INTRODUCING THE X-FACTOR IN WATCHMAKING
When function defines design
A brand-new Manufacture flying carrousel movement rotating around its own axis with no dial and no hands. FREAK, Ulysse Nardin’s most audacious collection to date, boldly pushes desires to the max, shaking up the status quo. Form & design follow functions. This is the law. Designs that are strong. Technology that defies expectation. The Freak X isn’t just inspired by adventure. It IS the call for Xploration!
January 2019, Geneva – His quest has been unrivaled for nearly 3000 years. His name has conjured up images, accolades, and epic tales earned only by a true adventurer and free spirit. Immortalized by the Greek poet Homer, “Ulysses” is the original wandering hero. His adventures transcend time. In the spirit of Ulysses, Ulysse Nardin has been at the forefront of timekeeping since its inception. More than a means to an end, Xploration is, for Ulysse Nardin, a way of life. Launching the new year in style, we are pleased to introduce the” X Factor” in watchmaking. No letter in the English language gets around like X: the 24th letter of the alphabet shows up everywhere, from the popular Xbox to standing in for a signature on legal documents, the representation of a chromosome, a generation, a crossing point, the multiplication process and the location on a treasure map. X denotes any unknown, unspecified or variable factor. X like Xploration, Xtraordinary, Xcess, Xperience, Xcitement, X treme and compleX. More than a simple slogan, it is a statement, a reminder that our Freak collection embodies boldness and creativity. We address those of you who have the audacity to be willing to stand out in the crowd. Are you ready?
The FREAK X, the little cousin of its ”Freak antecedents”, stands out as the entry point into the FREAK collection. Though many of the same aesthetic and functional elements are in place, it pushes out into uncharted territory. The sizing is tighter – 43mm instead of 45mm – but it is easier 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 or FREAK OUT models, which correct time by the bezel. The “baguette” movement is still a carrousel, turning once on itself every hour to indicate the time. It is simpler, bolder, and has fewer wheels. 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 one of the FREAK VISION’s most outstanding innovations: a super-light balance wheel in silicium, extra-wide, with nickel flyweights and stabilizing micro-blades. The movement itself, the new UN-230, is a fusion of the manufacture calibers UN-118 and FREAK VISION UN-250.The case, nicely rounded with curved lines, is wholly new, and seriously transformative. The new FREAK X is available in titanium, rose gold, black DLC or in Carbonium ®. It is very competitively priced with a start price version at 21’000 USD. It demonstrates the brand’s commitment to expanding and enriching its collections by pushing watchmaking Xpertise to the X degree. To the intrepid Ulysses of the modern world, it is a clarion call to adventure.
FREAK X Carbonium ®: from the world of aeronautic fuselage to Haute Horlogerie.
The most spectacular iteration of the FREAK X collection is undoubtedly the Carbonium ® version. The aeronautic-grade Carbonium ® is a new, super-light and sustainable material used in the aeronautical sector for the latest-generation airplanes’ fuselage and wings. In short, the most vital and essential components in today’s modern airplanes. The production of Carbonium ® has 40% less environmental impact than other carbon composites as it uses offcuts from aeronautical pieces. With complex process requiring high pressures and temperatures, Carbonium ® is a high-performance material that brings out the core beauty of the organic pattern created by the 7µm diameter carbon fibers.
The use of a material like Carbonium ® comes as a clear reminder that we dare make a difference. Constructed from neXt-generation carbon composites – among the most robust and resilient materials ever devised by science – it is as audaciously disruptive as it is technically and technologically transcendent.
Ulysse Nardin is the first to use this neXt-generation material in a watch. Its resistance-to-lightness ratio is unparalleled, and its stunning marbling effect never repeats, making each watch case absolutely unique.
About Ulysse Nardin – Manufacture of Freedom
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 proud member of the global luxury group Kering since November 2014, Ulysse Nardin has written some of the finest chapters in the history of Haute Horlogerie. The company’s earliest renown came from its links to the nautical world: its marine chronometers are among the most reliable ever made, still sought by collectors around the world. A pioneer of cutting-edge technologies and the innovative use of materials like silicon, the brand is one of the few with the in-house expertise to produce its own high-precision components and movements. This exceptional level of watchmaking excellence has earned Ulysse Nardin membership in the most exclusive circle of Swiss watchmaking, the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie. Today, from its sites in Le Locle and La Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland, the brand’s continuing quest for horological perfection centers around five collections: The Marine, the Diver, the Classico, the Executive and the Freak. In 2019, Ulysse Nardin introduces the X-factor in watchmaking. www.ulysse-nardin.com
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
References
2303-270/03 // 2303-270.1/03
2303-270.1/BLACK // 2303-270/BLACK
2305-270/02
2303-270/CARB // 2303-270.1/CARB
Movement Caliber UN-230, self-winding movement
Functions
Flying carrousel movement rotating around its own axis
Exclusive central oscillator with large diameter
3 Hz Silicium balance wheel
Index & bridges with Superluminova
Power reserve 72 hours
Case
Titanium with black DLC
Rose Gold 5N / Titanium with black DLC finish
Carbonium ® matte-finish / Titanium with black DLC
Diameter 43 mm
Case back Sapphire crystal
Water resistance 50 m
Strap Openwork veal or alligator strap with “point de bride” stitches.
Imagers & content credited to Ulysse Nardin. Learn more:
