SIHH 2017:

From Nautical to Naughty: Ulysse Nardin’s New Regatta Timer and Hourstriker


Ulysse Nardin tapped two professional yachtsmen, Loïck Peyron and Iain Percy from the Swedish Artemis Racing team, to help design its new regatta timer, the Marine Regatta Chronograph, which debuted this week at SIHH.

The Ulysse Nardin Marine Regatta Chronograph
The Ulysse Nardin Marine Regatta Chronograph

Ulysse Nardin: Marine Regatta Chronograph

Ulysse Nardin is a sponsor of the Swedish Artemis Racing team, which is competing in the 35th America’s Cup, culminating this spring in Bermuda. The novelty of the Marine Regatta Chronograph is a bi-directional chronograph counter that automatically begins timing the race once the countdown is complete, thus eliminating the need to hit the restart button at the precise moment when the race begins. Official fleet yacht races begin with either a five-, seven- or 10-minute countdown to the starting signal, during which time boats jockey for a position as close to the starting line as possible without crossing it and thus facing major penalties.

The Ulysse Nardin Marine Regatta Chronograph
The Ulysse Nardin Marine Regatta Chronograph

The 650-component Caliber UN-155 is based on the manufacture automatic chronograph Caliber UN-153, and has a three-day power reserve. The 44-mm case is stainless steel and has a fluted bezel with rubber inserts, molded rubber pushers, a screw-down crown and 100-meter water resistance. There are two dial variations, one in ocean blue with signature Artemis Racing yellow and the other in sea foam. Both have yellow countdown registers and luminescent hands. There is also a limited-edition series of 35 Marine Regatta Chronographs with black champlevé enamel dials. The regular series is priced at $15,900, and the special edition, at $29,800.

The Ulysse Nardin Marine Regatta Chronograph limited edition with champlevé enamel dial
The Ulysse Nardin Marine Regatta Chronograph limited edition with champlevé enamel dial

Ulysse Nardin: Classico Manufacture with blue grand feu dial

Ulysse Nardin also introduced a new version of its iconic dress watch, the Classico Manufacture, at SIHH. The new Reference 3203-136-2/E3 has a blue grand feu enamel dial and a steel case. A steel model with a white grand feu enamel dial was introduced last year. Except for the dial color, the two watches are identical, with 40-mm stainless steel cases 9.6 mm thick and outfitted with Caliber UN-320, an automatic movement with a silicon hairspring, an anchor escapement, and a 48-hour power reserve.

The Classico Manufacture with blue grand feu dial
The Classico Manufacture with blue grand feu dial

The dials are created by enamel specialist Donzé Cadrans, which is owned by Ulysse Nardin. The unmistakable shiny look of grand feu enamel is achieved through multiple firings of powdered enamel fired over a copper disk at extremely high temperatures (grand feu means “high fired”). It is priced at $8,500.

Ulysse Nardin: Classico Hourstriker Pin-up

Fans of the brand’s jaquemart series will appreciate the Classico Hourstriker Pin-up, which Ulysse Nardin says brings the “delightful daring of the burlesque dancer” to life. The dial depicts a burlesque dancer surrounded with miniature paintings of peacock feathers. When the watch strikes the hours and half-hours (or on demand), the dancer’s “inner beauty” is exposed. It contains the automatic Caliber UN-610, with a 42-hour power reserve. It is a limited edition of 28 rose gold and platinum watches, priced at $103,000 and $124,200 respectively.

The Classico Hourstriker Pin-up.
The Classico Hourstriker Pin-up. You can watch it in action below:

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