Ulysse Nardin Reimagines the Freak X for Its Next Chapter

25 years after the launch of one of the most disruptive watches in modern horology, Ulysse Nardin is ushering the Freak into a new era. The Le Locle-based manufacture has unveiled a thoroughly redesigned Freak X, a model that preserves the concept’s revolutionary DNA while introducing a new movement, a more compact case, enhanced finishing, and improved everyday practicality. The new collection arrives during a milestone year for Ulysse Nardin, which celebrates both its 180th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of the Freak. As Ayisha Izmeth, Head of Brand, Global Image at Ulysse Nardin put it during the watch's New York launch, “The Freak is a laboratory on the wrist,” and the latest Freak X shows how that radical idea continues to evolve into a more refined and wearable form.

A Revolutionary Concept

When Ulysse Nardin introduced the original Freak, it challenged nearly every convention of traditional watchmaking. Conceived by the visionary watchmaker Dr. Ludwig Oechslin, the watch famously dispensed with hands, a conventional dial, and even a crown. Instead, the movement itself became the display on the dial: a flying carousel rotating once every hour indicated the minutes, while a rotating disc displayed the hours.

The Freak also pioneered the use of silicon in watchmaking, a technology that would later become widely adopted throughout the industry. Over the past quarter century, the collection has generated 35 patents and 17 calibers, establishing itself as one of the most influential and technically adventurous watches of the 21st century.

In 2019, Ulysse Nardin introduced the Freak X, bringing the concept to a wider audience through a more compact design and the addition of a crown for easier daily operation. The 2026 generation takes that idea significantly further.

New Manufacture Caliber UN-232

At the heart of the new Freak X is the entirely new automatic manufacture caliber UN-232. Developed over more than two years, the movement is slimmer, more modular, and even more sophisticated than its predecessor. The signature flying carousel remains the centerpiece of the display, with the movement rotating around its own axis to indicate the minutes while an hour pointer tracks time on a rotating disc. For the first time in a Freak X, the regulating organ incorporates a DIAMonSIL escapement, a proprietary silicon component treated with synthetic diamond technology to enhance durability, efficiency, and precision. Additional technical highlights include an oversized silicon balance wheel, a silicon hairspring manufactured by Sigatec, and a pink-gold micro-rotor integrated into the movement. Despite its more compact dimensions, the caliber delivers a robust power reserve of 72 hours.

A More Wearable Freak

The new caliber has enabled a significant reduction in size. The case diameter decreases from 43mm to 41mm, while the lug-to-lug measurement shrinks to 47.3mm. A newly designed glassbox sapphire crystal enhances the visual depth of the flying carousel while maintaining a sleek profile. The case architecture has also been completely redesigned. Instead of the modular titanium construction used previously, the new Freak X is built around a monobloc case crafted from either 80 percent recycled steel or rose gold. Water resistance has doubled from 50 meters to 100 meters, aided by the addition of a screw-down crown.

Izmeth described the new Freak X as “high technology and high horology,” while emphasizing that the watch was also “engineered for daily wear.” That balance is central to the new generation. Ulysse Nardin has also upgraded the level of finishing throughout the watch, with hand-beveled indications and bridges, applied Superluminova hour markers, and carefully executed satin-brushed, polished, and sunblasted surfaces underscoring the watch’s haute horlogerie credentials.

Models and Pricing

For the first time, the Freak X features a quick-release strap system. Owners can easily switch between leather and rubber straps as well as a metal bracelet without tools. The Freak X Grey is housed in an 80 percent recycled steel case and paired with a light-brown calfskin strap. It is priced at $41,200. The Freak X Blue combines the recycled-steel case with an integrated steel bracelet and carries a price of $42,400. The flagship Freak X Gold features a rose-gold case, black alligator strap, and matching rose-gold deployant clasp. It is priced at $64,000.

To learn more, visit Ulysse Nardin, here.

Caleb Anderson contributed to this reporting.