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Haute Time  ›  News  ›  Ulysse Nardin Creates the World’s First Crooner Watch
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Ulysse Nardin Creates the World’s First Crooner Watch

Imagine yourself in a meeting or on an airplane and suddenly you begin to emanate the 1966 tune “Strangers in the Night,” from under your cuff.

Ulysse Nardin Creates the World’s First Crooner Watch
Stranger, the musical watch from Ulysse Nardin.
Stranger, the musical watch from Ulysse Nardin.
Stranger, the musical watch from Ulysse Nardin.

Imagine yourself in a meeting or on an airplane and suddenly you begin to emanate the 1966 tune “Strangers in the Night,” from under your cuff. Who but the most dour among us would be able to resist putting on our best Frank Sinatra voice and singing along …“Doo be doo be doo…”

The Haute Minute

Imagine yourself in a meeting or on an airplane and suddenly you begin to emanate the 1966 tune “Strangers in the Night,” from under your cuff.

Ulysse Nardin, with a long history of creating striking watches, has taken the musical watch to the next level with the “Stranger,” the world’s first music box wristwatch, inspired by the cylinder-and-pin music boxes created in the 18th century. This miniaturized version consists of a rotating disc with 10 blades, and when it plays “Strangers in the Night” – on the hour or on demand – you can see it happening on the dial. The movement was developed by legendary watchmaker and longtime Ulysse Nardin collaborator Dr. Ludwig Oechslin, who incorporated silicium technology for the escapement and anchor of the UN-690 movement. The piece was inspired by musician Dieter Meier, who became an original shareholder of Ulysse Nardin when the company was revived by the late Rolf Schnyder in 1983.

Like all important watches, it was launched at a gala dinner in its honor, held two nights ago in Zurich. Jazz trumpeter Till Brönner provided the music, including his own rendition of  “Strangers in the night.” The watch will be made in a limited edition of 99 pieces.

The "Stranger" was launched at a gala dinner in Zurich.
The “Stranger” was launched at a gala dinner in Zurich.
Carol Besler
Carol Besler
Haute Time
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