Nicolas's celebration of his Ulysse Nardin Sonata's 20th birthday offers a poignant reflection on a watch that played a pivotal role in the post-quartz crisis revival of horology. His personal narrative underscores the emotional connection collectors form with timepieces that represent significant innovation and personal milestones. This post serves as a testament to the Sonata's enduring appeal and its place in modern watchmaking history.
With a bit of delay as I bought it on the 23rd of July... 2004! 20 years!
This Sonata still brings a lot of emotions.
First of all, emotions from an incredible horological past and universe.
2004... A 4 years old new Millenary. With the new Millenary and the very late years of the former, we witnessed the awakening or we could even speak of rebirth of true Horology, and the end of the Quartz Monopole.
Ulysse Nardin played a great part in this revival with such horological geniuses such as Rolf Schnyder, Pierre Gygax, Lucas Humair and, last but not least, Ludwig Oeschslin, among others.
Remember, we had an incredible series of Masterpieces, such as the Perpetual Calendar ( which you can set forward AND backward! Through the crown!! ), the Astronomical Trilogy, the Hour Striker, the Freak, and, in 2003... The Sonata! Of course, this list is not exhaustive, and we could easily mention two or three other significant ones...
The Sonata is a milestone: It gathers an alarm sounding like a minute repeater, which can be set to the minute, on 24 hours as well as a grande date and a GMT, both able to be set forward and backward. No other watch offers that set of complications, which can be considered as THE perfect time keeper for a Traveler, no less!
Then, on a personal note, you can guess that in 20 years, I lived a lot of moments with this Sonata. The day I bought the watch, the conditions I bought it are still stuck in my mind, forever.
I brought it with me all around the world, as it is made for that, but it proved to also be my lucky watch, too, when I have something important to do or a tough case to plead.
And, each time I look at it, I have a hard time thinking that it is a 20 years old watch. Its design is still very modern, with the exception of the case, which is a bit outdated, but not lacking charm. Refined but powerful, classic but modern, this watch cannot be to everyone's taste, but I much prefer this to a too wise or consensual design.
You got it, the Sonata is a symbol of what Horology was, exciting, daring, original and innovative. Something we don't see much nowadays...
Long life to the Sonata! No wonder why it is one of my 12 summer watches, this year!
Best,
Nicolas
