Introducing Ulysse Nardin Unveils the New Freak Model, The Navy Blue

More than 20 years have passed since the debut of one of the most game-changing designs in the watch industry—the Ulysse Nardin Freak. Launched in 2001, the Freak redefined watchmaking with its bold innovation: no dial, no hands, and no crown. Despite this, it stood as a high-end mechanical marvel. Ulysse Nardin took this revolutionary concept further by utilizing cutting-edge materials, making the Freak a testbed for a material that would transform watchmaking—silicone. This advanced material was used in the movement parts to reduce friction and offered numerous benefits over traditional metals, such as being anti-magnetic, shock-resistant, and unaffected by significant temperature changes. Moreover, silicone could be shaped into intricate forms.

Over the years, the Freak has seen numerous editions and special releases, including the standout Freak ONE OPS, showcased at Dubai Watch Week in November 2023 with its striking black and khaki green colorway. Later that year, the Freak ONE proudly won the "Iconic Watch Prize" at the Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie de Genève. Most recently, during Watches and Wonders 2024, Ulysse Nardin unveiled the Freak S Nomad, introducing what the brand calls its most complicated time-only watch to date.

The new Freak ONE crafted from black DLC titanium, while the bezel is made of Carbonium, an innovative material with exceptional strength-to-lightness properties that’s produced using the same carbon fibers found in state-of-the-art aircraft wings, the case of the Ulysse Nardin Freak ONE OPS measures 44mm in diameter. Sapphire crystals are fitted to both the dial side of the watch and its caseback, although just like the original Freak watch from 2001 the new Freak ONE doesn’t have a traditional winding crown, and this enables it to have a completely symmetrical case profile.

 Like the original Freak model, the time is instead adjusted by rotating the bezel that recalls the appearance of the bezel fitted to the very first Freak. Sitting between the lugs on the 6 o’clock side of the case is a locking mechanism for the bezel, and lifting it up allows you to rotate the bezel while pushing it down locks it into place and prevents accidental adjustment of the time. Despite the fact that the external bezel of the watch is mechanically connected to its movement.

As with other Ulysse Nardin Freak editions, it is known for lacking a winding crown, as well as traditional dial and hands. Taking the place of a dial is a rotating blue barrel cover, and it features a prominent sunray pattern engraved on its surface. The barrel cover rotates once every 12 hours, and it is fitted with a V-shaped indicator filled with Super-LumiNova that allows the disc to function as an hour hand by pointing out the current hour against the chapter ring located along the periphery of the display. 

Similarly, the balance wheel, escapement, and gear train aren’t buried within the movement but rather reside on a large bridge that sits above the hour's disc and functions as a minute hand, making one full rotation once every hour, the minute bridge also functions as an orbital 60-minute tourbillon. Additionally, the hour and minute indicators and hour markers are coated with Super-LumiNova that glows bluein low-light conditions.

Powering the Ulysse Nardin Freak ONE Navy Blue is the manufacture Caliber UN-240 automatic movement. Consisting of 229 components, it runs at a frequency of 21,600bph (3 Hz) while offering users a power reserve of 90 hours. In addition to displaying the hours and minutes, the Caiber. UN-240 also technically offers a 60-minute tourbillon due to the fact that the movement features a flying carousel design that rotates along its own axis. Additionally, in order to increase performance and longevity, the escapement is treated with Ulysse Nardin’s patented DIAMonSIL coating which is a diamond and silicon plasma surface treatment that first made an appearance inside the Freak back in 2007. 

The watch comes with two strap options, both made of recycled rubber: a blue and black 'ballistic' rubber strap, and a two-tone rubber strap (blue and grey) with a black DLC-coated titanium and black ceramic deployant buckle. The watch will join the permanent collection and is priced at CHF 63,300, equivalent to AED 259,000.

For more information visit Ulysse Nardin official website.