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Ulysse Nardin Freak X 43mm Carbonium Case
Ref. 2303-270/CARB
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Stepping up in Ulysse Nardin's range
The original Freak, launched in 2001, discarded the dial, the hands and the crown in one move — the movement itself became the display, rotating around the dial to show the time. The Freak X is the more accessible branch of that lineage, reintroducing a crown at three o'clock, but keeping the principle intact: what you are reading when you tell the time is the calibre UN-230 itself, its flying carrousel completing one circuit of the dial per hour as the minute hand. The silicon escapement and oversized silicon balance wheel are not finishing choices but functional ones, chosen for their resistance to magnetism and temperature change. Carbonium is an aeronautical composite produced by compressing carbon fibre offcuts under resin, and because the fibre orientation is never identical between pieces, the matte-black surface of each case is genuinely singular. The transparent caseback turns the 72-hour movement into something to watch from either side, and the ceramic folding clasp on the alligator strap is the kind of detail that stays quietly correct rather than announcing itself.
- Reference
- 2303-270/CARB
- Brand
- Ulysse Nardin
- Case size
- 43mm
- Case material
- Titanium
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- UN-230
- Functions
- Power reserve indicator
- Water resistance
- 50m
- Bracelet / strap
- Leather strap
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 72 hours
Learn more about 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.
- 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.
Also in 5 collections
This watch appears in Back in Stock (3,460), Automatic Watches (1,573), Leather Strap Watches (854), All Black Watches (224) and Titanium Watches (167).
Manufacturer’s guarantee
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- 72-hour reserve survives a weekend off the wrist
Worth knowing
- 50m suits rain and handwashing, not swimming
- 43mm sits at the larger end
Ulysse Nardin Freak X alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 2303-270/CARB | 414217440 | G0A45004 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £25,660 | £26,054 | £26,700 |
| Case size | 43mm | 42mm | 42mm |
| Water resistance | 50m | 30m | 30m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Leather strap | Leather strap | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 72 hours | 52 hours | 44 hours |
| This watch |
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Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Showering yes, swimming no. 50m covers splashes and brief immersion, but a swimming stroke generates well above the pressure that figure describes.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 72 hours fully wound — enough to sit off the wrist over a weekend and still be running.
Cheapest place to buy
Goldsmiths is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
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