TRANSPARENCY IS AN ART
By totally exposing their novel manufacture movement, these references invite us into their secrets through sharp-edged, relief-style compositions flaunting state-of-the-art textures.
“Sculpture is based on emptiness”. Should we perceive a visionary indication of Ulysse Nardin’s watchmaking creations in this line of thinking uttered by the Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti (1901-1966)? In any event, when we discover the brand’s Skeleton X, we’re left breathless by the work undertaken to flatter the architecture of the hand-wound UN-371 caliber. Every single space center stages the 173 components of this high-performing device. The geometry of the rectangular bridges is esthetically extended by the four sleekly-streamlined indexes which form an X. The hour and minute hands complete their rotations by hovering over an extra-large, extra-light hypnotic silicon-crafted balance wheel, an innovation discovered on the Freak Vision. The barrel set at 12 o’clock offers the watch a somewhat substantial power reserve of 96 hours, i.e. 4 days.
The ensemble reigns supreme in a 42mm-diameter titanium or rose gold case. The variation fashioned in Carbonium® Gold, an alloy comprising carbon fibers and light, durable gold, features an extra millimeter in diameter. This option stands out with one-of-a-kind glittering patterns made up of random black and gold swirls. And moreover, as the brand states, using this material helps protect our planet. Producing it reduces the environmental footprint by 40% compared with the impact left by other carbon composites, especially as aircraft-part scraps are used.
Skeleton X is worn on a rubber or embossed calfskin strap attached by a titanium folding clasp depending on the version.
Price: EUR17,000 (titanium) – EUR21,000 (Carbonium® Gold) – EUR29,000 (rose gold) www.ulysse-nardin.com
By Dan Diaconu