ULYSSE NARDIN WATCHES
Ulysse Nardin is an independent and integrated Swiss manufacture powered by unbounded imagination, crafting cutting-edge timepieces for free-spirited watch collectors since 1846.
Founded by Mr Ulysse Nardin in 1846, the iconic Swiss watch brand has written some of the finest chapters in the history of Haute Horlogerie.
The company’s earliest renown came from its links to the nautical world its marine chronometers are among the most reliable ever made, still sought by collectors around the world.
A pioneer of cutting edge technologies and the innovative use of materials like silicon, the brand is one of the few with the in house expertise to produce its own high precision components and movements.
History of Ulysse Nardin Watches
1823: Ulysse Nardin was born on 22 January at Le Locle. After initial training by his father, Léonard-Frédéric, he is sent to William Dubois, considered to be one of the leading precision watchmakers of his days.
1846: The ULYSSE NARDIN company is founded. It is the beginning of an enterprise that has already lasted more than 155 years. The first watches made are exported to Central and South America through a Paris go-between, Lucien Dubois, who was Nardin’s only customer for two years.
1860: Ulysse acquires a high-precision astronomical regulator to rate his pocket chronometers. This is the well-known regulator constructed by Jacques-Frédéric Houriet in about 1768. It is now in the Musée d’horlogerie Du Locle, Château des Monts in Le Locle, Switzerland. First exports to the USA. Minute repeaters, highly complicated watches, and pocket chronometers carry the reputation of the maker in Le Locle far and wide.
1862: At the London International Exhibition, the company receives the highest award, “The Prize Medal” in the category “Complicated watches, pocket chronometers”. The award puts Ulysse in the lead internationally among pocket chronometer makers.
1865: The company moves to its present premises at 3 rue du Jardin.
1876: February 20, death of Ulysse Nardin at the age of 53. The 21-year old Paul-David takes over control of the company.
1878: Paul-David Nardin obtains a Gold Medal at the Paris Universal Exhibition for his pocket and marine chronometers.
1890: December 20, two Swiss patents are awarded, one is for a mechanism for chronometers which permits daily winding without reversing the bowl. This system would be applied to the cylindrical aluminium cases launched from about 1893 onwards.
1893: First Prize at the Chicago Universal Exhibition. A remarkable chronometer in a gold and silver decorated case with a relief-engraved allegory of the Arts and Sciences is shown. Gold Medal in the category “Marine and pocket chronometers”.
1900: As of this date, nine pocket chronometers fitted with tourbillon escapements were made by Paul-David Nardin.
1904: Marine chronometers are supplied to both the Russian and the Japanese admiralties. Following the Russo-Japanese War, the Imperial Government of Japan increases its orders and becomes one of the company’s principal customers.
1906: First Prize and Gold Medal at the Milan International Exhibition. At the Naval Observatory, Washington, DC, USA, Nardin chronometers take the first seven places. A Nardin chronometer breaks all performance records in the Hamburg Observatory trials.
1908: At the Tokyo International Exhibition the Mikado and the Crown Prince purchase three Nardin pocket chronometers.
1910: At the Buenos-Aires Centenary Universal Exhibition, Ulysse Nardin is awarded First Prize and a Gold Medal.
1911: Paul-David takes out his third Swiss patent (No. 54714, January 21) for a perfected control mechanism for the timing-wheel in chronographic timers. The purpose of this invention was to eliminate the uncontrolled leap of the chronograph-wheel which could provoke errors difficult to detect.
1915: At the Naval Observatory, Washington DC, Ulysse Nardin takes first place among 60 marine chronometers entered. In the same trial the company takes three of the first five places among 217 deck watches entered.
1916: Ulysse Nardin produces a new movement. Its small dimension 13″ allows it to be used in pocket or wristwatches.
1922: At the US Naval Observatory trials Nardin marine chronometers take the first three places and have eight instruments in the first fourteen. First Prize in the Tokyo International Exhibition.
1923: At the Observatory of Neuchâtel in an International Chronometer Competition organized to mark the centenary of the death of Abraham-Louis Breguet, Ernest Nardin carries off the only First Prize.
1935: A new 24″ split-seconds pocket chronograph beating tenths of a second is introduced. Useful for sports timing, numerous Prizes and Gold Medals attest to its success.
1939: First Prizes in the International Exhibitions of Barcelona, Zürich and New York for Nardin chronometers. Each was awarded with a Gold Medal.
1950: At the Neuchâtel Observatory with a chronometer adjusted by Louis Augsburger, the Nardin company breaks all records for chronometer performances since 1901.
1964: At the Swiss National Exhibition in Lausanne, Ulysse Nardin SA obtains the only “Prix d’Honneur” for the “Sun-star” deck watch.
1975: Neuchâtel Observatory releases its last official publication concerning the performance of chronometers covering the period from 1846 to 1975. According to this report Ulysse Nardin obtained 4324 certificates of performance for mechanical marine chronometers out of a total of 4504 awarded, i.e. 95%, 2411 special prizes out of which 1069 were First Prizes. Ulysse Nardin also obtained 747 First Prizes in the categories deck watch, pocket chronometer and wristwatch. At various International Exhibitions Ulysse Nardin and his successors obtained: 14 Grands Prix (First Prizes), the “Prize Medal” and the “Progress Medal”, 10 Gold Medals, 2 Prix d’Honneur, 2 Silver Medals.
1983: A group headed by Rolf W. Schnyder takes over the company.
1985: Launching of the watch Astrolabium Galileo Galilei. Named after the great physicist, astronomer and humanist. Ulysse Nardin resumes its successful path, and also gains an entry in the Guinness Book of Records in February 1989.
1988: Launching of the wristwatch Planetarium Copernicus designed to commemorate the Polish astronomer.
1989: Production of the first minute-repeating wristwatch with automaton, the San Marco made in a limited edition in gold or platinum, and the split-seconds chronograph Berlin.
1992: Completion of the “Trilogy of Time” with the Tellurium Johannes Kepler, as a tribute to the German astronomer.
1993: Launch of the Automaton San Marco “Hourstriker” model and the “Cloisonné” Boat collection.
1994: At the Basle fair the GMT± intended for frequent travelers is shown. Patent No. CH 685 965.
1996: The company’s 150th anniversary is celebrated with the introduction of the Marine Chronometer 1846 as a wristwatch and the revolutionary Perpetual Ludwig named after its creator Dr. Ludwig Oechslin.
1998: Launch of the single-button chronograph “Pulsometer” to commemorate Ulysse Nardin’s 175th birthday in 1823.
1999: To mark the beginning of the new millennium, Ulysse Nardin introduces the GMT± Perpetual, two unique and exclusive Ulysse Nardin creations integrated into one watch.
2000: “Chronos”, the German watch magazine awards Ulysse Nardin the Watch of the Year 2000 “Innovation Prize”. Both the readers and the international panel of judges voted the GMT Perpetual as the most outstanding technical development.
2001: Launch of the Freak – 7 day-tourbillon-carrousel which later in the year wins the “Chronos Innovation Prize 2001”.
2002: Launch of the Genghis Khan – the first ever Westminster Carillon Tourbillon Jaquemarts Minute repeater.
2003: The Genghis Khan is awarded with the “Chronos Innovation Prize 2003”. Launch of the Sonata – unique and amazing multifunctional mechanical instrument. Rolf W. Schnyder wins the “Spirit of Enterprise” Gaia Award in 2003 by the Musee International d’Horlogerie for his entrepreneurial achievements and commitments.
2004: Launch of the Minute Repeater Circus. Innovation Prize – Watch of the Year 2004 for the Sonata.
2005: Launch of the Freak 28’800 V/h Diamond Heart – new patented Dual Ulysse Escapement made out of Diamond by means of an innovative process. Launch of the Royal Blue Tourbillon and the Quadrato Dual Time Perpetual.
2006: Launch of the first in-house conceived and executed self-winding base caliber, UN-160.
2007: Launch of the Freak DIAMonSIL® – new patented Dual Ulysse Escapement made out of diamond and silicium. Introduces InnoVision – Ulysse Nardin’s vision of the future – 10 technical innovations united in one concept watch.
2008: Launch of the Sonata Silicium Limited Edition.
2009: Launch of Moonstruck and Planet Earth, two revolutionary astronomical timepieces with the distinct DNA of Dr. Ludwig Oechslin.
2011: Ulysse Nardin acquires Donzé Cadrans, a Swiss manufacturer of enamelled dials. Death of Rolf W. Schnyder.
2012: Ulysse Nardin Introduces UN-118, the first in-house developed and manufactured automatic movement.
2014: French luxury group Kering acquires Ulysse Nardin. Kering (earlier known as PPR) also owns Swiss luxury watch brands Girard-Perregaux and JeanRichard, after the takeover of La Chaux-de-Fonds based Sowind Group in 2011.
2022: Kering sells the entire stake in Sowind Group SA, which owns the Swiss watch manufacturers Girard-Perregaux and Ulysse Nardin, to its current management.
