Since 1846, when a young Ulysse Nardin conceived of the first marine deck chronometers, the seafaring world has been an essential part of Ulysse Nardin history. The precision navigational instruments of Monsieur Nardin, valued by navies from the Sea of Japan to the Cape of Good Hope, are a constant source of inspiration for today’s watchmakers.

In fact, the early timepieces can be seen as precursors of more recent Ulysse Nardin Marine watches, like this resolutely modern Marine Tourbillon with its unusual blue enamel dial. In one magnificent timekeeping instrument, the Marine Tourbillon unites the three fundamentals so essential to Ulysse Nardin’s identity: in-house production, technical avant-garde and rare artistry.

‍

‍

The self-winding UN-128 caliber is produced in-house in the workshops at Le Locle, Switzerland. Embodying the brand’s development and continued independence in the manufacture of its movements, it harnesses the properties of silicium technology, with a 60-hour power reserve and a magnificent flying tourbillon. From its position at 6 o’clock on the blue Grand Feu dial, the tourbillon is a highlight of this beautiful timepiece, a glorious tribute to the watchmaker’s continued pursuit of the technical cutting-edge.

A flying tourbillon is one of the most impressively complex mechanisms in the world of Haute Horlogerie. Designed to counteract the negative effects of gravity on the accuracy of a movement, it is among the finest achievements in mechanical watchmaking. Technical avant-garde indeed. And in this particular high-precision timepiece, the cage, wheels, screws and hairspring of the flying tourbillon are produced entirely in-house by Ulysse Nardin.

‍

‍

The rare artistry is provided courtesy of the skilled craftsmen at Ulysse Nardin company Donzé Cadrans, whose expertise in creating handcrafted enamel dials is unrivalled. For this edition of the Marine Tourbillon, they have managed the highly challenging and undeniably stunning achievement of a blue Grand Feu enamel dial. Grand Feu enamel takes its romantic name from the incredible heat of a kiln, the “great fire” that is necessary to fuse the enamel powder, and the results are usually a pale cream color, so the deep oceanic blue of this dial is a true ori-ginal.

Complementing the elegance of the Grand Feu blue enamel dial, are the elegant hands and roman numerals of the Marine collection, the power-reserve indicator at 12 o’clock and the dramatic flying tourbillon in pride of place at 6 o’clock. As befits a marine instrument, the 43-mm diameter case is water-resistant to 100 meters, and strapped to the wrist with a chic alligator strap.

TECHNICAL DATA

Reference: 1283-181/E3

Movement: caliber UN-128; In-house designed movement; Silicium escapement and spring

Power-Reserve: approximately 60 h

Winding: self-winding

Functions: Chronometer with power reserve indicator at 12 o’clock; 60 seconds flying Tourbillon

Case: stainless steel

Bezel: fluted, stainless steel

Dial: blue “Grand Feu” enamel with roman numerals

Crown: screw down security crown, covered with rubber

Diameter: 43 mm

Water-resistance: 100 m  

Crystal: anti-reflective sapphire crystal  

Case-back: open case-back with sapphire crystal

Strap: leather strap with folding clasp

Price: € 28‘000.-, CHF 28‘000.-

For more visit Ulysse Nardin Online.