Freak X is presented on an alligator leather strap with a titanium folding buckle.
Ulysse Nardin has been the undisputed master of silicium since 2001. Continuing its trajectory, the manufacture has once again turned a material originating from the electronics industry into an authentic medium of artistic craftsmanship. Ulysse Nardin now presents an astonishing new FREAK X model, embellished with a decorative technique that had hitherto been almost totally undiscovered: silicium marquetry. A revolutionary material par excellence, silicium had already proved its worth in Ulysse Nardin’s watch movements. It now exhibits its virtues on its watches’ dials for the second time.
Silicium marquetry – a surprising decorative technique to which only Ulysse Nardin holds the secret
A totally new revelation in the world of watchmaking, silicium marquetry involves assembling slivers of silicium cut into segments with a plasma accelerator. The subtlety of this technique lies in the craftsman’s dexterity, given that the silicium used is extremely flaky and fragile when moved. Slightly superimposing the segments one on top of the other (rather than interlocking them) would be enough to chip their edges. It thus represents a veritable feat of “technological craftsmanship” – assembling by hand a collage of segments needed to create these astonishing mosaics. The end result delivers a unique impact as the eye is dazzled by the glittering marquetry, which resembles a galaxy of interacting laser beams.
Marquetry mosaic on the Freak X are dramatically reactive to light
For this new Freak X, Ulysse Nardin used advanced technology, still in silicium, to produce a matt effect on the blue part of the decorative plate, thus creating a visual contrast with the green “X” in silicium marquetry.
Silicium marquetry offers a spectacular display of reflections of unmatched brilliance, with fragments in different sizes illuminated as the light sweeps around the watch like the beam of an X-ray!
The FREAK X watch makes its debut as the entry point into the FREAK collection. The sizing, 43mm, makes the watch easy to read and operate. It has a crown for time correction, which breaks with one of the most iconic aspects of the crown-less FREAK VISION which correct time by the bezel.
The movement is a carrousel, turning once on itself every hour to indicate the time. It has no dial and no hands – the central bridge acts as a minute hand and one of the wheels indicates the hours. Inside and clearly visible beats a super-light balance wheel in silicium, extra-wide, with nickel flyweights and stabilizing micro-blades The movement itself, the UN-230, is a fusion of the manufacture calibers UN-118 and FREAK VISION UN-250. The case, nicely rounded with curved lines, is seriously transformative.
This is a watch whose call of adventure will tempt any self-respecting modern-day Ulysses.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
| Reference | 2303-270LE/03-MARQ-BQ |
| Movement | Caliber UN-230, self-winding movement |
| Functions | Flying carrousel manufacture movement rotating around its own axis |
| Oversized oscillator with Silicium technology Wide-diameter 3Hz silicium balance-wheel with nickel inert masses | |
| Index & Bridges in Vivid Blue with Superluminova 205 Components | |
| Power reserve | 72 hours |
| Case | Titanium with Blue PVD |
| Diameter | 43 mm |
| Case-back | Open Sapphire crystal |
| Strap | Blue alligator leather strap |
| Scratch closing system with Titanium buckle | |
| Water resistance | 50 m |
| Decorative plate | Cutting-edge Métiers d’art with Silicium marquetry decorative plate (bottom of the movement) |
| Limited edition | 30 pieces – Boutique Only |
| Price | 29’500 CHF / 29’500 EUR / 31’100 USD |
About Ulysse Nardin – Manufacture of Reedom
Ulysse Nardin is the Pioneering Manufacture inspired by the sea and delivering innovative timepieces to free spirits.
Founded by Mr. Ulysse Nardin in 1846 and a House of the international luxury group Kering since November 2014, Ulysse Nardin has written some of the most beautiful chapters in the history of Fine Watchmaking.
The brand owes its reputation to its ties with the nautical world: its onboard marine chronometers are among the most reliable ever designed and remain very popular with collectors all over the world. A pioneer in cutting-edge technologies and the use of innovative materials such as silicon, Ulysse Nardin is one of the few manufactures with the in-house expertise necessary to produce its own high-precision components and movements.
An exceptional level of horological excellence has earned it a spot in the exclusive circle of Swiss watchmaking: the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie. Ulysse Nardin is taking action in two main ways to help conserve the oceans: reducing marine plastic pollution and developing scientific knowledge in shark conservation, animals which are its emblem. Today, from Le Locle and La Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland, Ulysse Nardin continues its quest for watchmaking perfection around four pillars: Marine, Diver, Blast, and Freak. In 2021, Ulysse Nardin is celebrating its 175th anniversary and is offering fans of exploration a vertical odyssey, from the ocean depths to the upper
atmosphere
Source: Ulysse Nardin
