This spring, Ulysse Nardin pays tribute to its military heritage by expanding its Marine Torpilleur Military collection with two new models in khaki and bronze. Embodying the timeless elegance of the military timepieces of yesteryear, these two military-style limited editions of 300 pieces each are at once formal and relaxed, urban and adventurous, elegant and liberated.
“Military inspiration is a cyclical trend that has infiltrated our wardrobes since the end of the 19th century and which often signals its comeback in fashion week’s spring-summer collections. Why not on our wrists as well?” comments Françoise Bezzola, Marketing and Communications Director of Ulysse Nardin. “The military’s influence in fashion is so widespread that we barely even notice it anymore. Ulysse Nar-din has long been one of the most coveted watchmakers of the 20th century among naval officers, and military style is part of our watches’ DNA. Adding references in khaki and bronze is a natural step in the collection’s evolution,” she added.
The identity of these two new contemporary watch dynamos is marked by the dynamic curves and a clear military stature. Originally featuring either an off-white "eggshell" dial to match a vintage-style light brown leather strap, or a black background with orange Arabic numerals and a black strap with stitching in the same orange of the luminescent indexes, the Marine Torpilleur Military is now available in a full black version in black DLC with black dial, touches of khaki on the indexes and a khaki "trellis fabric" strap, and in a bronze version – an "evolving" material – with midnight blue dial.
The choice of bronze, a metal discovered in 3000 B.C. and widely used throughout naval history around the world for its robustness (propellers, diving suits, etc.), makes perfect sense. Non-magnetic, bronze is highly resistant to corrosion thanks to the phenomenon of oxidation, which forms a protective oxide surface layer once stabilized. As such, each case naturally wears with use, ensuring a unique relationship between owner and timepiece. The Military Bronze model features a stainless-steel case back to avoid any risk of allergies.
“The new Marine Torpilleur Military Bronze has been available for pre-order on the Ulysse Nardin web-site since last February. This online advance order process has been a great success, allowing us to gauge the desirability of the product before it arrives at the point of sale,” says Patrick Pruniaux, CEO of Ulysse Nardin.
Water resistant up to 50 meters and stamped with the iconic Torpilleur torpedo ship on the case back, both editions are housed in a majestic crown and a 44 mm case. Powered by the Manufacture UN-118 movement featuring a silicon anchor escapement, the model is COSC certified. Located at 6 o’clock, the small seconds bears the individual number in red. Engraved with the initials C.W. ("Chronometer Watch"), the model displays its reference to military chronometers of the past, whose designs strictly adhered to the codes of the armed forces.
