece. In the instance of the Freak, this rationale was compelling, and we communicated this to the senior executives at Ulysse Nardin; the Freak need time to resonate with collectors, and the model ought to achieve greater success than it now does. This year, Ulysse Nardin alters its watch models while adhering to the 'one watch at a time' policy. The Ulysse Nardin Diver Air, referred to by the company as Diver (Air), represents the brand's interpretation of a skeletonized diver's watch, constructed with ultra-light materials, culminating in the world's lightest mechanical diving watch.

This presents an exciting opportunity for Ulysse Nardin, as records for diving watches often pertain to depth, with weight sometimes overlooked. The juxtaposition of the heftiness of a diving watch against the Diver Air’s exceptional lightness is likely to astonish anyone who handles it. Furthermore, a third rationale for the benefit to Ulysse Nardin is that, in conjunction with its Freak series, the diver collection often receives less attention; this new timepiece serves as the focal point the collection requires.

Weighing merely 52 grams, this object is exceptionally lightweight. The brand invested significantly to reduce the weight of the watch, utilizing titanium not only in the case but also in the movement components. The cloth strap accompanying the watch was reportedly a product of collaboration between Ulysse Nardin and manufacturers of lightweight apparel for elite athletes.

The most apparent method they have reduced the mass is by extensively skeletonizing the movement. Bridges are minimized to the essential and subsequently hollowed to decrease weight. The inside of the watch comprises 80% air and merely 20% substance. It's accurate to assert that an object weighing 52g will entirely lose its weight when submerged in water, given its air content and buoyancy.