Swiss watchmaker Ulysse Nardin says it’s accelerating its use of innovative alternative materials with the launch of The Ocean Race DIVER, largely composed of recycled fishing nets.

The official timing partner of The Ocean Race has been making marine chronometers for explorers since 1846 — and it says that today’s ocean adventurers are often confronted with the scale of plastic pollution in the world’s seas.

“How can we transform some of this plastic into a luxury item? With the help of start-ups such as FIL&FAB, we have successfully managed to fabricate and sell watches derived from recycled fishing nets,” Ulysse Nardin chief executive Patrick Pruniaux explained.

“Our way of making people aware of the issue is upcycling. In this process, finding suppliers was a key factor.”

In this case, Ulysse Nardin found a supplier who was able to upcycle discarded fishing net material into base material for components of The Ocean Race DIVER — which comes with a definitely luxury price tag of $11,500 (€10,900).

“At The Ocean Race, we have been sailing around the world since 1973 and as sailors, we have seen the Ocean change over the past 50 years,” said Richard Brisius, race director of The Ocean Race.

“We have learned the need to respect the ocean and give the ocean a voice in order to protect it and restore its health.

“We are proud to have a partner like Ulysse Nardin, who shares our values and to see the innovation taking place to support these efforts. This innovative watch reminds us that now is the time to act.”

Discarded fishing nets collected for upcycling | Credit: Ulysse Nardin

In September 2020, Ulysse Nardin marked the first milestone in its commitment to the ocean and the circular economy — a model of production and consumption, which involves using materials and products for as long as possible — with the launch of the R-STRAP wrist strap, which is made entirely from recycled fishing nets and can be used with its MARINE, DIVER and FREAK X watches.

In November 2020, the brand innovated with the DIVER NET, an experimental concept watch, each element of which was designed for durability and to have as low an impact on the environment as possible.

The latest iteration is The Ocean Race DIVER, which the watchmaker says “embodies innovation and tradition”, with 95% of its components sourced within a 30km radius of the manufacturer, and half of them coming from recycling channels, particularly recycled steel and brass.

The strap is also fully recycled from fishing nets, transformed into reels of yarn by the French company JTTI.

From June, The Ocean Race DIVER will be sold in a limited edition of 200 in an original pack with a water-resistant R-PET pouch slipped into a dry bag recycled from the sea by Helly Hansen, the official clothing supplier of The Ocean Race. For more see the Ulysse Nardin website HERE.

With just one year to go to the start gun for leg one of The Ocean Race 2022-23, the countdown is on and Ulysse Nardin, the pioneering Swiss watch manufacturer, has become the official timekeeper of the race.

Ulysse Nardin has strong links to the maritime world, dating back to its founding in 1846. From the original inspiration of exploration that led to the creation of their first marine chronometer, to the nautical inspirations of their contemporary creations, Ulysse Nardin has always maintained a close relationship with the ocean.

In its role as official timing partner of The Ocean Race, Ulysse Nardin will be responsible for all official race timings, including start countdowns, leg timings and finishes.

Additionally, Ulysse Nardin will be at the heart of the 24-hour Speed Challenge. During racing, each boat in both the one-design VO65 class and the flying, foiling IMOCA class is constantly monitored via race control. A rolling, 24-hour distance record is maintained throughout the leg and the boat in each class with the top distance covered in each leg wins the speed challenge.

In the 2017-18 edition of the Race, Team AkzoNobel set a new 24-hour distance record for the event — the mark to beat is 602.51 nautical miles (1,116 km), or an average speed of an incredible 25.1 knots (46.5 km/h).

Beyond its role as official timing partner, Ulysse Nardin is also the Time to Act partner of The Ocean Race, committing to the responsible use and conservation of the world’s ocean.

“The sea has always been part of our world and exploration has always been our spearhead,” said Patrick Pruniaux, chief executive of Ulysse Nardin.

“Every day, Ulysse Nardin pushes the limits in all fields: technique, design and innovation. Now we are also bringing the same intensity to bear on sustainability.”

“As sailors, we have absolute respect for the ocean and we have found these same values in Ulysse Nardin, who has a long heritage with sailors and the sea,” said Richard Brisius, race chairman of The Ocean Race.

“We have asked them to be our timekeepers. In addition to the sporting aspect of our partnership, Ulysse Nardin will help us to respect the pace of the sustainable initiatives that we are putting in place.

“Through our Racing with Purpose programme, developed in collaboration with founding partner 11th Hour Racing, we are involved in a race to restore our blue planet. A Ulysse Nardin watch is a timepiece of excellence, which by nature has a sustainable future, handed down from generation to generation.”

Last month The Ocean Race organisers announced the stopover dates for the 14th edition of the round-the-world yacht race, which kicks off in Alicante, Spain on 15 January 2023.