Introducing: The Ulysse Nardin Freak X

January 13, 2019

Today, we have a new version of Ulysse Nardin's Freak to introduce. As one of the very first lines of watches to experiment with silicon components and an early example of an unconventional tourbillon C the watch is a tourbillon, with the escapement itself also playing the part of the display C the Freak collection was instrumental in making Ulysse Nardin's name back in the early days under the company's late reviver and former owner Rolf Schnyder.? The main things to know about the Freak X are that it is available in several versions (the one seen above is titanium with a black DLC/PVD finish), that it has a conventional crown (unusual among Freaks, which are usually set by turning the bezel), and that it is priced lower in order to make the Freak accessible to a wider range of collectors.?The watch you see here starts at $21,000 for the titanium version. There is also a rose gold version ($30,000) and another version in a material UN is calling Carbonium ($24,000), which comes from the aeronautical sector. All versions come in a reduced 43mm case size compared to the 45mm size seen in last year's Freak Vision. The Freak X debuts a new movement called the UN-230, which UN is describing as a fusion between the manufacture UN-118 and the Freak Vision UN-250, which debuted last year.?Reading the time is as simple as it is had been in Freaks of the past. The minutes are indicated by the central bridge itself, and the shorter hour and is anchored to a wheel in the center of the dial. Initial Thoughts It's interesting to see Ulysse Nardin come out with a more affordable version of its most famous and technically interesting watch. Starting at $21,000, this piece is about one fifth the cost of last year's Freak Vision.?And while the movement is itself a simplified version of the one seen in the Freak Vision, this new watch comes with one of the Freak Vision's most important technical advances, a lightweight, balance wheel in silicon with nickel flyweights and stabilizing micro-blades. The Basics Brand: Ulysse NardinModel: Freak XReference Number: 2303-270/03 (Blue); 2305-270/02 (Gold); 2303-270.1/BLACK; 2303-270/CARBDiameter: 43mmCase Material: Titanium, titanium with PVD finish, rose gold, or matte-finishe CarboniumDial Color: BlackLume: NoneWater Resistance: 50 metersStrap/Bracelet: Calfskin or alligator strap available The Movement Caliber: UN-230Functions: Hours, minutes Power Reserve: 72 hoursWinding: AutomaticFrequency: 3Hz (21,600 vph) Pricing & Availability Price: Black: $21,000; Blue: $21,000; Carbonium: $24,000; Gold: $30,000Availability: Not yet announcedFor more click here.