The Gentleman Magazine Issue 16 | August 2019 | Page 16

FREAK X
INTRODUCING THE X-FACTOR IN WATCHMAKING
A brand-new Manufacture flying carrousel movement rotating
around its own axis with no dial and no hands. FREAK, Ulysse
Nardin’s most audacious collection to date, boldly pushes
desires to the max, shaking up the status quo. Form & design
follow functions. This is the law. Designs that are strong.
Technology that defies expectation. The Freak X isn’t just
inspired by adventure. It IS the call for Xploration!
His quest has been unrivaled for nearly 3000 years. His name
has conjured up images, accolades, and epic tales earned
only by a true adventurer and free spirit. Immortalized by
the Greek poet Homer, “Ulysses” is the original wandering
hero. His adventures transcend time. In the spirit of Ulysses,
Ulysse Nardin has been at the forefront of timekeeping since
its inception. More than a means to an end, Xploration is, for
Ulysse Nardin, a way of life. Launching the new year in style,
we are pleased to introduce the” X Factor” in watchmaking.
No letter in the English language gets around like X: the 24th
letter of the alphabet shows up everywhere, from the popular
Xbox to standing in for a signature on legal documents, the
representation of a chromosome, a generation, a crossing
point, the multiplication process and the location on a treasure
map. X denotes any unknown, unspecified or variable factor.
X like Xploration, Xtraordinary, Xcess, Xperience, Xcitement,
X treme and compleX. More than a simple slogan, it is a
statement, a reminder that our Freak collection embodies
boldness and creativity. We address those of you who have the
audacity to be willing to stand out in the crowd. Are you ready?
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The FREAK X, the little cousin of its ”Freak antecedents”,
stands out as the entry point into the FREAK collection.
Though many of the same aesthetic and functional elements
are in place, it pushes out into uncharted territory. The sizing
is tighter - 43mm instead of 45mm - but it is easier to read
and operate. It has a crown for time correction, which breaks
with one of the most iconic aspects of the crown-less FREAK
VISION or FREAK OUT models, which correct time by the
bezel. The “baguette” movement is still a carrousel, turning
once on itself every hour to indicate the time. It is simpler,
bolder, and has fewer wheels. It has no dial and no hands -
the central bridge acts as a minute hand and one of the wheels
indicates the hours.
Inside and clearly visible beats one of the FREAK VISION’s
most outstanding innovations: a super-light balance wheel
in silicium, extra-wide, with nickel flyweights and stabilizing
micro-blades. The movement itself, the new UN-230, is a fusion
of the manufacture calibers UN-118 and FREAK VISION UN-
250.The case, nicely rounded with curved lines, is wholly new,
and seriously transformative. The new FREAK X is available
in titanium, rose gold, black DLC or in Carbonium ®. It is very
competitively priced with a start price version at 21’000 USD.
It demonstrates the brand’s commitment to expanding and
enriching its collections by pushing watchmaking Xpertise to
the X degree. To the intrepid Ulysses of the modern world, it is
a clarion call to adventure.
, Securing the Internet of Things”