A multi-award recipient, Ulysse Nardin can already be considered an institution of excellence in Swiss watchmaking. Founded in 1846 by a distinguished watchmaker of the same name, Ulysse Nardin has a long history of complex ingenious craftsmanship and ingrained in that history is the tradition of mechanical watchmaking. This is the key attribute that is uniquely Ulysse. Sure, technology has brought about numerous advances that has altogether given rise to a vast range of timepieces from quartz to digital. However, Ulysse Nardin particularly stands by the tradition of meticulous labor involved in mechanical watchwork. It makes each timepiece all the more valuable and sentimental in a way that no other high-tech battery powered oversized digital watch can match. Ulysse Nardin understands tradition and it values the essence of craftsmanship. Its watches are considered collectors’ items and heirloom pieces that go through generations of sophisticated wrists. These are the kinds of watches that carry a nostalgic story, one that can be told as it is passed on to the next generation.

In 1876, our clever watchmaker began creating marine chronometers that he soon perfected as he was able to garner a myriad of high distinctions from renowned timekeeping exhibitions. He saw this as a great opportunity to expand the company and broaden his market, clearly exemplifying his shrewdness as an entrepreneur.  A total of 4300 first prizes were won by the company plus 18 gold medals to put under its (heavy) belt. Thus, Ulysse Nardin quickly became recognized as the specialist when it came to the manufacture of marine chronometers. Accurate and definitely reliable, the timepieces not only prove to be backed by superb aesthetic assembly, but also by precise and efficient execution. In fact, Ulysse’s marine chronometers are believed to have been served their purpose in the about 50 national navies.

The preservation of age-old practices and the continued instilling of innovation into the pieces set Ulysse Nardin apart from other watchmakers. One highly regarded practice that the company continues to hold on to up to this date is the art of enameling. Enameling is an age-old decorating method wherein it involves series of tedious tasks from preparing the enamel powder from scratch to goose-quilling the final touches. This art has once been thought of as extinct but revived by the watchmaker to elicit that unique irreplaceable look. It comprises of intricate detailing with the use of gold threads and some painstaking labor of finishing. It is also believed that only a handful of artisans can truly perform this bittersweet art.

The number of Ulysse Nardin retailers has been kept limited, probably to maintain its exclusivity and rarity. Collectors continue to hunt for these exclusive timepieces filled with an incalculable amount of labor. Ulysse Nardin’s heritage imbibes higher regard for accuracy in performance instead of innovation in terms of design. Owning one would undoubtedly mean that the wearer cherishes the art and story behind it rather than own it merely for aesthetic purposes. It’s all about more than just telling time. It goes beyond to the extent of having that personal gratification of wearing a piece of history on your wrist.