2019 SPRESMAG

TIME VOYAGER
INSPIRED BY THE SEA
ULYSSE NARDIN
SwissWatchmaker StaysTrue to the Spirit of Innovation
WRITTEN BY BOB PROBERT
PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY ULYSSE NARDIN AND SPECIAL PROPERTIES RES
Uniquely designed,
the Freak X, Black and
Gold, and Skeleton X,
Blue, are extraordinary
timepieces in Ulysse
Nardin’s X collections.
Tradition. For Swiss watchmaker Ulysse Nardin,
it means haute horlogerie — the “high art of
watchmaking.” Founded in 1846 in Le Locle,
Switzerland by 22-year-old Ulysse Nardin, the
company that still bears his name continues
to execute the craft with detailed perfection
as it stands out amongst the world’s most
distinguished watchmakers.
In the company’s earliest days, accurate measurement of
time was acritical element in the successful navigation of the
high seas and the need for precision was absolute. Although
Nardin lived miles from any ocean, he was well-aware of the
rising demand for marine chronometers. He invented one that
was so precise, it became the official marine deck chronometer
of fleets all over the world, including the U.S. Navy. In fact, by
the 1870s the company had supplied navigation instruments to
over 50 navies and international shipping companies.
“The magic of Ulysse Nardin is that we combine true
horological craftsmanship and design with the very latest
technologies,” says François-Xavier Hotier, the company’s
U.S. president. Today, we stay true to the spirit of innovation,
precision, and reliability — with an added focus on research
and development.” According to Hotier, Ulysse Nardin’s
nautical history inspired the creation of its Marine and
Diver collections, but it’s really the spirit of exploration and
adventure that links them all. “We are always looking to push
the boundaries in watchmaking,” he says.
While many of the company’s timepieces retain the original
nautical theme, they’ve added Classic and Executive lines, and
even the avant-garde (and revolutionary) Freak. The iconic
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