THE FREAK THAT BRIDGES THE PAST TO THE FUTURE
For 2023, Ulysse Nardin unveils a powerful expression of the very original Freak iconography but updated to feature a wonderful relevance for the modern world — a watch appropriately named the Freak ONE. It is, in every way, the direct descendent of the original Freak. It is a watch with no hands, no dial and no crown, and where the movement is king! The Freak ONE becomes Ulysse Nardin’s flagship watch and the House's center of gravity as it defines its new independence.
As epitomized by the presence of the famous orbital flying one-hour carrousel, the Freak ONE draws design codes from the over-two-decades-long history of this extraordinary watch. The new UN-240 manufacture movement is automatic, thanks to the innovative Grinder system. This automatic winding system features four blades connected to the oscillating weight. This design transforms the slightest of wrist motions into energy stored in the mainspring. It is twice as efficient as any other winding system on the market. Yet, the most thrilling element of the new Freak One is the oversized and highly complex, aerodynamic and inertia-optimized balance wheel crafted entirely from one piece of silicon, and a lever escapement executed in DIAMonSIL (a patented form of diamond-coated silicon). This is the result of Ulysse Nardin’s unrivalled expertise in silicon technology and represents the single most advanced oscillator in the watch industry. The Freak ONE is also the first Freak with an integrated rubber strap, made of 30 percent recycled rubber from production waste by BIWI.
In its two decades of life, the Freak has constantly reset the boundaries of watch design and engineering.