Ulysse Nardin’s Chai Schnyder Honored with SCI Smart Phone

The close of this year’s Baselworld was particularly special for Ulysse Nardin.

Scientific Cellular Innovations (SCI) presented President of the Board of Directors of Ulysse Nardin Chai Schnyder, wife of the late former Ulysse Nardin President and CEO Rolf Schnyder, with a gift representative of both the woman and the brand’s heritage. With that, Schynder became the first owner of the Chairman, the world’s first luxury hybrid smart phone.

SCI Co-Founder Bobby Yampolsky and Chief Operating Officer Paul Williams honored Schnyder with the exclusive piece to show their gratitude for her dedication and longtime influence on UN.

“Chai Schnyder exemplifies passion, a sense of pride and determination to continually raise the bar in the world of luxury watch making,” Yampolsky said.

This rarity in technology is customized to represent its owner, featuring red accents reflective of the Chinese Year of the Dragon, Schnyder’s birth year. “The Chairman is a stunningly beautiful phone that continues to catch my attention every time I set my eyes on it, even after 3 months,” Schnyder said. “For me, it has a great character with its substantial feel when held by the hand and a look that mesmerizes.”

She continued, “Its up-to-the-minute technology makes it easy for users of other smart phones to convert; while the keypad makes it so convenient for a quick call. The Chairman is a marvelous work of functional art.”

The hand-assembled smart phone goes beyond the realm of ordinary cellular technology. Many elements employed to create the Swiss brand’s luxury timepieces were used in the Chairman: the touchscreen was crafted from sapphire crystal, and the phone itself was created from 300 handmade parts.

This, all while reflecting the brand’s signature aesthetic. Every Chairman boasts the iconic UN logo, and select models feature 22 karat gold rotors and 18 karat rose gold cases. The Chairman’s power reserve is driven by the rotor and crown.

Every limited edition Chairman is numbered.

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Seth Semilof

Co-Founder & COO · Haute Time

Seth Semilof co-founded Haute Living and, with business partner Kamal Hotchandani, launched Haute Time, the brands' luxury timepiece site, to educate buyers about the best watches in the world and to showcase the passion of collectors and the CEOs who lead the great maisons. His love of watches began early: a TAG Heuer at 13, an Omega at 16, and his first Rolex at 20. Through Haute Time he has been honored to visit the greatest watch manufactures in the world and meet the master watchmakers behind them. He has also personally featured private collections exclusive to Haute Time, taking readers inside the watch boxes of Kevin Hart, Carmelo Anthony, Tony Robbins and Swizz Beatz.