Ulysse Nardin has unveiled its latest creation, the Freak X Gold Enamel, a watch that merges 17th-century artistry with modern watchmaking. This new model is part of the brand’s striking Freak collection and stands out for its unique design and craftsmanship.
Like the original Freak watches, the new model lacks a traditional dial, hands, or crown. Instead, it uses Ulysse Nardin’s flying carousel complication to tell time. The hours are indicated by a pointer on a rotating disc, while the entire movement completes a full rotation every hour to mark the minutes. The movement appears to float above the hour disc since it is suspended without an upper bridge.
The hour disc is crafted from 22-karat rose gold and features a guilloche-flinqué sunray pattern coated in deep blue enamel. This is the first time such an enamel disc appears in the Freak X line. Setting the time is done through a bezel system wound by a mechanism on the caseback, rather than a traditional crown.
The enamel work on the rotating disc is highly intricate and takes about eight hours to complete per piece. This ancient art, dating back 3,000 years to Egyptian, Chinese, and Roman cultures, is mastered today by the artisans at Donez Cadrans, Ulysse Nardin’s enameling workshop. Each disc is unique, making every watch one of a kind.
The Freak X Gold Enamel features a 72-hour power reserve and rose-gold accents on the case’s side parts. It comes with a blue alligator strap and is water-resistant up to 50 meters (164 feet).
This exclusive model is limited to just 120 pieces worldwide and retails for $48,500 (excluding VAT). More details are available on Ulysse Nardin’s website.