Introducing The Ulysse Nardin Original Marine Chronometer Series (Live Pictures and Pricing)

February 26, 2015

With all the certified chronometers around these days, its easy to forget that the term originally was applied to the accurate clocks necessary for navigating the worlds oceans in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. Those timepieces were heavy hand-wound clocks mounted on gimbals inside of rubberwood boxes, a far cry from the wristwatches that keep to within the minus 4, plus 6 timekeeping criteria maintained today by the Contr?le Officiel Suisse des Chronomtres (COSC). Ulysse Nardin was one of the pioneering Swiss brands in chronometer production starting in 1846 and the companys anchor logo still recalls that legacy. Today, the closest a Ulysse Nardin is getting to ocean navigation is probably on the wrist of a Monaco maxi-yacht owner but that hasnt stopped the company from keeping up its heritage of accuracy. Their new Original Marine Chronometer Series is a new 99-piece, limited-edition watch that will only be sold in Ulysse Nardin boutiques. The watchs 45 mm stainless-steel case is water resistant to 200 meters and coated with what UN calls Blacktop, a high-tech, amorphous, black-carbon coating that should provide some measure of scratch resistance to the case. The crown is also coated, but with grippy red rubber. The rubber strap has blacked-out titanium inserts and a folding clasp. Inside the Original Chronometer Series is the caliber UN-118, an entirely in-house-designed movement with 50 jewels, 60 hours of power reserve, and Ulysse Nardins impressive DIAMonSIL escapement made from a composite of diamond and silicon for friction resistance and a silicium hairspring that is immune to magnetic influence. On the dial side, there is a small seconds display, round date window at 6 o'clock and a power reserve gauge at 12 o'clock. The date is correctable forward or backwards C a nice feature. The Original Chronometer Series is limited to 99 pieces and will only be available in Ulysse Nardin boutiques. The price is set at $11,800. More information can be found here.