Let’s be clear, in gold and black this is a rather blingy Ulysse Nardin watch. Some Maxi Marine Divers are in steel coated in black vulcanized rubber. Those are more under-the-radar compared to this golden beast of a watch. Though it is impressive how the same watch design looks good in multiple skins. The case is just shy of 43mm wide being 42.7mm wide. That isn’t huge, but with broad, widely spaced lugs the watch sits large on the wrist. In no way is this watch trying to be small or light. There is a lot of gold here, and it will never hide that fact. If you don’t want people thinking you spent a lot on a timepiece, this isn’t a good choice to wear for the day.
Despite being a high-luxury piece, this watch is still a diver. The case is water resistant to 200 meters and it has a smooth operating rotating diver’s bezel (note that a mistake on the brand’s website indicates that the watch is water resistant to 300 meters). I like the style of this bezel with its relief-cut markers filled in with black lacquer. Notice the wave pattern in the bezel that thematically matches the waves on the face of the watch. So yes, if you really wanted to, this watch would serve as a suitable diver. I suppose when you have an underwater social event and want to show off a bit.
Like most Ulysse Nardin watches, a plate on the side of the case indicates either the watch’s serial number, or number in the limited edition. This gold and ceramic Maxi Marine Diver is not a limited edition, so you just have the serial number. The case is attractive and smooth to the touch. Sometimes I feel that I want Ulysse Nardin to update the design a bit as the Maxi Marine Diver has been around for quite sometime, but overall it is a very satisfying design.
Not being a traditional fan of gold watches I love this piece. I spend some time considering why that was, and really think it has to do with the even mixture of gold and black. The combination of the two colors makes the piece feel much more masculine, and less like a party watch used to display wealth. A tool-style dive watch at its core, this gold and ceramic version of the Maxi Marine Diver is a relatively rare “successful” combination of both luxury and sport watch traits.
The newest development in the Ulysse Nardin Marine collection is the inclusion of the UN-118 in-house movement. Those fantastic in-house movements haven’t been used yet in the Maxi Marine Diver collection, but perhaps they will be in a few years. From a functional standpoint the UN-118 has the same features as the UN-26 movement found inside of this watch. The UN-26 automatic mechanical movement is a base Swiss ETA with a module over it for the power reserve indicator and layout. This version has a solid 22k gold rotor and has been COSC Chronometer certified for accuracy. You can see the movement through the rear of the case.
I’ll be the first to admit that if you are in the market for a gold men’s watch you aren’t wanting for options, even if you want something sporty. It is a tough market, made more complex by the fact that many of these watches are similar to their much less expensive steel brethren. Brands like Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe and others each offer both steel and gold versions of essentially the same watches, but the gold versions cost a lot more due to the material. For some customers this is a positive because they want a great sport watch but in a more expensive material. Others prefer a bit more exclusivity in the watch models they are buying, and want gold models to not be available in non-precious materials. All that means that the appeal of a watch like this ref. 266-33-8C/922 Maxi Marine Diver goes beyond the design itself, and into deeper matters such as whether or not getting it in gold is an investment. Having said that, much of what I’ve laid out in this review applies to most versions of the Maxi Marine Diver watch. This just happens to be a rather special version of it and the price is $47,200. ulysse-nardin.ch
Necessary Data
>Brand: Ulysse Nardin
>Model: Maxi Marine Diver ref. 266-33-8C/922
>Price: $47,200
>Size: 42.7mm
>Would reviewer personally wear it: Yes
>Friend we’d recommend it to first: Sport watch lovers with a thirst for gold and an eye for the unique.
>Worst characteristic of watch: Expensive, would benefit from the brand’s in-house movement, exists in a family of mostly steel watches.
>Best characteristic of watch: Massive wrist presence and bold design that says “I do live luxury, but I was borne out of function.” Features are useful and dial is very legible.
