It has been practically three years since I first wrote about this Ulysse Nardin Marine Mega Yacht watch right here on aBlogtoWatch. A lot has occurred since then, and it appears like a world away from the place we at the moment are, each by way of the wristwatch business and our collective demeanor. In some methods, I admire the artistry and extravagance of such a timepiece much more now, and in different methods, as an entire, we’re asking extra basic questions concerning the function of high-end toys like “mega watches” within the context of a world the place the separation between “haves” and “have-nots” is all of the higher. However you already know the place treasured little of that dialog most likely happens? Aboard yachts.
Certainly, some of the attention-grabbing luxuries afforded to the ultra-wealthy who personal their very own boats over the past two years was the relative capacity to be remoted from the pandemic. With some safeguards after all, a bunch of individuals may dwell at sea in comfy lodging shielded from the pandemic, which has touched every civilized place on earth. The luxurious to be remoted in your personal floating mansion is one thing that few folks talked about beforehand at boat exhibits, however at this time, I’m positive it’s a essential a part of the gross sales pitch. Swiss watchmaker Ulysse Nardin has lengthy participated within the grandiose world of sailing and the individuals who take pleasure in it. For years, the model participated at main marine occasions such because the Monaco and Miami boat exhibits. The corporate has produced quite a few wristwatches and ornamental clocks for yacht followers, stemming from the corporate’s historical past as an essential producer of marine chronometer navigation clocks.
Sensible historical past apart, the Ulysse Nardin Marine Mega Yacht has a severe look to it however is all about enjoyable. This is without doubt one of the uncommon high-end whimsical watches that followers love from Ulysse Nardin and could be very a lot a celebration not a lot of the model’s illustrious previous, however its fashionable historical past beginning with brand-revitalizer Rolf Schnyder who started the model’s legacy of creating “loopy watches.” The watch is available in two restricted version types – every produced as a restricted version of 30 items. That features the pictured platinum model because the reference 6319-305 and likewise the 18k rose gold-cased reference 6312-305.
The Marine Mega Yacht begins with a bigger Ulysse Nardin Marine-style case that right here is 44mm broad and certainly on the thicker facet at 15mm (there’s a lot occurring with the motion and dial). The case is water-resistant to 50 meters and in most respects it represents the core Marine-style case from the model (which largely homes extra conventional actions and dial shows). One attention-grabbing deviation from the usual Marine case is a side-oriented sapphire crystal window on the correct facet of the case close to the place the crown is situated. It is a view to a operate selector, which signifies whether or not the crown is in winding, moon/tide, or time-setting mode. A enjoyable element, certainly.
The heavy solid-platinum case of this explicit Marine Mega Yacht is wearable if worn cosy on the wrist, doable with the comfy shiny blue alligator strap. Your complete level of the watch is to function a body for the dial and the in-house Ulysse Nardin mechanical motion that powers it. The very first thing you need to discover concerning the dial is that it seems to signify the top of a ship, full with a spinning propeller and a decreasing anchor. The dial artistry contains conventional baked enamel in blue that represents the water through which the boat sits. The natural look of baked blue enamel affords a visible texture not not like peering into water. Probably the greatest particulars is across the hull of the ship, which is a lightweight blue designed to duplicate the expertise of seeing a few of the boat’s define below the water, similar to you’d see some submerged land if it have been nearer to the floor.
On the dial, the visible problems are a mix of whimsical parts and useful instruments. The in-house Ulysse Nardin caliber UN-631 signifies the time with the subsidiary seconds displayed on the spinning propeller-shaped tourbillon cage situated at 6 o’clock on the dial. To its proper is the decreasing and rising anchor that serves as the facility reserve indicator. The manually wound motion has 80 hours of energy reserve (working at 3Hz), and the anchor indicator strikes up and down on a small chain. Extra so, an advanced set of conical gears and rods is used to switch energy from the principle motion to the anchor complication, making for a good grander and extra rewarding visible expertise when viewing the dial.
The opposite problems offered on the dial are a mix of moon part and tide indicator. The previous factor makes use of a sensible sphere of the moon with a darkened facet that elegantly sits close to the associated visible tide chart. To the underside of the moon part indicator is a turning drum-style indicator which is a verbal indicator of whether or not the tide goes up or down. Whereas much less related to bigger boats as I perceive it, understanding the tides and their present standing is essential for a lot of boating operations. I imagine that such a complication is linked to a selected metropolis. Which means if you’re touring with such a mechanism and care concerning the accuracy of the tidal info, it’d should be adjusted whenever you journey to every new port.
Extra so, I actually admire the visible logic round how Ulysse Nardin designed the combo moonphase/tide indicator for the reason that moon is accountable for lots of tidal exercise. It’s also a set of problems that is smart on a boat-themed watch and an mental steadiness to offset the playfulness of the flying tourbillon propeller and detailed anchor and chain energy reserve indicator system. Not everybody goes to love the look and even theme of the Marine Mega Yacht, given its polarizing theme and worth level. That stated, the execution is just great and to me, this can be a beautiful mixture of artwork, craftsmanship, horology, luxurious, and miniature model-making experience. Value for the restricted version of 30 items Ulysse Nardin reference 6319-305 Marine Mega Yacht watch in platinum is $310,000 USD. Be taught extra on the Ulysse Nardin web site right here.
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