Ulysse Nardin

Leonard Ulysse Nardin founded his workshop in Le Locle in 1846 and specialised in marine chronometers — the instruments ships used to determine longitude, where an error of seconds meant an error of miles.

The house became one of the two or three most important chronometer makers in the world. More than fifty navies used Ulysse Nardin instruments, and the company holds an extraordinary record at observatory trials: over four thousand certificates and dozens of gold medals, more precision awards than any other manufacturer.

Its modern era began in 1983 when Rolf Schnyder bought the failing company and partnered with Ludwig Oechslin, a scientist and horological historian. The results were the Astrolabium Galileo Galilei of 1985, which displays the positions of sun, moon, and stars and entered the Guinness records as the most functional wristwatch, followed by the Planetarium and Tellurium — together the Trilogy of Time.

Oechslin also designed the Freak of 2001, arguably the most radical wristwatch of the modern era: no dial, no hands, no crown. The entire movement rotates to indicate the time, and it was the first watch to use silicon components in the escapement, a material now standard across the industry.

The Marine collection continues the chronometer heritage. Kering acquired the brand in 2014.

Ulysse Nardin holds 35 models, from £6,550 to £81,350. Half cost less than £13,920, and a quarter less than £9,145. 31 of 35 are automatic. 2 are stocked by more than one retailer, giving 37 offers in total. Prices are checked nightly against the retailers’ own feeds.

1846

Leonard Ulysse Nardin founds the workshop in Le Locle.

1985

The Astrolabium Galileo Galilei is released.

2001

The Freak pioneers silicon escapement components.

2014

Acquired by Kering.