The Fancy Ulysse

Editorial Notes

There are many watches with a lot of modern technology all these days in the world, and they have evolved from generation to generation, refined into a product that has a reputation and gain attention from all over the world, in conjunction  I would like to introduce all of you about the guy who came from the bottom and glowing up with high acceptation which inseparable from the brand such as Ulysse Nardin, which was founded in 1846 by a 23-year-old Ulysse who had lost his sight after training as a watchmaker based on complication specialist and incredible skill that bring us the new idea and the super accuracy wristwatch. He decided to establish his firm in Le Locle where his native province and his house, Switzerland, also the center of his watch industry. Surprisingly, the youthful Ulysse was quick to notice the growing need for pocket and marine chronometers that could accurately measure time. He specialized in them and supplied to international shipping companies with the equipment of the ship relied on they needed to navigate the big seas in particularly.

After that, his achievement has always been a notable for the competition call prize-winning precision. They contributed to enhanced trade efficiency and would benefit in the company's for future development. Ulysse Nardin received over 4,300 awards throughout the years, including 18 gold medals. In 1983, the brand reached a new point in its history when Rolf W. Schnyder took over control of the firm and teamed up with Ludwig Oechslin to establish a successful partnership. Renowned for its revolutionary concepts, such as the Freak and the Perpetual Calendar, the company also led research into new materials, in particular silicon (that recently they use it for escapement wheel). This position at the cutting edge of technology and invention dates back to the company's inception, and it has earned Ulysse Nardin a unique place in Swiss watchmaking history ever.

Although from my own standpoint, I am really proud of this firm because it has been in operation since 1843 and has provided me with several opportunities to learn more about the business process manufacturing, key specialist and unique product. Even if they fall to their deaths on the ground, yet they get up and continue on their adventure. Ulysse Nardin has his special skill to make the pocket and marine chronometers that could measure time with absolute precision. His watches have always been notable for their inventiveness and prize-winning accuracy, very fascinated in watch manufacturing because he produced every component in his birthplace, I mean in his house. On top of that, he has won numerous watch competitions as I mention, and gaining a lot of expertise included awards along the way.

The beginning

Basically, the area that he lived in had difficulty measuring time due to its winter and heavy snow, so the resident decided to build timekeeping tools to get through with the severe winters snow. and Ulysse Nardin genuinely begins his career as an apprentice horologist under his father's supervision and growth his talent under the guidance of Frédéric-William Dubois and Louis JeanRichard-dit-Bressel two watchmakers whose reputation expanded well beyond the Neuchatel mountains. then in 1843 Ulysse Nardin own his firm or company in Le Locle and stay still the company's headquarter there recently. Later on, he was fascinated by water and shortly after he developed new marine chronometer devices and looking forward to the overseas market.

What makes this brand unique? 

In fact, one of the most unique aspects of this brand's success is that it was one of the first to brand manufacturing of marine chronometers plus high-precision of maritime instruments for commercial ships and navies that he put all effort to complete one absolute piece. His pocket and marine chronometers became recognize and reference devices in the commercial, military, and scientific sectors all over the world back in the day. And to justify his pocket chronometers on the way to success, Ulysse Nardin needed a very high precision of astronomical regulator which build by Mr. Jacques Frederic to compare and rate of his product. I am glad that all work left behind is now in a museum in Le Locle, Minute repeaters, complicate watches and pocket chronometers carried out the reputation of the company for illustrate to youth in new generation that people in the past could create technology without no smart computer. More interestingly, at that moment the famous horologists of the time were French and English which executed famous brand and prize-wining which prove how they blowing up in the world stage watchmaker. UlysseNardin traveled to London to compete against the top pocket chronometer manufacturer then finally received the Prize Medal in the area of "complex watches and pocket chronometers" at the 1862 International Exhibition in London. The award was the highest honor competition in the United Kingdom watchmaking. Later on, in the year 1867 this company had earned certificates from Neuchâtel Observatory for its marinechronometers. Then year after Ulysse Nardin died at the age of 53 his sun became the owner of the firm and continue his father’s job to expand its raputation of the brand and to keep them alive as far as gone he not dissappoint his father the dead of Ulysse Nardin, he won saveral compitition that was so impressively develop-conception and the job is done unbilivable.

Where are their watches marketed to?

Instead of just a local supply chain this company also fight to world maritime market to promote his brand and the inventiveness of precision technology to all of the customer around the world, he would also think of building this firm famous first then expanse hi company to sub-region by Ulysse Nardin has done a pretty good job by make fabulous​​ reputation spreading out to many more countries. Immediately, he released the marine-chronometer which is the most famous model and is useful in navigation seas also for other aims and purposes of military, then the firm begin to deliver to US Navy and become full supported supplier and build-up strong relation after won the Washington Naval Observatory competition. Therefore, the company has also provided to over 50 navies and international shipping companies, them all use high quality Ulysse Nardin marine chronometer.

Recent development

Regardless of development, there will always be difficulties, and no matter how successful we are, the firm will have to change the owners due to financial issues, and so on. As demonstrated by the company's troubles during the quart crisis, people think it's time to start up utilizing new and modern jewelry, such as to modernizing watches for keep up with the times arrival, but this is the difficulty of the manufacturers of automatic watches also strive not to let the company collapse.

Later on the company was bought by Mr. Rolf Schnyder and Ludwig Oechslin then they started to modernize of material use, to make a pretty much value complicate watches. And next Schnyder's spouse, Chai Schnyder, took over the firm after his untimely loss in 2011, until it was bought by the Kering group in 2014. 

Then year after the company appointed Patrick Pruniaux, a previous executive of Apple, as its new CEO. Yes, it is the twentieth century new possibilities in watchmaking awaited us as the twentieth century gave way to the twenty-first. Ulysse Nardin was once again back on track when it came to fresh concepts and materials. Ulysse Nardin in twenty-first century the time that this firm come with new idea and big achievement. And the product achievement which notable model is Freak (A unique 7-day tourbillon rotating watch with many technological patents. In reality, since the beginning of the twenty century, Ulysse Nardin has been surprised one of the most innovative watch companies on the market with the use Escapement made of diamond and silicium. However, the marine chronometer still the specially for the brand but anyway this brand still needs to product time peace for highly sophistication to men and women as well.

Watch manufacturing

For the workshops, they have very specialist stuff and they create prototypes and tools. Profile turners or the setters are in charge of overseeing the manufacture of components for the balancing axis, screws, pins, and other tiny bits. Plates and bridges are engraved with unique designs by decorators. The completed components are then assembled by skilled watchmakers who work on in-house caliber movements. Another group of watchmakers focuses on the movement assembly and casings of sophisticated mechanisms and astronomical clocks.

In my view, I think this company done a pretty good job again from the beginning that started from beneath then finish at the top, plus the owner of this company takes his effort to run this firm completely smooth even though things changed but Ulysse Nardin still keep their timepiece in the highest position together along with its history heritage. I would love to work with this amazing brand because all product is inspired by the specialist and inventiveness inspiration. In addition, there are a lot of companies that need capability stuff but why am I choose to work with this brand. It is because of the real watchmaker skill that this brand does is super impressive to the wearers with building confident to costumer after waring its product, another reason is Technology is persuaded people to work and learn more about especially people like me, I kind of like learning new things. I am happy to earn professional skill and point out new concept from work that I will had got used to and that things always pop up on my mine and I have to note it for practice more then make sure I must get used to what I expect from.  Therefore, modern tools of watch manufacturing like milling machine, CNC are kind of helpful tools to make job done more quicker within precise but require us to specialize in that field not many people can do that, and it should be considered in my plan I will have to achieved after graduated. Due to the firm has strong commitment on developing new watches for generation, it would be great if I can work for its company and it’s going to be a higher credit accompanies with my journey as watchmaker also to developing skills with this company is the best opportunity for me build up my fundamental, lesson learns, Self-development. And I believe that Ulysse Nardin can open doors to individuals who have desired to join, come up with consciousness, and the potential to achieve their goals by putting them in touch with a team that can show them wonderful things they have never seen before, such as mind-opening experiences.

Notable Models

Freak

Ulysse Nardin introduced the Freak wristwatches in 2001.The first timepiece of this collection was the Freak watch. The model contains a revolutionary 7-day power reserve tourbillon, and has no(true) dial, crown or hands. The movement contains silicon escapement components, and would rotate on itself to indicate time. The watch model was named "Watch of the Year" in innovation category in 2002. Ulysse Nardin Freak Is the Craziest Watch Ever Made. The way it looks and you have to agree the name very much. Its hands are also the movement. This means that the minute hand, which of course rotates once every hour, is also a kind of tourbillon, although instead of just the escapements rotating over and over again, it's the entire movement. The hour hand is perhaps a little more traditional, although it's still far from normal, fixed to a disk that rotates in its entirety behind the movement, so impress and I'm so glad that Ulysse Nardin did it. The first run back in 2001 was limited to just a few pieces, but the demand for this crazy watch skyrocketed and a number of different versions have made it into regular production since there's been models with Diamond tipped markers, elaborate single piece silicon balance wheels. So how particularly are you supposed to adjust the time and wiped the mainspring? It's simple, but so crazy to set the time you got to reach below the bezel and pull up on the little plaque then you can grasp the bezel and turn it rotating the entire movements. It's so ridiculous to watch the whole mechanism spin around. And what about the winding?

The Ulysse Nardin does not disappoint the mechanism, just as freaky as the rest of it, all you have to do is just to turn the watch over, grasp the case back, and twist in the direction of the little arrow and the seven days of Power Reserve will begin to wind down. Even crazier still is the little window that goes around as you wiped revealing the big size of the main screen. Seriously, this thing spans the entire case, it looks more like a spring for a clockwork toy, but it does watch but then this whole thing is more like a toy than it is a watch. I really in love with this watch and its design if you would look back in the day 2001 this is the most interesting watch ever made but it was and of course I wish I can own one.

 

Credit to: Rath SP