Ulysse Nardin Freak X Ice 2303-270/00

New Ulysse Nardin Freak ONE adds momentum to the brand's futuristic mission

22 years later, geeks are still unique

If you don't know Ulysse Nardin high quality copy watches or the brand's history dating back to 1846, what's your first impression? Take even one look at the new Freak ONE and you'll think of disruptive small, independent designs for haute horlogerie from companies like MB&F, Vianney Halter or URWERK. That's the magic of Freak. In fact, it says a lot about the Ulysse Nardin brand. In 2023, a storied Swiss brand with an extensive catalog will invariably capitalize on our love of vintage, but Ulysse Nardin is taking a bolder path. Freak strives to shape trends rather than follow them, and the 22-year-old spinning wonder remains a futuristic vision.

There's a lateral car reference to Freak's spinning wonder. Mazda kept alive the rotary glory of the Wankel engine, which has no cylinders but a single rotor spinning inside an elliptical epicycloidal housing around a central output shaft. Still a combustion engine, its smallest volume runs at the six- or eight-cylinder level, and it won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ulysse Nardin's unwavering belief in the Freak has seen it evolve through multiple iterations (should it be "spin"?). But the guiding principles are the same, with inherent complexity and an emphasis on innovative technology. Ulysse Nardin takes great pride in the challenge of each new reference. Even for Freak Wholesale replica watches collectors, every variation on the spinning tech theme brings something new. That's the power of freaks.

New Freak ONE With the debut of the Blast collection a few years ago and the X version of the Ulysse Nardin dive watch, the brand is expanding its contemporary lineup. It was bold in a way that was the opposite of its retro nostalgia-bait competitors, and it appealed to my contrarian nature. For the watch industry to survive, it needs to attract a stronger watch following, and the visibility of the micro-mechanics of the details is key. While the Freak will never be an affordable watch, it's important to note that its purpose is pure inspiration for a younger audience. Not only can it serve as a personal holy grail, but it can also deepen your fascination with the craft of watchmaking, a profession that requires an enlightened new soul to join the ranks.

The Bezel of Twisted Desire In 2001, the Freak debuted as an innovative frame with a classic shape and a very prominent bezel. As progress has been made in Ulysse Nardin's silicon technology and the DIAMonSIL treatment of the Freak escapement, so has the case. Today, it is more closely related to the Blast, both in terms of material and case design. The feeling of turning a Shopping replica watch bezel to set the time is a big deal, and the faceted bezel design embraces and accentuates this captivating quality.

The distinctive rose gold circular brushing is punctuated by triangular notches and wider, deeper cutouts to catch the light. Aside from the traditional curved lugs with the "FREAK" inscription between the lugs at 6 o'clock, the suave black DLC case serves a purpose. On a "bulletproof rubber" strap, the lower half of the 44mm case is tough and understated, providing an elegant backdrop to the opulence of the surface.

Technology leads the future Like many avant-garde replica watches perfect , the dial is not a dial in the normal sense of the word. The star-studded deep space of last year's Freak S' aventurine dial made the merry-go-round movement look like a spaceship in flight, and the same effect is true for this single-balance UN-240 movement. You can still make out the tiny industrial cogs in the rehaut, like a perpetual monorail, allowing the rotary motion to make a full revolution every hour. No matter how many iterations of the Freak I've seen, every year improvements to the design bring something new. The ever-sharpening angles of the bridges and the paper-thin presence of the oversized silicon oscillator and hairspring are fascinating details in themselves. The Flying Carousel resembles an alien spaceship, docked on a radially striated multi-level landing platform, and slowly rotates around its axis.

an impressive conclusion There's something very satisfying about ending easily with a unique feel. Not many watches have so many features that no other watch has, from proprietary technical details like the DIAMonSIL treatment to the escapement, the Grinder automatic winding system on the back of the case, or the dial itself. I love the fact that Ulysse Nardin ups the ante every year, maintaining Freak's otherworldly image. I'm not much of a fan of blacked-out watches, but the 5N rose gold bridges with plenty of Super-LumiNova make it no less than a precious über-tool watch. The large 44mm case hides a movement comprising 229 components and 15 jewels, beating at a serene frequency of 21,600vph (3Hz). But the new Freak ONE replica watches perfect is much more than the sum of its parts. Part wrist laboratory, part showroom for mechanical watchmaking in general.

Watch Specifications brand Ulysse Nardin watch Model monster one refer to 2405-500-2A dial Multi-layered black dial with sunburst engraved finish and rose gold details. The hours and minutes display is rotated around its axis by a unique visible flying carousel movement. case material Satin-finished black DLC-coated titanium and 5N rose gold bezel Case size 44mm (diameter) × 12mm (thickness) crystal sapphire Bottom cover Sapphire inlaid titanium move Caliber UN-140 - Manufacture automatic movement, 229 components, 15 jewels, 21,600vph frequency waterproof 3ATM / 30m tape Black Rubber "Ballistic" Textured Strap (2405-500-2A/3D) / Black Matte Alligator Strap (2405-500-2A/3C) / Two-Tone Rubber Strap (2405-500-2A/3A) — All Both straps have black DLC-coated titanium deployant buckle Function Time only (hours and minutes)