Ulysse Nardin “Freak Diavolo” for Only Watch Ulysse Nardin, Freak Diavolo, No.1/1, Ref.2083-115/OW. Extremely fine and unique, stainless steel wristwatch with one-minute 60-minute revolving flying tourbillon regulator, eight-day power reserve and a Ulysse Nardin deployant clasp. Accompanied by fitted box and Certificate.
Case: Polished, stepped curled lugs, ridged bidirectional rotating blue bezel to set the time, transparent rotating back for winding, applied plaque engraved with “Unique Piece 1/1” and “Only Watch” at 6. Sapphire crystals.
Dial: transparent with applied white Arabic numerals and 12 digit in blue, tourbillon cage is equipped with an arrow indicating the seconds on a blue half-circle, rotating in one minute on itself, with the zero position holding steady on the axis of the minute indicator.
Movement: Cal. UN-208, rhodium plated, 28 jewels, silicon lateral lever escapement, monometallic balance, shock absorber, silicon self-compensating balance spring, shock absorber, brushed three-arm cage for the one-minute tourbillon. Dimensions: Diam. 44.5mm.
Estimated Price: €75,000 – 100,000
Realised Price: €125,000
The Ulysse Nardin Philosophy
When it comes to mechanical watches, today’s vocabulary flourishes with superlatives and ready-made statements. Words like “creativity, manufacture, exclusivity, innovation, limited edition, trend, ultimate, etc.” keep flooding the professional literature and the advertising in general. This somewhat legitimate turmoil conceals the very nature of a mechanical timepiece. Because of the hundreds of tiny pieces combined in an intricate web of gears and wheels, the precision of a mechanical instrument will never match that of a quartz instrument. Interestingly enough this has never been an issue. Why? Simply because a mechanical timepiece is and will always remain the quintessence of traditional craftsmanship with a long lasting value. Some of our museum pieces have been passed on from one generation to the next six times already. To many of us, acquiring or inheriting an ever ticking instrument with a noble history behind it is like making a dream come true.