Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. American Pride with the new Ulysse Nardin Executive Skeleton Tourbillon “Stars and Stripes”
4th of July it is... And here's the perfect combination between haute horlogerie and patriotism
Today is an important day for our American readers (and there are many of them…) If you read this watch magazine, you probably have a certain interest in all things watches. So, if you want to combine your American pride with your love for watchmaking, Ulysse Nardin might have a solution for you, with this limited edition launched on Independence Day – the 4th of July. “Stars and Stripes” meet “flying tourbillon” with the new Ulysse Nardin Executive Skeleton Tourbillon “Stars and Stripes” Edition.
Besides being launched on independence day, this Ulysse Nardin Executive Skeleton Tourbillon “Stars and Stripes” is also the occasion for the brand to remind the world of its century-long dedication to nautical precision and values shared with the United States Navy, underlining the longstanding ties Ulysse Nardin has with this corporation. “In choosing its nautical supplier in 1902, it looked no further than Ulysse Nardin for its superb accuracy and traditional craftsmanship. Winner several times over of the Washington Naval Observatory’s competition to equip its torpedo boats, Ulysse Nardin’s instruments have been an essential part of US naval ships for more than a hundred years,” claims the brand.
Named “Stars and Stripes”, this new limited edition pays homage to the American flag with its 13 red and white stripes and 50 white stars on a deep blue background. Hard to be more patriotic, yet it does it with quite a sense for beautiful horology too. The special version of the Executive Skeleton Tourbillon isn’t only a gimmick decked out in the colours of the American flag. Certainly, it does play on the blue/white/red colour scheme and, yes, it does feature several white stars on the dial. However, things have been done with the usual quality level the brand is known for.
For instance, the “Stars and Stripes” theme hasn’t been applied by a simple stamping process. Instead, Ulysse Nardin relies on its internal dial maker Donzé Cadrans, which uses a micro-painting technique that requires a paintbrush the width of a single eyelash. Stars adorn the top quarter of the inner flange while stripes decorate the cover of the barrel drum. The rest of the watch plays on a contrast between deep blue and silvery-white colours.
The 45mm case of the classic Ulysse Nardin Executive Skeleton Tourbillon is used here, in a combination of bead-blasted titanium and brushed blue ceramic for the bezel. It is paired with a blue “carbon-effect” leather strap. Inside the case is a bold, architectural in-house movement, which is entirely openworked and framed by the signature executive rectangle. The movement is finely decorated with parts angled and polished and all the moving parts are visible, including the flying tourbillon at 6 o’clock.
The calibre UN-171 shows impressive specifications, including a silicon escape wheel and hairspring (one of UN’s innovations) and provides a remarkable 170-hour (over 7 days) power reserve from its single but oversized barrel.
The Ulysse Nardin Executive Skeleton Tourbillon “Stars and Stripes” will be a limited edition of 50 pieces priced at USD 46,000. More details on www.ulysse-nardin.com and Happy 4th of July!
2 responses
Oddly the watch looks more like the Russian Flag than the US.
I disagree. It reads United States to me. It’s hard for me to like theme watches, since they often seem like thin attempts quickly pasted on the canvas of an existing calibre. This watch has obviously had some development time put into it. I love the implied and direct symmetry of the dial, and can only imagine how interesting it is to see running. It’s huge, but never tries to be anything but a special occasion, so it’s size is less attention seeking. I think its very successful, with one of the best iterations of a skeleton case I have seen.