Swiss luxury watch brand Ulysse Nardin presents Freak ONE, the latest addition to the revolutionary Freak family of mechanical timepieces.

Ulysse Nardin introduced the Freak in 2001 under the management of Rolf Schnyder and genius watchmaker Dr. Ludwig Oechslin. This mechanical timepiece was an unconventional creation as it had no dial, no hands and no crown.

The time was set by a system built into the bezel, and to wind it you had to use a device built into the case back. And it had no hands, instead using the rotating one-hour carrousel tourbillon to show the time. Since 2001, Ulysse Nardin has filed more than 20 patents for the Freak.

Ulysse Nardin Freak and its evolutions

• 2001: Freak

• 2005: Freak Diamond Heart

• 2007: Freak DIAMonSIL

• 2008: Freak Blue Phantom

• 2009: Freak 28’800 V/h

• 2010: Freak Diavolo

• 2013: Freak Cruiser

• 2013: Freak Phantom

• 2015: FreakLab

• 2018: Freak Vision

• 2019: Freak X

• 2022: Freak S

• 2023: Freak ONE

Ulysse Nardin Freak ONE

The Freak ONE is a new watch inspired by the first Freak featuring its three signature characteristics: no dial, no hands and no crown.

It’s regulated by a silicon hairspring introduced in 2008 and an escapement treated with DIAMonSIL, a trailblazing synthetic diamond and silicon plasma surfacing treatment first applied to the Freak in 2007 that makes the movement abrasion and shock-resistant.

The Freak ONE also synthesizes the visual dynamics of previous generations of the Freak, from the notched bezel of the original 2001 Freak, to the open gear train of the Freak Cruiser of 2013, to the legibility codes of the 2018 Freak Vision. The black DLC-coated titanium and rose gold detailing echoes recent Freak iterations, such as last year’s Freak S.

The time-setting system is operated via the bezel. It is activated when the locker at 6 o’clock is lifted, releasing the setting system. Turning the bezel rotates the entire movement, which doubles as the watch’s hands. Pushing the locker back down fixes the bezel in place so the time-setting system cannot be disturbed.

The Freak ONE’s automatic movement has a 72-hour power reserve. Its patented Grinder® winding system has been designed to capture energy with even the smallest of wrist movements. Its rotor is connected to a frame carrying four blades, which gives the system twice the angular stroke. This makes it twice as efficient as typical winding systems.

The black rubber strap of Freak ONE is made of 30 per cent recycled production waste by Ulysse Nardin’s Swiss partner BIWI. This new flexible and water-resistant strap further enhances the Freak ONE’s ergonomics and wearability.

The black sunray-engraved barrel cover sits underneath the movement and doubles as the rotating hour disc. It makes a full rotation once every 12 hours, indicating the hour via a V-shaped pointer that is filled with Super-LumiNova® to aid low-light legibility.

The Freak’s distinctive minute bridge hovers under the sapphire crystal and carries the entire gear train, an oversized silicon oscillator and an orbital 60-minute flying carrousel tourbillon. The escapement is treated with Ulysse Nardin’s patented DIAMonSIL coating.

Technical details

Model: Ulysse Nardin Freak ONE
Reference 2405-500-2A/3D

Movement
Caliber UN-240 Manufacture
Automatic movement, 72-hour power reserve
Hours, minutes
Flying carrousel movement rotating around its own axis
Silicon oversized oscillator and balance spring
DIAMonSIL treatment to escapement
Grinder® automatic winding system, blades technology
Rose-gold bridges 5N with Super-LumiNova®
Black engraved sunray pattern on the barrel cover
229 components, 15 jewels
Frequency 3 Hz, oscillations 21’600 V/H

Case
Black DLC-coated titanium case with satin finish
Diameter: 44mm
Height: 12 mm
Rose gold 5N bezel
Black titanium case back with sapphire insert
Water-resistant to 30 m

Strap
Black rubber ‘ballistic’ textured strap (2405-500-2A/3D) Black matt alligator leather strap (2405-500-2A/3C)
Two-tone rubber strap (2405-500-2A/3A)
Black DLC-coated titanium deployant buckle
Rubber straps made of 30% recycled rubber from production waste by BIWI, Switzerland

Suggested retail price
65’000 CHF (tax incl.)/ 60’330 GBP (tax incl.)/ 69’600 EUR (21% tax incl.)/ 68’600 USD (tax excl.)

The new Classico Manara Limited Edition by Ulysse Nardin celebrates the 40th anniversary of Milo Manara’s famous masterpiece, “Click!”.

Milo Manara is an Italian artist and writer of erotic comic books. Born in northern Italy, Manara has been a graphic illustrator and scriptwriter for over 50 years.

A classically trained painter, he studied the works of Rubens, Caravaggio and De Chirico, before establishing his own style and becoming the master of realistic comic books of an erotic nature. “Click!”, one of Manara’s most famous works launched in 1983, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and its iconography has inspired Ulysse Nardin in his tribute to the artist.

Following the first Ulysse Nardin Classico Manara watch collection released in 2019 in collaboration with Milo Manara, this second series of three timepieces marks the continuation of this special relationship, revealing three reproductions of iconic and historic illustrations from the erotic comic book “Click!”.

This new 40-mm Classico Manara collection, presented in a limited edition of 40 pieces for each illustration, features an UN-320 self-winding Manufacture movement and incorporates the silicon technology, which guarantees operational efficiency and durability.

The crown of this new limited edition is adorned with red lacquer, paying tribute to the button on the famous erotic remote control illustrated in Manara’s “Click!”.

The hands are discreet, to give pride of place to the illustrations and artistic expression.

Technical details

Model: Ulysse Nardin Classico Manara Limited Edition

References

• 3203-136LE-9A-MANARAD/1A
• 3203-136LE-9B-MANARAD/1A
• 3203-136LE-9C-MANARAD/1A

Movement
UN-320 Manufacture calibre
Automatic movement
Balance spring, escapement wheel and pallet fork in silicon
227 Components / 39 jewels
Frequency 4 Hz / Oscillations 28,800 V/H

Case
Polished stainless-steel case
Stainless-steel open sapphire case back
Red-lacquered crown
Diameter 40 mm, water-resistance 30 m

Dial
Artistic crafts: micro-painting technique
Rhodium-plated hands with Superluminova

Strap
Black alligator leather strap
Stainless steel pin buckle

Edition
Limited to 40 pieces for each illustration

Suggested retail price
CHF 39,000 incl. tax
EUR 41,455 incl. 20% tax

In 2021, Ulysse Nardin launched the first Marine Torpilleur Moonphase models with a stainless steel case and a blue or white dial, as a limited edition of 300 pieces per model.

Given its success, this year Ulysse Nardin is introducing the Marine Torpilleur Moonphase into its permanent collection, with a 42mm rose gold case powered by the UN-119 self-winding calibre with a silicium balance-spring and a DiamonSil escapement wheel and anchor.

The dual counters display the power reserve at 12o’clock and the small seconds and moon disc at 6o’ clock. The moon is transferred on to the counter, which adds elegance and sparkle when it shows itself against the starry blue PVD sky.

Water-resistant to 50 meters, the new Ulysse Nardin Marine Torpilleur Moonphase watch is fitted with a dark blue alligator-skin strap with rose gold folding clasp.

Technical details

Model: Ulysse Nardin Marine Torpilleur Moonphase Rose Gold
Reference: 1192-310-0A/1A

Movement
UN-119 manufacture calibre, self-winding COSC movement

Functions
Hours, minutes, small seconds, moonphase
Silicium balance-spring
DiamonSil escapement wheel and anchor
260 components
Frequency: 4Hz / oscillating at 28,800 vib/h
5N rose gold oscillating weight

Case
Polished and satin-finished rose gold
Diameter: 42mm
Fluted rose gold bezel
Case back: Open rose gold case back with sapphire crystal
Power reserve: 60 hours
Water-resistance: 50 meters

Dial
Varnished white dial
Golden hands
Dual counter with power reserve display at 12 o’clock, small seconds and moon disc at 6 o’clock
The moon is transferred onto the counter, which adds elegance and sparkle when it shows itself against the starry blue PVD sky

Strap
Blue alligator-skin strap
Rose gold folding clasp

Price
CHF 21,400 / EUR 20,300 / USD 22,600 / GBP 18,770

Ulysse Nardin has expanded its Marine Torpilleur series by introducing a new dual-time watch. This timepiece is equipped with the in-house UN-334 movement.

In 1994, Ludwig Oechslin invented the GMT± functions for Ulysse Nardin, offering two push-pieces,“+”and“-”, used to instantly change the time-zone of the hour hand, while the “reference time” aperture at 9 o’clock continually displays the home time. Then, in 2014, Ulysse Nardin introduced the UN-334, the first manufacture calibre fitted with the GMT ± function, in the Dual Time Manufacture timepiece.

The new Marine Torpilleur Dual Time offers the technical advantages of the UN-334 manufacture calibre and the vintage DNA of the Marine Chronometer (fluted bezel, counter and Roman numeral hour-markers).

The movement offers hour, minute and small seconds functions at 6 o’clock, and a large date in a double aperture at 2 o’clock, which can be adjusted in both directions.

While the “home time” display operates continually over a 24-hour period in an aperture at 9o ’clock, the small hand can be moved forward or backward very easily to the local time using the “+”and“-” push-pieces at 8 o’clock and 10 o’clock. To top off the refined mechanics, the calendar function syncs automatically no matter the direction of the adjustment.

Like all of Ulysse Nardin’s manufacture calibres, the UN-334 incorporates silicium technology, with the escapement wheel, anchor and balance-spring all made from this metalloid, which offers non-magnetic, elastic and durable properties to guarantee the utmost accuracy. It has a power reserve of 48 hours.

The Marine Torpilleur Dual Time 44mm watch in a polished and satin-finished stainless steel case offers a water resistance to 50 meters. This model has a sunray satin-finished blue dial.

The timepiece is fitted with a blue alligator-skin strap with a steel folding clasp and is also compatible with a fabric strap with a velcro fastening.

Technical details

Model: Ulysse Nardin Marine Torpilleur Dual Time
Reference 3343-320-3A/1A

Movement
UN-334 self-winding manufacture movement
Silicium escapement wheel, anchor and balance-spring
321 components
Frequency: 4Hz/ 28,800 vib/h
Power reserve: 48hours

Functions
Hours, minutes, small seconds, Dual Time, large date

Case
Polished and satin-finished stainless steel
Fluted bezel
Case back: Open stainless steel case back with sapphire crystal
Diameter: 44mm
Water-resistance:50meters

Dial
Blue sunray satin-finished
Small seconds at 6o’clock
Dual Time at 9o’clock
Large date at 2o’clock

Strap
Blue alligator-skin strap
Stainless steel folding clasp
Compatible with fabric strap with Velcro fastening

Price
CHF10,900/ EUR10,400/ USD11,500/ GBP9,540