Introducing The New Ulysse Nardin limited edition Freak S WOS Centenary Exclusive

Watches of Switzerland is one of the most renowned luxury watch retailers in the world, and has established itself as a premier destination for timepiece enthusiasts, known for offering an exquisite range of watches from the most prestigious brands. In a surprising move, the retailer recently expanded its influence by acquiring Hodinkee, to expand its market share. This year marks an important milestone for Watches of Switzerland, as it celebrates its 100th anniversary. To commemorate the occasion, the retailer has collaborated with several watchmakers on exclusive limited-edition pieces. Now, it collaborates with Ulysse Nardin, and releases the Freak S “Watches of Switzerland Centenary Exclusive, a limited edition timepieces featuring a purple dial crafted from crystallized ruthenium.

The new timepiece is based on Ulysse Nardin's iconic Freak model, which has seen numerous notable variants such as the Freak ONE OPS and the Freak S Nomad. This latest edition retains the same dimensions as the standard Freak S, featuring a titanium case with a diameter of 45 mm and a thickness of 16.65 mm. The watch has no dial, hands, or crown, and is topped with a sapphire crystal, offering a clear view of its intricate movement, which can also be admired through the sapphire crystal caseback, where the time can be adjusted.

The Crystalium disk is made from crystallized ruthenium, an exceptionally rare metal with a production rate estimated to be ten times less than that of platinum. To create Crystalium, ruthenium undergoes a process lasting several days, during which it is vaporized on a substrate. Afterward, the crystallized ruthenium is treated with a PVD coating, resulting in a nice purple color.

The watch is powered by the UN-251, an automatic movement featuring a flying carrousel that rotates on its own axis every 60 minutes. A luminescent-coated section of the main bridge serves as the minute hand, while the intricate architecture of the movement remains exposed, allowing the wearer to admire it from all angles. The movement operates at a frequency of 18,000 vph (2.5 Hz) and boasts a power reserve of 72 hours.

The watch is limited to just 10 pieces and is available exclusively at Watches of Switzerland stores. It comes with a black rubber strap featuring a titanium folding clasp and is priced at £143,870, which is approximately AED 692,000.

For more information you can visit Ulysse Nardin’s or Watches of Switzerland’s official websites.