October 26th 2022: The Swiss watchmaker Ulysse Nardin teams up with Norwegian outdoor sportswear brand Norrøna known for its sustainable and premium outerwear, to launch the new DIVER NORRØNA Arctic Night. Through their collaboration, Norrøna and Ulysse Nardin achieve their shared environmental commitments through the use of alternative and sustainable materials.
To accompany the launch, Ulysse Nardin is proud to announce its partnership with Norwegian polar explorer Børge Ousland and an active member of the Norrøna family. The timepiece is a limited edition of 29 pieces and is sold with an arktis Gore-Tex® Pro Norrøna jacket.
A union with purpose
It is no surprise that both brands decided to connect as they share the same love for nature and the same ambition of shifting to a more “circular model” by using alternative materials in their respective domains. Both brands are on a decisive path to more sustainable creations.
- 1860: Ulysse Nardin a Swiss watchmaker based in the majestic Jura Mountains, began to sell onboard marine chronometers for explorers, sailors and navigators all over the world, enabling them to navigate their route at sea. Today, five generations later, Ulysse Nardin is an independent manufacture.
- 1929: Jørgen Jørgensen a Norwegian outdoor enthusiast, began his search for more durable outdoor equipment to perform in Norway ´ s harsh and rugged land Today, four generations later, Norrøna is still a family owned and run company.
Ulysse Nardin unveils the DIVER NORRØNA Arctic Night a watch that bears both brands’ iconic logo, DNA and sustainability commitments. Only six months after the launch of THE OCEAN RACE DIVER in association with THE OCEAN RACE, the DIVER NORRØNA Arctic Night is a new black iteration of the most sustainable watch in Ulysse Nardin’s portfolio to this day. Inspired by the reflection of Norwegian nature that conjures up images of the Fjords and volcanic rocks, the black, grey and white colour palette of this watch invokes the deep, dark, ancestral geologic formations that are the Earth’s oldest, most well-preserved sedimentary rocks.
This new joint project symbolizes both companies’ commitment to safeguarding a future for the planet, starting with the poles. Polar sea ice helps regulate Earth’s climate and we know that the warming of polar oceans has powerful implications for organisms living there and for us. This collaboration is a call to action.
Børge Ousland, famous polar explorer of our time
Norwegian explorer and writer Børge Ousland is a fearless adventurer. The first person to complete solo crossings of both the Arctic and the Antarctic, Børge is curious, confident and courageous. Hauling supply sleds weighing nearly 150 kilograms, he endured limb-freezing temperatures and encounters with polar bears in pursuit of his extreme goals. A former deep sea diver and Norwegian Navy seal, Børge undertook his first expedition across Greenland in 1986. On subsequent expeditions, he has partnered with French explorer Vincent Colliard and, most recently, Mike Horn.
“Be the change you want to see in the world If you are part of the problem, you also have to be part of the solution .Since I first set foot on the Polar Ocean in 1990 the ice coverage has declined by more than 60 I have seen how it has changed In my lifetime. It’s a totally different landscape, and it is happening due to climate change. But nothing is just bad. Even problems are in one way good. Because it is how we deal with the challenges we meet, that defines who we really are. And maybe, we can use this enormous challenge that climate change truly represents, to bring out the best in us, and reveal what humanity can become“.
Børge Ousland
About the Arktis GORE-TEX® PRO Norrøna Jacket
The development of the Norrøna Arktis jacket started in 2005 with the contribution of Børge Ousland. This jacket is the result of Norrøna’s decades of product development experience and Ousland’s expedition experience, to create the perfect equipment for Arctic explorations. For this exclusive edition in partnership with Ulysse Nardin the jacket has been enriched with the logo of the watchmaker.
The jacket is made in 70D GORE-TEX® PRO fabric with a 100 recycled Nylon face. The fabric chosen by Norrøna is known for its world-class quality durable and waterproof, optimized breathability and totally wind proof.
The jacket is designed to exceed every polar requirement. Main features include a special hood that creates an air pillow to protect you from the harshest elements a customized 3D pullers for easier grip when using mittens waist adjustment, which traps air in to provide extra heat around vital organs and the elastic cord in the back, which can be attached to a push button in the front to keep the jacket in place regardless of wind and weather conditions. The hood has a one pull system that can adjust the circumference and height at once It has several Velcro® pockets and a fidlock closure on the collar to make it easier to handle with gloves.
About the DIVER NORRØNA Arctic Nights recycled parts
- The side case and the case back of the new DIVER NORRØNA are made of 40% Carbonium® and of 60 recycled fishing nets Nylo ® (suppliers Lavoisier Composite and FIL&FAB, France)
- The stainless steel watch case is made up of 80 recycled automotive materials (supplier: Voestalpine Boehler Austria)
- The bezel decoration is made of 100 Carbonium®
- The wrist strap with scratch closing is made from 100 recycled fishing nets (supplier: JTTI, France)
- Finally, all components of the UN 118 automatic manufacture movement are sourced in Switzerland, almost all within a 30 km radius
About Carbonium®
Carbonium® is made of the same fibers that are used for the fuselage and wings of the latest generation aircrafts. The manufacture of Carbonium® has a 40 lower environmental impact than other carbon composites, since it makes use of the offcuts of aircraft parts. The use of regenerated material again clearly underlines the brand’s spirit of boldness and innovation.
About Nylo®
The other alternative material used in the watch is called Nylo ® (supplier FIL&FAB). The goal is to raise awareness by creating “new from old” and regenerating materials, especially plastic. This movement of regeneration of nets marks Ulysse Nardin’s interest in a circular economic model In fact, the brand has placed its trust in young Breton designers who have created the very first fishing net recycling business in France FIL&FAB, a start up in the field of industrial design and transition, recovers disused nets in French fishing ports and recycles them in the form of polyamide granules called Nylo®.
The DIVER NORRØNA Arctic Night is a limited edition of only 29 pieces (a nod to 1929 the year NORRØNA was founded), all numbered from 1 to 29 and therefore unique. The watch will be sold with an Arktis Gore Tex®PRO NORRØNA jacket exclusively on www.ulysse-nardin.com from November 2, 2022, at a price of 11’900 CHF/ 11’300 EUR/ 12’600 USD.
Norwegian explorer Børge Ousland becomes a Ulysse Nardin “Ulysses”
Traversing some of the most inhospitable terrain on the planet Børge has proven himself to be one of the most accomplished legendary polar explorers in history. What he has seen inspired him to to be one of the most accomplished legendary polar explorers in history. What he has seen inspired him to begin IceLegacy ”, a project to raise climate change awareness.
Norwegian explorer and writer Børge Ousland is a fearless adventurer. The first person to complete solo crossings of both the Arctic and the Antarctic, Børge is curious, confident and carefully organized. Hauling supply sleds weighing nearly 150 kilograms, he has endured limb freezing temperatures, surprise crevasses and encounters with polar bears during his quests to reach his extreme goals.
A former deep sea diver and Norwegian Navy seal, Børge undertook his first expedition across Greenland in 1986. On subsequent expeditions he has partnered with French explorer Vincent Colliard and with Mike Horn. During his time in the navy, Børge learned life saving techniques that would serve him well on his polar expeditions. During deep sea diving training he learned that safety is a personal responsibility and that the most important person to learn to trust was himself If something went wrong, he would know what to do because he had prepared for it during his military exercises… “I am quite through”, he said ..“It’s about optimizing all aspects that can help you move forward and achieve your goal.”
One of the more challenging aspects of polar exploration is the amount of time spent alone With no partner to help if he falls through the ice or simply needs a morale boost, self reliance is key ..“I learned the hard way how to deal with the emotions that can completely overwhelm you on a long solo trip, where you may feel that everything is hopeless. One small step at a time that has been my recipe” said Børge. And the challenges can be physical as well as mental… “There have been times when has had to be both doctor and patient”, he said.
While seeing polar bears in the Arctic was once an ever present danger, the absence of polar bears on his last expedition with Mike Horn in 2019 was even more worrying ..“On the trip across the Arctic that autumn, Mike and I didn’t see a single polar bear while skiing and I have never seen so much thin ice. It’s a totally different landscape compared to when I did my first expeditions to the Pole in the early 90 s Climate change is without a doubt the biggest challenge humanity faces today.”
Børge’s experiences at the Earth’s extremes have inspired him to found IceLegacy together with explorer Vincent Colliard an ambitious project aimed at raising global awareness of the effects of climate. Along with Vincent Colliard Børge plans to explore and witness the 20 biggest glaciers on Earth over a ten-year period and transmit the knowledge gained to the next generation of IceLegacy explorers. The mission is urgent, says Børge ..“The ice is melting now!”
Ulysse Nardin Diver Norrøna Arctic Night Technical Specifications
Reference 1183-170LE-2A-ARC/0A – Watch & jacket combo: 11’900 CHF / 11’300 € / 12’600 $
Movement
- UN-118 Automatic Manufacture movement
- Silicium & DiamonSil escapement technology
- 260 Components / 50 Jewels
- Frequency 4 Hz / Oscillations 28’800 V/H
- Features:
- Hours, minutes, date
- Small second hand
- Power reserve indicator
- Power reserve: 60 hours
Case
- 44 mm
- Side case and case back: 40% Carbonium® and 60% recycled fishing nets Nylo ®
- Watch container: Stainless Steel recycled up to 80%
- Bezel: Unidirectional concave rotating, 100% Carbonium®
- Case back: Smoked sapphire crystal, Norrøna Viking logo
- Water resistance: 300 m
Dial
- Black sandblasted dial
- Embossed and satinated double X
- White Super LumiNova ® markers and hands
Wrist strap
- 100% Recycled from fishing nets
- Gray stitches
- Scratch closing
Availability
- Online exclusivity on www.ulysse-nardin.com from November 2, 2022
Ulysse Nardin – Manufacture of Freedom
Ulysse Nardin is the Manufacture inspired by the Ocean, producing freaky timepieces for explorers in pursuit of freedom.
Founded by Mr Ulysse Nardin in 1846 the company owes its reputation to its links with the sea its onboard marine chronometers are among the most award-winning and reliable ever designed.
A pioneer in innovative technologies and the use of high-tech materials such as silicium, Ulysse Nardin is one of the few independent and integrated manufactures with the in house expertise to produce its own high-precision components and movements.
To underscore its commitment to its favourite environment, Ulysse Nardin is active in supporting the preservation of the Ocean, focusing on two major areas encouraging upcycling to reduce marine plastic pollution and developing scientific knowledge concerning the preservation of the sharks, its emblem.
Today, in the Swiss towns of Le Locle and La Chaux de Fonds, Ulysse Nardin remains devoted to its quest for watchmaking perfection in four collections Marine, Diver, Blast and Freak In 2022 the brand continues to pursue its Vertical Odyssey, voyaging from the abyss to the cosmos with its high flying watches.
As of 2022 Ulysse Nardin and sister Maison Girard Perregaux have formed an independent collective of high-horology Manufactures.