In January, Ulysse Nardin will exhibit for the first time at the SIHH watch salon in Geneva after years as a Baselworld mainstay. For that occasion, the brand has prepared two new exceptional models: the Classico Manufacture “Grand Feu” and the Hourstriker Pin-Up. Featuring two exceptional decorative techniques, these new timepieces highlight the manufacturer’s remarkable ability to combine artisan traditions of the past with the latest cutting-edge watchmaking.
Ulysse Nardin Classico Manufacture Grand Feu and Hourstriker Pin-Up
Featuring a stunning blue “Grand Feu” enamel dial, the new Classico Manufacture was designed in collaboration with the luxury watch manufacture dial enameller Donzé Cadrans, acquired by Ulysse Nardin in 2011. A “Grand Feu” enamel dial in a striking blue color (a hallmark of the brand) has a beautiful translucent quality and represents an excellent example of this historic decorative art. The dial itself is simple and straightforward and features hours, minutes, small seconds and date. The date window is placed inside the 6 o’clock subdial. The hour markers are in Roman numerals while the small seconds counter features Arabic ones. The watch has elegantly shaped 40mm stainless steel case, a screwed open case back with sapphire crystal and is water resistant to 30 meters. It also comes with an in-house movement, the Calibre UN-320, an automatic engine with silicium hairspring and anchor escapement (Ulysse Nardin has been a pioneer in the use of silicium, with the Freak), 48h of power reserve and is complemented by a blue alligator strap.
Ulysse Nardin Classico Manufacture Grand Feu and Hourstriker Pin-Up
The second pre-SIHH 2017 novelty introduced by Ulysse Nardin is the Hourstriker Pin-Up. Available in rose gold and platinum, this timepiece is made as a limited edition of 28 pieces. The most visually appealing feature of the watch is, of course, its dial. The black dial features a miniature painting of a burlesque dancer and two peacocks, of which one is covering the dancer’s modesty. The decoration represents the result of the unique skill of the brand’s miniature painters. Using extremely delicate brushes, they applied and combined acrylic colors directly on the dial. The handmade figures are also jaquemarts that move in rhythm with the hourstriker function. One of the watchmaking’s most intricate complication, strikes the hours and half-hours, whether on demand (by pressing the push-button at 4) or every passing hour and half-hour. The function can be disengaged by pressing the second push-button at 2 o’clock. A 43mm rose gold or platinum case is water resistant to 30 meters and has a transparent back. Besides the miniature painting, the black dial is rather simple, featuring only rose gold/platinum hours and minutes hands and an inner bezel with hour markers. The watch is powered by the brand’s in-hose made caliber UN-610. It comes on an elegant black leather strap with folding buckle that matches the case material.
Ulysse Nardin Classico Manufacture Grand Feu and Hourstriker Pin-Up
