The Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) is an exclusive yearly event that showcases the best, most luxurious watches. In recent years, it has grown to become one of the first major international watch events of the calendar year. With 2017 growing to a close, it’s time to look forward to see what SIHH 2018 will bring. Some brands have already stepped forward, like Ulysse Nardin. The Ulysse Nardin pre-SIHH 2018 novelties are beautiful, and promise a memorable SIHH 2018.
Marine Tourbillon Blue Grand Feu
The seafaring world has been an essential part of Ulysse Nardin history since 1846. It’s therefore only appropriate that the brand returns to its roots with the Marine Tourbillon Blue Grand Feu with the upcoming SIHH.
The resolutely modern Marine Tourbillon doesn’t just call back to history though. It is resolutely modern, with a striking blue enamel dial that ties history and modern artistry together.
The self-winding UN-128 caliber is produced in-house in the workshops at Le Locle, Switzerland. It embodies the brand’s development and continued independence in the manufacture of its movements, elegant and precise. The flying tourbillon is located at the 6 o’clock position on the blue Grand Feu dial, and is the highlight of the timepiece.
For those wondering why the flying tourbillon is so impressive, here’s an explanation. A tourbillon counters inaccuracies due to effects like gravity, and is one of the most challenging of watch mechanisms to make. By extension, a flying tourbillon is even more impressively complex.
In the Marine Tourbillon Blue Grand Feu, the cage, wheels, screws, and hairspring of the flying tourbillon are produced entirely in-house by Ulysse-Nardin. Truly a testament to technical skill.
As for the material that gives this watch its distinctive dial and name, the artistry behind Grand Feu enamel means that the dial of each watch is unique. 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. The results are usually a gorgeous pale cream colour, but here are a deep oceanic blue, in keeping with the marine-faring theme of the brand.
Marine Torpilleur Military
Riding on the wave of success of its Marine Torpilleur, Ulysse Nardin is releasing the Marine Torpilleur Military edition. Bold and dashing, this direct descendant of the pocket chronometers prized by 19th and 20th century sea captains is a chronometer for a whole new generation of adventurer.
It features the same Ulysse Nardin UN-118 in-house movement as the above Marine Chronometer, but here it takes on a more imposing air. Dynamism is in every line of the watch’s design, tempered with stately military bearing. Perfectly fitting for its name.
Both versions of the watch take inspiration from the eternal elegance of vintage military timepieces. The eggshell white dial with the elegant tan leather strap brings to mind old-school military elegance.
On the other end, the chic black and orange version exudes raw power and intent. Both editions command respect with their oversized crowns, and formidable 44mm case with steel sand-blasted finishes.
Besides the UN-118 movement, the Marine Torpilleur Military also boasts both COSC certification and the Ulysse Nardin certificate. This double guarantee of the highest performance standards is a precision that only reinforces its military design.
Classico Manufacture Grand Feu
In mesmerizing black enamel, the Classico Manufacture Grand Feu is transformative, and elevates the daily act of telling time. Grand Feu enamel, as described before, is the result of a delicate, difficult process. Producing it in a shade of black as intense as in the Classico Manufacture Grand Feu’s black version is even more complicated.
Black can only be created by applying different and carefully chosen coloured pigments, giving the resulting enamel opacity and depth. Only the incredible skill of the master artisans at Donzé Cadrans, can bring a black enamel dial to life. Patience is key to the creation of these black dials. Black reveals even the slightest imperfection. Therefore, every watch dial has to be smoothed between each trip to the kiln.
Beneath the elegant appearance, the Classico Manufacture Grand Feu also packs some technical punch. Driven by the UN-320 manufacture movement, it allows for rapid date correction both forwards and backwards. The self-winding caliber is entirely designed and produced in-house at Ulysse Nardin’s Swiss workshop. Every inch of the caliber is therefore an assurance of quality.
The unusual Classico Manufacture Grand Feu black or the gorgeous, timeless Grand Feu white are both expressions of the three Ulysse Nardin fundamentals of independent manufacturing, skilled craft, and constant innovation.
