Founded in 1846 in Le Locle, Ulysse Nardin embodies the very essence of Swiss watchmaking tradition. From its early days, the brand distinguished itself with its marine chronometers, becoming a preferred choice for sailors and explorers.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Ulysse Nardin chronometers won numerous awards at international competitions. Ulysse Nardin became synonymous with reliability and quality in the art of timekeeping.
In the 20th century, the brand continued to cultivate its heritage while adapting to new technologies. However, Ulysse Nardin remains deeply rooted in its maritime origins. The "Marine" collection carries on this legacy with watches inspired by historical marine chronometers, while incorporating the latest technical advancements.
Early on, Ulysse Nardin specialized in creating marine chronometers, essential instruments for navigation on the high seas. These timepieces, renowned for their exceptional precision, enabled ships to calculate their position with great accuracy, making them indispensable for explorers and navies around the world.
Introduced between the late 1980s and early 1990s, this trilogy consists of three iconic watches: the Astrolabium Galileo Galilei, the Planetarium Copernicus, and the Tellurium Johannes Kepler.
The final model of the trilogy, the Tellurium Johannes Kepler (illustrated here), was introduced in 1992. This watch represents the Earth as seen from the North Pole, rotating on its axis, with displays of solar and lunar transits. It also shows solar and lunar eclipses, moon phases, and the boundaries of the Earth's oceans and continents.
These watches revolutionized watchmaking complications by integrating complex astronomical displays into wristwatches.
By developing highly precise navigation instruments used by navies worldwide, Ulysse Nardin set new standards of performance at a time when reliability and accuracy were crucial for navigation.
In the 1930s, the brand pushed the boundaries of precision even further by producing sports chronographs capable of measuring runners' times to the tenth of a second.
In the 1980s, under the leadership of Rolf Schnyder, Ulysse Nardin experienced a renaissance. The brand stood out with bold pieces such as the trilogy and its astronomical complications, all while remaining true to its watchmaking heritage.
Launched in 2001, the Freak was a true revolution in the world of watchmaking. Lacking a dial, hands, and a crown, it completely reimagined the design of a mechanical watch by using its own movement as the hour and minute hands.
Equipped with the industry's first silicon escapement, the Freak, with its avant-garde design, became an icon of modern watchmaking, symbolizing the brand's spirit of disruption and creativity.
Unveiled in 2021, the Diver Net is a revolutionary concept watch that embodies the brand's commitment to sustainability.
Made from recycled materials, including abandoned fishing nets recovered from the oceans, this dive watch highlights the importance of marine conservation.
With its case and strap designed in partnership with eco-friendly companies, it aligns with an ethical approach, symbolizing a forward-thinking vision of watchmaking focused on sustainability.
