Ulysse Nardin Unveils Freak Phantom

Luxury watchmaker Ulysse Nardin has unveiled the newest addition to its iconic Freak collection. Like its predecessors, the Freak Phantom once again features the cutting-edge silicium material.

The Freak collection, which debuted in 2001, featured a tourbillon carrousel without the traditional dial, crown or hands. It was also the first timepiece to successfully present escapement wheels constructed of silicium. The Freak Phantom pays tribute to that breakthrough, this time using silicium in its patented hairspring (Si 1.1.1.) and throughout the majority of its escapement.

The entire piece is an exceptional achievement for this Swiss manufacture, which produced the entire movement of the Freak Phantom, including the oscillator, in house. Inside the 18K rose gold case, the caliber UN-208 movement features two ball-bearing systems; the balance-wheel concept and design; and the flying tourbillon. The dial features hours and minutes functions, displayed by the rotation of the movement.

The cage of the Freak Phantom is equipped with an arrow indicating the seconds on a transparent half-circle, rotating in one minute on itself, with the zero position holding steady on the axis of the minute indicator. The two specially conceived ball bearing systems enable the “flying” function of the minute movement and of the seconds-indicator tourbillon without the need for a supporting bridge.

Only 99 pieces of the Freak Phantom timepiece will be produced.

Photos courtesy Ulysse Nardin.