Ulysse Nardin has once again released a piece causing quite a stir. No stranger to the Marine concept (the namesake Mr. Nardin designed Marine chronometers, after all, in the late 1800’s), the aesthetic has permeated Nardin’s designs for many years (since 1996 for this series, to be exact).
Pairing that with the the kind of decadent status a tourbillon evokes in a sleek, gorgeous piece was too much for some people.
Scour the internet comment sections on various timepiece-centric sites and you’ll discover the Marine Tourbillon to be one of the most frequently-mentioned pieces. Not just for its stunning, classic look, but for the intricate tourbillon that polarizes timepiece enthusiasts so easily.
While still a large amount of money, netting a precision Swiss piece like this, with a tourbillon at it’s six o’clock position that rivals many six digit timepieces, would be akin to finding a brand new Rolls Royce for a similar amount.
Although 28K may get you close to owning an Audemars, the fact that this piece includes a tourbillon jettisons it past the other pieces in its price range.
This piece definitely fits snugly within the stable of Ulysses Nardin Marine Tourbillon watches, especially considering the fact that it hearkens back to the classic Nardin dichotomy of complex, yet simple and progressive, and traditional naval-themed timepieces. Let’s take a look at the details of this stunning piece:
Details
Dial: The breathtaking enamel dial, hand fired at over 600 degrees by Donzé Cadrans (acquired by Nardin in 2012), is 100% grand feu enamel, and sure to tickle even the most hard-to-please collectors.
Caliber UN-128 Flying Tourbillon: Ulysse Nardin’s proprietary silicon spring and escapement technology seemingly burst forth from the innards of this piece with the elegance and beauty of a precision ballet. We were floored to see the Caliber UN-128 actually certified by the C.O.S.C, which almost never certifies tourbillons, for either inaccuracy of lack of submission, but the fact remains that Ulysse Nardin was able to accomplish such a feat speaks more than volumes.
Reserve Power Indicator: aligned with it’s southern counterpart, the tourbillon at the six o’clock position, the reserve power indicator at the 12 o’clock position completes the eye’s journey when one first beholds this piece. We find the placement both tasteful and aesthetically relevant.
Back: If you have any doubt your piece is authentic, Nardin assuages those fears with their patented “Ulysse Nardin Blue” visible on the rotor and screws through the impeccable sapphire crystal case back, which houses the other tell-tale Nardin calling card: three anchors on the shape and decoration of the rotor.
Warranty: This piece comes with a great warranty program, accessible to any purchaser simply by registering the piece on the Nardin website. The warranty on the movement is five years, while the components are protected by a ten-year warranty. That’s incredible value for the price.
Technical Specs
Case: 43 mm, stainless steel, screw-down rubber-coated security crown with crown guards; officially C.O.S.C. certified
Dial: grand feu (high-fire oven) enamel by Donzé Cadrans
Movement: automatic Caliber UN-128 with flying one-minute tourbillon and silicon spring and escapement technology; 60-hour power reserve
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds; power reserve indication
Price: $28,000
Our Final Word
We believe the Ulysse Nardin Marine Tourbillon to be one of the most luxurious, functional, and aesthetically solid pieces on the market, especially for its price point. Many pieces with similar hand-tooled tourbillons go for at least double the price, and for what? They lack the name brand, the pedigree, and the functionality of this watch.
More clunky designs and tacky retro-future rehashes are sure to be left to the fashionable wayside by other, more affordable pieces. When it comes to the total package of functionality, precision, and price, it is going to be hard to surpass the Ulysse Nardin Marine Tourbillon.
