Ulysse Nardin
All Hands Off Deck
www.ulyssenardin.com
Combining a design ethos with mechanical possibilities, Ulysse
Nardin may have created the ultimate accessory for the well to do
yachtsmen. At first glance, Ulysse Nardin’s Grand Deck just looks
nautical cool. Nanowires thinner than a human hair (and stronger
than steel) move a retrograde minutes display reminiscent of the
boom on a yacht’s mainsail in an arc across the dial, while capstanlike winches reel in the fine threads on either side of the armature.
The initial impression is obviously backed by engineering veritas
with twin mainspring barrels supplying energy to both a tourbillon
timekeeping system, and the display systems in parallel. This lets the
tourbillon escapement accurately track time without being influenced
by the hourly power drain of the (relatively) heavy boom. It also
allows for the controlled return speed of the retrograde system,
which takes about 3.5 seconds to return to zero in an elegant and
inertial controlled dance across the dial - as opposed to the sudden
‘snap’ of most retrograde displays. Showing patrimony to minute
repeater level engineering and technique, the Grand Deck is another
amazing offering from the ‘anchor’ in luxury watches.
2016 | Wristwatch
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