Ulysse Nardin

Marcus Hanke
[PuristSPro Moderator]
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All three ....

.... are perfect representatives of what makes Ulysse Nardin  such a great brand, of the company DNA.

I think your choice depends a bit on the red line underlying the rest of your collection. Under which aspect do you choose the watches you adopt? Shall they follow a certain design theme? Or represent the brands' tradition? Or should they be a spectacular apex in the brand's history? Or include especially innovative technology? Or should they be fine pieces to be worn every day?

For example, the Freak "Blue Phantom", which is my favourite iteration of the Freak, would be a perfect choice if you want to symbolize the brand "Ulysse Nardin" at the beginning of the 21st century. It includes innovative technology, with the first silicium movement parts ever used in a series production watch. And it also expresses the idea of Ludwig Oechslin about the functionality of simplicity.

The "Sonata" symbolizes the Oechslin dogma of practical usefulness and easy handling, combined with technical perfection. Contrary to the Freak, the Sonata has a conventional Swiss lever escapement, its innovativeness lies in the complication of 24 hours alarm, countdown, second time zone and chime.

The perpetual calendar finally, is my personal favourite. It was Oechslin's first "big" complication developed for UN, following the "Trilogy". It is still the best perpetual mechanism used in any wrist watch, the only one that can be adjusted forward and backward, and is coupled with a big date, shows the year and has an ingeniously simple to use GMT mechanism. However, the GMT perpetual is for me a watch to wear every day. When I have this, I have no need to wear other watches, if there are no special circumstances, like rough times in the desert.

Therefore: If you want to integrate the watch as a symbol for Ulysse Nardin into your collection, where it will stay among similar symbols for other brands, I would suggest either the Freak or the Sonata, depending on which facet of UN's fascinating multiplicity you want to emphasize.  If you want to wear it on a daily base, as a practical companion, the perpetual or the Sonata would be a good choice, IMHO.

Any way you decide, please don't miss to inform us!

Regards,
Marcus