Ulysse Nardin Marine Grand Deck White Gold, Platinum and Rose Gold. Some thoughts.
amanico
A family picture of the Marine Grand Deck, which first came in white gold, in 2016, then in platinum and rose gold.
All these versions are limited to 18 pieces.
The Grand Deck pays an homage to the marine universe, obviously:
The dial is hand crafted wood marquetry, which evokes the... deck of a ship, the retrograde minutes are activated through a boom, which is controlled by 4 pulleys driving the nanowire, the minute hand is shaped like a mast.
The minutes hand goes back to its base ( zero ) slowly, at the contrary of what we are used to see with a " conventional retrograde mechanism. Indeed, it takes some good three seconds to go jump back to zero, which is quite fascinating.
The typical Marine case, 44 mm big, gives the watch its own personality. Some will like, others will prefer conventional lugs, a matter of taste. It is quite thick, though.
Other than that, you have a jumping hour, and a flying tourbillon.
The movement, UN 630 is manual winding, beats at 21, 600 alternances per hour, and offers a power reserve of 48 hours.
Did you know that Christophe Claret collaborated to the development of that watch?
A last precision, the Grand Deck is water resistant to 100 meters, which is natural for a marine watch, even if I highly doubt skippers will wear it during a marine race...
That being said, let's see this pure horological madness, with a side by side picture of the three versions.
Among these three, I would hesitate a lot between the white gold, more dynamic, maybe, with these touches of Blue, and the platinum, because I have a soft spot for this metal.
While I am fascinated by this " opus ", I would still favor the Freak / Innovision, the Sonata, some automatons / minute repeaters such as the Genghis Kan, or the Astronomical set, especially the Tellurium.
Still, what is important with the Marine Grand Deck is that it " signs " the return of Ulysse Nardin after a few years of consolidation.
Now, we want, we expect more and more from a brand which is really apart, in the horological world.
Best,
Nicolas
Comments:
M4 December 2nd, 2017-05:35
One of my favorite UNs. I've had the RG GD on my wrist and it is gorgeous. But like you, I prefer the white metals. Pt would be my choice. The movement is over-the-top cool. The GD is a dream watch for sure, right up there with the Freak Cruiser and WG Sonata. Thanks for posting...
MichaelC December 2nd, 2017-07:31
This timepiece is perhaps the most astounding I have ever tried on I saw it earlier this year in Bermuda with M4. I have some poor camera phone photos through plastic. It is a horological monster, I fell in love with it. If I could ever own it in any metal, I would, without hesitation. ...
amanico December 2nd, 2017-09:02
Very cool, indeed. I can't wait to see it in the flesh.
Ronald Held December 2nd, 2017-12:47
If I were to own one, i would have to see the WG and PT in the metal. (nt) NT
Echi December 2nd, 2017-21:06
The WG with blue minute band.. As the blue would remind me of the ocean. Wondering though what part the tourb plays in the overall theme. Are they historically part of deck watches? Thanks for sharing! Echi
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amanico
SIHH 2017: Ulysse Nardin Marine Tourbillon.
amanico
I already wrote it, but 2017 re ignited my love for Ulysse Nardin, which unveiled a nice and interesting collection, this year. We'll certainly have the time to discuss each of them, but let me introduce you a watch from the 2017 collection which seduced and convinced me, the Marine Tourbillon. The Marine collection always pleased me, from the very first days of my horological journey. But I always had a problem with these watches: The presence of a discrete but ungraceful date at 6 o' clock, at the exception of an enameled version which was produced in limited edition in 1996, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the brand.
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