Complex and difficult to achieve, the decorative art of “Grand Feu” enamel is seen on only a handful of timepieces by the world’s most prestigious watchmakers. Here on the Jade “Grand Feu”, the gorgeously rich enamel of turquoise, red ruby or grey meets the swirl of diamonds across the face and on the stainless steel bezel. The stylized indexes are easy to read, revealing Jade’s practical nature. A small date window is surrounded by the sinuous curve of diamonds on the continuous seconds feature, while three diamond drops are part of the crown position indicator.
The Ulysse Nardin Marine Chronometer Annual Calendar is going to be produced in a limited run of 100 watches, and rather than engraving “Limited Edition” on the caseback as standard, Ulysse Nardin has incorporated a metal plaque to the rubberized strap with these words engraved. That’s going to be an expensive, potentially hard-to-find, replacement item down the road. All in all, the watch offers interesting mechanics and is a great-looking chronometer-inspired design. Ulysse Nardin’s individuality and history is deeply intertwined with that of the marine chronometer, and in a year underpinned by a return to classic pieces for design inspiration, the brand has tapped into this history and recently launched the Ulysse Nardin Marine Torpilleur, which it calls for a chronometer for the contemporary age (though based on old pocket watch designs). While it might be inspired by vintage marine chronometers, the Marine Torpilleur is a more contemporary and less formal solution to the brand’s present Marine Chronometer watches.Torpilleur is the French expression for a destroyer, which will be a small, agile warship. Its use is supposed to be a indication that this is a lighter, thinner version, which strictly speaking, is accurate. The Ulysse Nardin Marine Torpilleur comes at a 42mm case instead of the 43mm of this Marine Chronometer – which is really a “splitting-hairs” degree of gap. The real distinction is from the motion and complications. Unlike the Marine Chronometer watches which are powered with the Calibre UN-113 with annual calendar complication, the Ulysse Nardin Marine Torpilleur is powered with the automated Calibre UN-118 that delivers time, date, and power reserve functions, but no yearly calendar.
First introduced in 2013 Jade is equipped with the UN-310 calibre, the first movement to be designed and produced in-house by Ulysse Nardin specifically for a woman’s watch. It was also the first timepiece to take into account a woman’s delicate manicure when manipulating the settings. How? With its innovative crown design: no pulling is required to wind the watch, set the time, or adjust the date back- wards or forwards, only a simple turn. A dainty crown position indicator on the dial shows the wearer which setting she is adjusting.
While it appears wonderfully decorative, Jade has a deeply practical side, as its crown design attests. Its movement incorporates Silicium components for enhanced precision and durability. It boasts anti-reflective sapphire crystal and case back and a water resistance to 30 meters.
