Ulysse Nardin debuts two masterpieces

A pioneer in cutting-edge technologies and the use of innovative materials, Ulysse Nardin once again manages to astonish its aficionados with the debut of two new watches to its collections ­– the Ulysse Nardin Executive Skeleton Tourbillon Hyperspace and the Hourstriker Classic Samouraï

Ulysse Nardin Executive Skeleton Tourbillon Hyperspace

Inspired by the Falcon Millennium piloted by Han Solo and Chewbacca, the Hyperspace has the same shock effect on the viewer as the legendary Star Wars craft; in both cases, the “Freak Me Out” factor is explosive, two luminaries taking performance and aesthetics to new heights. How one thing of beauty can be created by so many parts is a mystery of great art but perfection is in the details. The fine micro-painting and miniature painting that has been practiced for years at Ulysse Nardin is handiwork that can only be seen through a microscope. The explosion of colour on the Executive Rectangle has been painted by hand using a brush the width of a single eyelash, creating the illusion of streamlined speed, the individual colours visible only under a microscope. The colour combinations are infinite, the possibilities limited only by your imagination. Each piece is as unique as the wearer.

The 2018 Executive Skeleton Tourbillon Hyperspace is a tour de force, not one technical marvel but several.  In keeping with the tradition of Cannes – showing forms of cinema unknown to the public until that point – the 45 mm Executive Skeleton Tourbillon Hyperspace debuted on the Croisette. Made of ultra-light titanium, a flying silicium tourbillon and a 7-day power reserve, each watch has a personality as individual as its owner. The aerial design includes an art piece along with the oversized Roman numerals, sword markers and rectangular bridge. The UN-171 manufacture movement has been stripped bare of every microgram of unnecessary mechanics, testimony to the evidence that less is indeed more. It is powered by a “hyperspace” flying tourbillon – a vortex of watchmaking mastery and a complication only attempted by the very best.  The mastery of the Executive Skeleton Tourbillon is inspiring, daring one to dream that the impossible may be possible and that, one day soon, those dreams will become your reality.

Hourstriker Classic Samouraï

Ulysse Nardin, the undisputed master of automatic movements, puts the spotlight on the art of Japanese swordsmanship with its Classic Samouraï. “Samurai” comes from the word “saburai,” which means to serve or stand by an important person. Since the 8th century, this word has referred to “warriors in the service of the nobility.” But rather than soldiers or mercenaries, the samurai were fighters who dedicated their heart and soul to both their master and to the art of sword fighting, in which they excelled.  On the dial of the Classic Samouraï, Ulysse Nardin’s craftsmen have used Japanese prints to recreate a famous sword duel between two legendary samurai, Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro.

Equipped with a rare automatic movement – one of the most sophisticated in mechanical watchmaking – the Hourstriker Classic Samouraï rings on the hour on request but can also be programmed to ring on the hour and half-hour. Each time the hammer hits the gong, the Jaquemarts’ samurai simultaneously perform the spectacular duel between Musashi and Kojiro. On the left-hand side of the dial, recognisable by his two swords – one short and the other long – is Miyamoto Musashi, the most famous Japanese warrior of the 17th century, who fought more than sixty times in his life. The author of “Gorin No Sho”, a text on strategy featuring reflections on combat and the art of swordsmanship, he and his life story were made popular through a famous novel and numerous films. On the right is Sasaki Kojiro – his long-standing rival, considered the best opponent that Musashi had ever faced and who died during the duel of 1612 – portrayed here, on the island of Ganryu.

Legend says that Musashi, a great strategist, arrived late and by sea in order to throw off his adversary and thus make sure he had the sun at his back and not in his face. At the time, sword fights between followers of different schools meant, in most cases, death. The decision to initiate or accept a challenge required extreme prudence. True martial arts must not be confused with simple combat sports. Today, they are considered the pathway to authentic savoir-faire, a school of life based on self-mastery and assertion, the fulfillment of one’s destiny and wisdom.

Each release from this 18-piece collection in 18 carat rose gold or platinum is embellished with hand-sculpted Jaquemarts in rose gold or gray gold. Ulysse Nardin remains one of the few manufacturers to master the use of Jaquemarts, and one of the first to have contributed to the revival of the striking mechanism.