Ulysse Nardin released a routine press announcement for two watches – a new Classico and a new Hourstriker Pin-up at the cusp of the end of 2016. Also part of the release is the rather exciting announcement of a new 5 year warranty for UN watches.
Five Year Warranty
So we are excited by the second part of the announcement. While the UN Hourstriker is always an interesting watch, its history with the brand stretches to the era when Rolf Schnyder was starting to build the brand. But the 5 year warranty is quite a monumental announcement. Other than Rolex, who announced this in 2015 (effective 1 July 2015), UN is the only other watch manufacture to offer this extended 5 year warranty to all its products. Starting 1 January 2017, UN is offering this 5 year warranty to all newly purchased timepieces. All the owner has to do is to register the watch online with UN within a year of its purchase.
Part of the reason that UN is able to offer a 5 year warranty is the amount of in-house value addition for each UN watch.
Why is this a big deal? It shows the confidence the manufacture has on its products. But also it is a demonstration of the very high level of quality control afforded to the watches within the manufacture. When Rolex made the announcement in 2015, we discussed with several executives in the industry, who shall remain un-named, if they too would offer the same warranty period for their watches. All said that Rolex is able to do so as they are Rolex. And have the industrial mechanism to ensure uniformity, to guarantee the high quality needed. And here, we have UN, a rather small-ish manufacture in comparison. Granted they are part of the huge Kering conglomerate and have access to resources of the group. But for us, it shows great maturity and confidence. Bravo UN!
The new UN Hourstriker Pin-up
The Hourstriker lineup for UN is one of the signatures of the brand. The watch makes its visual impact with an animated automata, always with a Jaquemarts style miniature painting to highlight the hourstrike function.
The new UN Hourstriker Pin-up features a Jaquemarts automata and the hourstrike function.
The hourstrike mechanism is a complication, albeit a simplified version of a minute repeater mechanism, is still quite a marvel to behold. It comes comes alive on the hour, the half-hour and whenever the push-button is activated by the wearer. One of the first manufacturers to lead the revival of the hourstriker mechanism, Ulysse Nardin is also one of its undisputed creative masters, and one of the few to employ Jaquemarts to set them off.
The Jaquemarts imagery chosen is a delightfully daring burlesque dancer. This charming and delicate figure gazes seductively out at the viewer, posing in her high heel sandals with a flower in her hair and her modesty barely hidden by the colorful explosion of peacock feathers. Acrylic colors are applied and mixed directly on the dial, as the tiniest details erupt to life through the use of extremely delicate brushes. Depending on their complexity, their meticulously detailed creations can take between 50 and 90 hours to complete.
Enveloped by the extravagance of the peacock’s tail and wing, the sensual curves of our mysterious dancer are revealed by the hourstriker function, when they sweep back to expose her beauty.
The teasing burlesque dancer on the dial reveals her beauty at the striking of the hour when the automata moves the peacock feathers covering her buxom.
Set in a round case, the watch is as functional as it is artistic. Self-winding, it has a power reserve of approximately 42 hours and is water resistant to 30 meters.
UN Hourstriker Pin-up Technical Specifications
Reference 6106-130/E2-PINUP
Limited Edition to 28 pieces
Movement Caliber UN-610
Power-Reserve Approximately 42 hours Winding Self-winding
Functions Hourstriker Striking of hours and half hours Automatic chime activation system Jaquemarts
Case 18ct rose gold or platinum
Diameter 43 mm
Water-resistance 30 m
Dial Black with two hand painted Jaquemarts
Crystal Anti-reflective sapphire crystal
Case -back Screwed case-back with sapphire crystal
Crown Water-resistant
Band Leather strap, with folding buckle
