Ulysse Nardin likes to do things differently and they produce pieces that make you want to take a second look due to their design & innovation. The Freak gained attention for having no crown and a unique design. For Baselworld 2016 Ulysse Nardin has produced a nautical themed piece that definitely makes you want to take a second look. Introducing the Ulysse Nardin Grand Deck Marine Tourbillon.
The nautical theme of the Ulysse Nardin Grand Deck Marine Tourbillon stands out straight away with the hand-crafted wood marquetry dial. The watch is 44mm in diameter and has an 18ct white gold case.
At the 12 o clock position is the signature Ulysse Nardin logo silver. Another nice touch is the two nautical flags either side of the anchor which are the nautical flags for the letters Uniform and November which in this case represent “UN”. The jumping hours on two concentric disks can be seen through the double aperture in the centre just above the minute arc made of blue spinel. The 1 minute flying tourbillon is located at the 6 o’clock position. The jumping hour and flying tourbillon are very nice features but the main attraction of the watch has to be the minute display!
Ulysse Nardin Grand Deck Marine Tourbillon
The retrograde minute hand is designed on the boom of a sail boat. The blued-aluminum boom sweeps across a translu-cent arc of blue spinel that extends from 3 o’clock to 9 o’clock. The boom is drawn by a wire connected to four pulleys secured with blued star-shaped screws, which are echoed by the tourbillon decorated with the Ulysse Nardin anchor. In a final flourish, border detailing and ornamental wires that adorn the top of the dial offer further subtle references to nautical design. The boom is pulled by a nanowire that measures a mere 0.0357 mm in diameter and is capable of withstanding traction of 1.41 kg without stretching. The nanowire is made of polyethylene Dyneema® fiber, a ma-terial that is used in ship’s rigging and is many times stronger than steel. In a first for watchmaking, the transmission system loops the wires through a rigging screw: two strands are visible, and a third strand fastens the turn-buckle. The patented system, which is visible on the dial, is exclusive to Ulysse Nardin. Very nifty!
To show you the minute hand working in all its glory here is the video from Ulysse Nardin:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WJc2g6O2c0
The pushers at 2 and 4 o clock are the correctors to adjust the hours forward or backwards. The fluted bezel and rubber security crown all tie in very nicely with the nautical theme.
Stunning details from a different angle.
The Manufacture’s Caliber UN-630, a 60-second flying tourbillon with manual-winding movement, contains 469 components and oscillates at a frequency of 3 Hz. Despite the considerable power requirements of the boom display, the movement has a power reserve of over 48 hours. A first barrel is devoted to the time-telling mechanism; a second barrel supplies power to the complication, i.e. to the display of hours and minutes. The latter device is regulated by a specific escapement that collects information from the time-telling mechanism. The double-barrel design (one for the movement and another for the display) prevents the complication from interfering with the workings of the watch. To the rear of the movement which is visible through the sapphire caseback, the leading and unloading of the balance spring can be viewed through the skeletonized barrels, a feature that is both functional and fascinating. When the watch is wound, the spring winds up into the center of the barrel. Conversely, when the spring is spent it unwinds out towards the edge of the barrel.
To complete the look the watch comes on a blue leather strap with folding buckle.
The Ulysse Nardin Grand Deck Marine Tourbillon on the wrist of our Editor in Basel.
Stunning design and engineering from Ulysse Nardin, to create such a fantastic timepiece!
The Ulysse Nardin Grand Deck Marine Tourbillon will retail for CHF 280,000 and is limited to 18 pieces.
For more information please visit Ulysse Nardin
Technical Specifications
Ref. 6300-300/GD 18 ct white gold
Limited Edition 18 pieces
Movement: Caliber UN-630 21’600 v/h Tourbillon with an exclusive boom display
Power-Reserve: Approximately 48 hours
Winding: Manual-winding
Functions:
Jumping hour in a double aperture
Minutes on a graduated arc 60 seconds flying tourbillon
Forward and backward hour corrector
Case 18 ct white gold, fluted bezel
Crown: Screw-down security crown covered with rubber
Diameter: 44 mm
Water-Resistance: 100 m
Dial: Hand-crafted wood marquetry Minutes arc of blue spinel in the centre of the dial. Blued aluminum boom indicates minutes
Crystal Anti-reflective sapphire crystal
Case-Back: Sapphire crystal
Bracelet: Leather with a folding buckle
