Ulysse Nardin celebrates its 175th anniversary: ​​the culmination of savoir-faire and artisanship

Since its founding in 1846, Ulysse Nardin has manufactured marine chronometers for ships, which have been adopted by navies around the world. Furthermore, its track record of winning competitions for superior watchmaking technology and precision is testament to its high-precision timekeeping, which continues to this day. Armed with this historical heritage and incorporating modern technology, Ulysse Nardin celebrates its 175th anniversary in 2021 with the introduction of a limited edition model of the Marine Torpilleur, which was released in 17 to represent the next generation of Ulysse Nardin.

"Precision" and "Design" inherited from marine chronometers

　This year marks the 175th anniversary of the founding of Ulysse Nardin. Since establishing its workshop in Le Locle, Switzerland in 1846, the company has been known for providing marine chronometers, created with its advanced technical expertise, to navies around the world, which has been enough to enhance the company's reputation.

　The brand also has deep ties to Japan, and a deck chronometer manufactured by Ulysse Nardin was installed on the battleship Mikasa, which served as flagship of the Imperial Japanese Navy's Combined Fleet and achieved a historic victory in the Battle of Tsushima (1905) during the Russo-Japanese War that broke out in 1904. At the time, Ulysse Nardin's marine chronometers were so reliable and accurate that they were adopted for battleships on which the fate of the nation depended. This fact is quite convincing.

　With such a historical background, the company's iconic Marine Chronometer model was given a modern makeover in 2017. It was released as the Marine Torpilleur, a lighter and thinner model, designed for free-spirited adventurers. "Torpilleur" is French for "destroyer," and in English refers to a small ship known as a "destroyer." While large battleships with main guns like the Mikasa disappeared around the time of World War II as they became targets for aircraft, small, fast, and maneuverable destroyers remain in active service today, highlighting the modernity that Ulysse Nardin has incorporated into this model.

　While the Marine Chronometer, which has long been one of Ulysse Nardin's iconic models, has a case diameter of 43mm, the newly designed Marine Torpilleur is more modern and has been downsized to a now-standard 42mm. It's worth noting that while it's equipped with the same in-house developed caliber UN-118, the case thickness of the former is approximately 14mm, while the latter is approximately 11mm, making it approximately 3mm thinner, achieving the agility and maneuverability that its name suggests. It's truly a model worthy of leading the next generation.

　In 2021, Ulysse Nardin celebrates its 175th anniversary, incorporating both its historical heritage and current technological capabilities into the Marine Torpilleur. While retaining the traditional design features of its marine chronometers—double counters at 12 and 6 o'clock, Roman numerals, and cathedral-shaped hour and minute hands—the watch incorporates silicon components, a pioneering research and development effort by the company since 2000. Now manufactured in-house, the watch also features an enamel dial, boasting increasingly refined surfaces. Of the seven new models, three iconic models are introduced here, but the lineup also includes an annual calendar chronograph, fully demonstrating the company's modern technological capabilities.

　Both are the company's latest achievements, crystallizing the savoir-faire (know-how) and métiers d'art (craftsmanship) that Ulysse Nardin has cultivated over 175 years of watchmaking history.