Ulysse Nardin Freak 10-Year Ownership Review

Bernard Cheong celebrates the 10th anniversary of his Ulysse Nardin Freak, reflecting on its enduring design and unique position in horology. His post delves into the watch's ability to retain its distinctiveness over a decade, posing questions about longevity and originality in watch collecting. This personal milestone highlights the Freak's impact as a truly unconventional timepiece.

Ever kept a watch for over 10 years?

And noticed that it does not form a terrible aged patina?

And that it retained its pedigree and nothing even remotely resembled it even after 10 years?

Yes...rarely.

Happy Birthday FREAK!!!!

Don't forget to google "bernard cheong" freak...chuckles! Sounds totally weird.

It has been 10 years since the FREAK was launched.

More years since Lange 1.

More years since my search for, and discovery of the Antiqua and the Goldpfeil Vianney.

IWC's charming calibre 5000 and the original leader and friend Gunther Blumlein.

So much has been said about these "watches". They are indeed wonderful, permanent things.

Man made? Yes.

Perpetual...probably will out live the generation that will not have any fond memories of us...but yet carry our genes as great great grand children.

They won't know what a Porsche 911 C2 water or aircooled will drive like.

I don't know how to operate a 1900's car at all.

But this chapter brings us past Valentime's Day. Yes.

It brings us past a day that not only for my wife and I who celebrate my love for her...but also for the people who I found to be GENUINELY GOOD people.

Rolf Schnyder of UN, Pierre Gygax, Ludwig Oeschlin, Chai Schnyder, Gunther Blumlein, were people that I wished I had more time to get to know.

Forgive me, no judgement call, but I owe Vianney Halter, Max Busser and ALL at De Bethune, at Junod, at the old pre 2007 IWC, Panerai, the FHH, Edipresse, Gilbert Cheah of Singapore Tattler, Barry, Prestige, Revo's Wei Koh, Thomas Mao, SJX, Mike Tay, Alan Teoh...I am sure just being honest, and not reviewing this list will allow me some pardon that I forget to name many.

I was an ordinary soul. Not with incredible monetary wealth. But for ALL THE WRONG reasons, collected watches from 1975 till now and still going STRONG.

I will never know if my silly musings in 1998 caused the watch industry and the PRICES to become what they are. For ego's sake....why not? In reality, probably China created an alternate universe! So large, it spanned two worlds in market size.

And you know what? China understands what watch maker's are about.

It may not be bling. But it is about status. It is about price. And it is about aesthetics.

Trouble is...there is no one to "guide" the Chinese market but the advertisements boys who would sell you a clock to wear on the wrist.....make it that around the neck!

Read most ten of ten magazines around HOT markets like China or even my good Singapore.

Ever read any "critical" reviews? They are almost impossible, even I try not to be bad.

Fair enough...the chaps who are writing are not the same guys having to sweat it out to BUY the damned watch. If one ran thru the mind what else one can do with the money, it may not always be to buy a watch. But after 10 years with this and later on, I have saved time to devote to MBF and De Bethune...and a few others not photographed here....you may just wish to save longer and buy "higher up" the ladder.

I try to write only about the watches that I SWEAT to buy. But also only about the watches that I have owned long enough.

I have probably sold away a watch only 8 times...I mentally estimated...over the last 10 years. Once in a single lot, I released a whole batch..just to raise cash to buy ONE watch.

I did not have CASH on hand to BUY...and saving for each was hard.

I bought a watch because it is SOMETHING to me. To me. I know it costs less money to make than what I paid for, but it's the same thing in any life long business. It's worth that money personally to me. That's what counts for me. May not work for others, and I respect that.

Well...I do have some standards. They are not the same standards as others. I may be wrong.

Now that 10 years did go by... years that don’t age watches like they age a car. Or hair!

I cant resist posting some pictures that I am GOING to photograph RIGHT NOW...in real time...as I stop writing on MS word, and take out my trusty Lumix GH, all dented from 2007.

 And for being individuals...with a soul!

I hope these pictures help with choosing an expensive purchase.

The idea is to show how a design ages.

The Rolex prince seen above in one of the pictures belonged to my grandfather, it was custom made for him by Rolex in Robinson's Singapore. 1918 .

I serviced it once, in 1998. Chuckles...and it runs damned well...but is really a small watch, and patina was the order of the day in those by gone days.

I guess the watches today will only form very mild patinas...even the Bulova from the 1970s looks brand new.

The FREAK should look at home in 2099.

I hope to see a special 10th anniversary FREAK this year.