Ulysse Nardin FREAK [X GOLD ENAMEL] — A Fusion of Innovation and Craft
Courtesy Ulysse Nardin
Some watches push boundaries. The FREAK [X GOLD ENAMEL] erases them. Ulysse Nardin’s latest timepiece isn’t just a nod to its past—it’s a handshake between history and innovation.
A Legacy of Disruption
The Freak made its debut in 2001 with no hands, no crown, no dial—just a movement that rotated to tell time. It pioneered silicon components long before they were standard, and over the years became an icon among watch collectors. The Freak X, introduced in 2019, kept the DNA but added wearability—slimmer case, traditional crown, same radical heart.
Enamel, in Motion
The X GOLD ENAMEL takes that concept further by introducing a rotating enamel hour disc—something never before seen in the Freak line. Created using the Guilloché-Flinqué technique, the disc is carved with a sunray pattern, then layered with deep blue enamel. Each disc is made from 22-carat rose gold and fired multiple times in a kiln—each step carrying the risk of cracks or bubbling. No two are exactly alike.
Donzé Cadrans: The Hidden Atelier
Behind the enamel work is Donzé Cadrans, Ulysse Nardin’s in-house enameling workshop in Le Locle. With just eight artisans, some with decades of experience, the workshop keeps centuries-old techniques alive. Each disc requires around eight hours of manual work—from pigment grinding to firing to polishing.
Design and Performance
This limited edition of 120 pieces features a 43 mm case in blue PVD titanium with rose gold accents. The rotating movement—anchored by a flying carousel complication—displays hours and minutes without traditional hands. A rose gold-colored minute bridge and luminous hour markers enhance legibility, while a 72-hour power reserve keeps things running. The strap is blue alligator with rose gold stitching and a matching buckle.
FREAK [X GOLD ENAMEL] – Specs
Case: 43 mm blue PVD titanium, rose gold side parts
Movement: Automatic Caliber UN-230, flying carousel
Power Reserve: 72 hours
Dial: Guilloché-Flinqué enamel hour disc, 22k rose gold
Functions: Hours and minutes via rotating movement
Strap: Blue alligator, rose gold stitching, folding buckle
Edition: Limited to 120 pieces
The FREAK [X GOLD ENAMEL] is less about telling time and more about telling a story—where watchmaking meets artistry, and where tradition moves forward by refusing to stand still.
$48,500
