Ulysse Nardin [2021 New Model] The Future of Marine Chronometers Looks Like UFOs

To celebrate its 175th anniversary in 2021, Ulysse Nardin has unveiled the "UFO" table clock, a design inspired by the image of what a marine chronometer will look like 175 years from now. Like unidentified flying objects that inspire the romanticism of space, this clock has captured the curiosity of designers, engineers, and watchmakers alike.

Voyage to the Future

To celebrate its 175th anniversary, Ulysse Nardin has unveiled a table clock called "UFO," an unidentified flying object. The more you look at it, the more mysterious its appearance becomes. It was designed by imagining what a marine chronometer will be like 175 years from now, setting the course for a voyage into the future.

　Founded in 1846, Ulysse Nardin produced highly accurate marine chronometers for ships, driven by the desire to "create the ultimate tool for measuring time." With this latest release, the company celebrates "the future of the brand" while retaining its past glory.

　Regarding the development, CEO Patrick Prunier said:

"Reusing vintage codes to recreate watches from the past was not the intention for this anniversary model. On the contrary, we aimed to make a leap forward 175 years. We are always looking ahead. We were thinking about what a marine chronometer would look like in 2196."

　This table clock embodies the vision of the future chronometer envisioned by designers, engineers, and watchmakers. It displays three time zones – past, present, and future – and embodies the entire history of Ulysse Nardin, captured in a "UFO."

A movement that takes you on a journey through time

The UFO movement is crafted by Maison L'ÉPÉ, a company that has been crafting complex clocks since its founding in 1839. The UN-902, comprised of 675 individual parts, features six barrels, providing a power reserve of approximately one year. This allows the large, 49mm-diameter balance wheel, located at the highest point, to operate at an ultra-low vibration rate of 3600 vibrations per hour. The deadbeat seconds hand operates at a slow pace of one vibration per second, ensuring even timekeeping.

　It has an extremely long power reserve, but you can store up to one year's worth of power by winding it 40 times with the included stainless steel key. The three dials also have winding notches, which can be used to adjust the time.

A glass windshield infused with the spirit of a craftsman

　The 3mm thick oval glass that surrounds the movement is also noteworthy. It is handcrafted individually by 26-year-old glassmaker Romain Montero of the glass workshop "Verre et Quartz" on the shores of Lake Neutschal in Switzerland.

　To create a huge, thin glass tube, the glass must be stretched for over 45 minutes at a temperature of 1500°C using a special lathe while it is still hot. The entire process takes about half a day to complete a single egg-shaped glass tube that encases the UFO. It is a highly skilled technique that requires concentration and patience.

　Ulysse Nardin has captured its history in a time capsule called "UFO." What kind of watches will be born in the future, 175 years from now?