Ulysse Nardin Freak One

Quick specs Ulysse Nardin Freak One
Price: € 69.600 | CHF 65’000 | $ 68,600 | £ 60,330
Size: 44 mm
Reference: 2405-500-2A/3x

The Ulysse Nardin Freak One is the latest Freak model by UN, a project that started 12 years ago. This new one is inspired by the first Freak, also displaying its three signature attributes: no dial, no hands and no crown.

The Freak series was launched in 2001 when the former CEO and a technician went wild and revealed an unconventional approach to horology manufacturing. They came up with a watch that has no dial, no hands and no crown. The reason why they thought the only right name for it is Freak.

Ulysse Nardin says it has no dial or hands. Well, it has…

One could argue that this time piece (and the other Freak models) has no dial, hands or crown. First, you can clearly see a black background which you could call a dial. Second, those two arrows – the hours on a disc and the minutes connected to a bridge-like gear construction – look pretty much like hands. And the crown? Well, it uses the bezel as the crown. But let’s not spoil UN’s Freak party.

The Ulysse Nardin Freak One has a 44-millimeter black DLC-coated titanium case with a rose gold bezel. Turning it, after unlocking it with the Freak-button at the bottom of the case, sets the time. It just rotates the entire movement. The barrel cover makes a full spin once every 12 hours, showing the hours through a big V-shape coated with super luminova. The exceptional minute indicator which carries the entire gear train, an oversized silicon oscillator and an orbital 60-minute flying carousel tourbillon runs connectedly at the edge of the dial. Which is the reason why the time setting can be operated via the bezel.

The Ulysse Nardin Freak One has a power reserve of 90 hours

Inside is an in-house automatic caliber UN-240 which provides a power reserve of 90 hours. It has a patented grinder winding system created to catch energy with even the smallest wrist movements. Also, its rotor is making a very accurate result through the four blades which you can admire via its transparent case back.

The Ulysse Nardin Freak One comes in a black rubber ‘ballistic’ textured strap, but it looks great on a black matt alligator leather strap too. And you can also wear it with a two-tone rubber strap, all with a black DLC-coated titanium deployant buckle. O, and the rubber straps are made of 30% recycled rubber from production waste by BIWI in Switzerland, a company that is specialized in sustainable production of special parts.