Setting Instructions - Ulysse Nardin

8
Ulysse Nardin and
Marine Chronometer
Traditional birthplace of prestige watch making, the Swiss mountain
region of the Canton of Neuchâtel had no particular relation to the vast
open seas.
Perched at 1000 meters above sea level, at the heart of Europe, the
Neuchâtel watchmakers had only a distant vision of the sea. Nonetheless,
it was on the seas that the watchmaker Ulysse Nardin and his descendants
earned their greatest renown.
Ulysse Nardin was only 23 years old in 1846 when he settled in Le
Locle to develop his own chronometers and complex pocket watches,
bringing with him a wealth of experience gained while working with
Federic-William Dubois, a specialist in manufacturing marine
chronometers and astronomic watches.
The young entrepreneur’s reputation for technical excellence rapidly spread
well beyond regional and national borders.
In 19th century Europe, marked by the industrial revolution, people started
to discover the benefits of mechanization. Methods of transport were
limited. Ulysse Nardin products were often shipped from Basel down the
river Rhine for distribution to the great tollships which criss-crossed the
globe at the time.
Conquering the Oceans
Brigs, frigates, schooners and clippers have written important chapters in
the history of world shipping and the development of international trade.
Ulysse Nardin, an astute businessman, saw the opportunity and moved into
manufacturing marine chronometers.