I purchased my Ulysse Nardin 1846 in December, 1998, and I originally posted this review of it in June, 1999. In the fourth quarter of 2000, Ulysse Nardin restyled the 1846 slightly, making the date display larger and easier to read. Last month, I had an opportunity to photograph two of the new "round date"1846s. In this updated review, I am adding some images of the new models, plus current pricing and product information. I have also added some personal reflections on the 1846 after nearly two and one-half years of ownership.

At the upcoming Basel 2009 fair, the cheap Swiss manufacture Ulysse Nardin will present a new member of the Maxi Marine watches. Staying true to the original Maxi Marine Diver series design, the watch features a unidirectional rotating bezel, a Cyclops eye above the small round date window and the same dial layout. Thats the good news. Click read more for the bad news.

The bad news is that the Diver, that wasnt really small from the beginning, has become even larger growing to unhealthy 45 mm in diameter. Adding insult to injury, UN has also equipped the chronometer with a huge crown protruding from the watchs bezel for, let me guess, about 5.5 mm. Not a tragedy, but some of you may experience a painful moment of revelation when the crown will bite you in the palms back.

The 1846 ulysse-nardin chronometer bracelet is available in two versions. Mine is fully polished, and very shiny. For those who prefer less shine, there's another model with satin finished outer links and a single row of polished links in the middle. The spring bars are easily accessible, so changing frombracelet to strap can be done quickly at home. After six months of use, my bracelet bears one tiny scuff mark of unknown origin. If you're going to wear your 1846 while rock climbing, I'd suggest the satin finish bracelet or a strap.

The bracelet is well made. The links and endpieces are solid stainless steel. The first center links at 6 and 12 bear a small UN anchor logo. The inside of the links have a nice satin finish. The bracelet has six removable links of two different sizes, which assures a near-custom fit. I sized the bracelet myself using my Bergeon screwdriver set from the TimeZone Watch School tool kit. The bracelet incorporates a butterfly style deployant clasp. The bracelet opens easily by way of two spring-loaded push buttons located on either side of the clasp. The clasp on my bracelet has not opened inadvertently on any occasion, and the bracelet will not open when only one of the buttons is depressed. Overall, I'd rate this a solid and well executed bracelet.

The 1846 uses a Ulysse Nardin modified COSC certified ETA 2892-A2. The specifications are as follows: Caliber 11 1/2" UN-26, 25.6 mm diameter, 5.1 mm thick, 28 jewels, automatic winding, 42 hour power reserve, quick set date at 6, hacking seconds at 6, UN designed powerreserve and date modules, 3 spoke Glucydur balance, flat Nivarox 1 spring, Incabloc shock protection, 28,800 pulsations per hour. The movement contains 58 parts not original to the 2892-A2. Base plate and bridges decorated with perlage. The rotor has a matte finish with the Ulysse Nardin name and anchor logo in a polished finish. The primary movement components are rhodium plated. Rhodium is a white metal that is harder than gold, and it is generally considered superior to gold for movement plating.

I examined the movement in my 1846 using 4x and 10x Bausch & Lomb loupes, supplied with the TZ Watch School tool kit. The bridges have beveled edges (anglage), polished to a good smoothness. The screws are stainless steel and polished to a mirror-like finish. The screw holes have slightly beveled edges. All other stainless steel parts are very well finished and highly polished. The wheels are nicely finished, with beveled, polished teeth. Even the space between the teeth on the smallest visible wheel is highly polished. The jewels are friction set and they are very clear. The rotor is constructed with extra weight at the edge to aid winding.