His name has conjured up images, accolades, and epic tales earned only by a true adventurer and free spirit. Immortalized by the Greek poet Homer, “Ulysses” is the original wandering hero and his adventures transcend time. In the spirit of Ulysses, Ulysse Nardin has been at the forefront of timekeeping since its inception. More than a means to an end, Xplora-tion is a way of life for the brand.
In 2019, Ulysse Nardin introduces the” X Factor” in watchmaking. No letter in the English language gets around like X: the 24th letter of the alphabet shows up everywhere, from the popular Xbox to standing in for a signature on legal documents, the representation of a chromosome, a generation, a crossing point, the multiplication process and the location on a treasure map. X denotes any unknown, unspecified or variable factor. X like Xploration, Xtraordinary, Xcess, Xperience, Xcitement, X treme and compleX. More than a simple slogan, it is a statement, a reminder that the Freak collection embodies boldness and creativity.
The little cousin of its ”Freak antecedents”, the Freak X stands out as the entry point into the Freak collection. Though many of the same aesthetic and functional elements are in place, it pushes out into uncharted territory. The sizing is tighter - 43mm instead of 45mm - but it is easier to read and operate. It has a crown for time correction, which breaks with one of the most iconic aspects of the crownless Freak Vision or Freak Out models, which correct time by the bezel. The “baguette” movement is still a carousel, turning once on itself every hour to indicate the time. It is simpler, bolder, and has fewer wheels. It has no dial and no hands - the central bridge acts as a minute hand and one of the wheels indicates the hours.
Inside and clearly visible beats the super-light and extra-wide balance wheel in silicium, featuring nickel flyweights and stabilizing micro-blades. The new UN-230, is a fusion of the manufacture calibers UN-118 and Freak Vision UN-250. The case, nicely rounded with curved lines, is wholly new and seriously transformative. The new Freak X is available in titanium, rose gold, black DLC or in Carbonium®. It is very competitively priced with a start price version at USD 21,000. It demonstrates the brand’s commitment to expanding and enriching its collections by pushing watchmaking Xpertise to the X degree. To the intrepid Ulysses of the modern world, it is a clarion call to adventure.
The aeronautic-grade Carbonium® is a new, super-light and sustainable material used in the aeronautical sector for the latest-generation airplanes’ fuselage and wings. In short, the most vital and essential components in today’s modern airplanes. The production of Carbonium® has 40% less environmental impact than other carbon composites as it uses offcuts from aeronautical pieces. With complex process requiring high pressures and temperatures, Carbonium® is a high-performance material that brings out the core beauty of the organic pattern created by the 7µm diameter carbon fibers.
Ulysse Nardin is the first to use this neXt-generation material - among the most robust and resilient materials ever devised by science - in a watch. Its resistance-to-lightness ratio is unparalleled, and its stunning marbling effect never repeats, making each watch case absolutely unique. The use of a material like Carbonium® comes as a clear reminder that the brand dares to make a difference.
