|
|
Pre-Baselworld 2010 Ulysse Nardin El Toro GMT Perpetual Watch
Feb 8, 2010
In the years following its 1983 resurrection, Swiss watchmaking house Ulysse Nardin has been responsible for many fascinating horological innovations. One of its most respected is a family of a perpetual calendar watches whose wheel-based mechanisms allow simple forward or backwards adjustments of the complex calendar functions through the crown--a user-friendly contrast from traditional perpetual calendars which depend upon a system of assigned corrector buttons, and may only be adjusted in the forwards manner. Clearly, this intelligent system also permits these Ulysse Nardin timepieces a degree of safety for setting errors not possible with conventional perpetual calendar designs. In 2010, the historic brand from Le Locle, Switzerland continues its record of accomplishment in this area with the El Toro--a strikingly modern variation of the acclaimed GMT± Perpetual.
Presented in 18-karat red gold or platinum, the Ulysse Nardin El Toro watch stands out through the selective use of ceramic components. This high-tech, nearly scratchproof zirconium oxide material is used to craft both the 24-hour bezel and the twin case pushers dedicated to setting the independent 12-hour hand. The precise, elegant craftsmanship of the 43mm case and the immaculate gloss of the ceramic bezel compliment a dial which is among the most intricate and beautiful in the luxury watch industry. A Cotes de Geneve patterned background serves up a feast of detail centered around a T-shaped structure and adjacent large date indicator, both of which are secured down with blued screws. The former is cleverly situated in such a way as to reveal the discs for the year, and the disc for months. Legibility of these logically arranged displays is further enhanced by large skeletonized hour and minute hands, which despite the minimalistic construction, impress with bold size and exceptionally brilliant luminous tips. As with other Ulysse Nardin GMT± Perpetual watches, the El Toro displays a distinct arrow-tipped central hand that coordinates with the bezel markings to present a second time zone in a 24-hour format.
A large sapphire crystal exhibition window centers the caseback with its six securing screws and inscriptions of brand, limited edition series, and the 100-meter water resistance rating. This portal reveals the remarkable UN-32 caliber whose visual charms include bridges with blued screws and circular Cotes de Geneve decoration, as well as a truly impressive central rotor fashioned from matte-finished 18K white gold with the Ulysse Nardin anchor symbol in black enamel. Each of these exclusive self-winding movements is sent to an independent office of the Swiss Official Chronometer Control (COSC), where 15 days of tests in various positions and temperatures verify precision performance set forth under exacting parameters. With mainspring fully charged, the UN-32 delivers a power reserve of 45 hours.
Ulysse Nardin will produce 500 individually numbered examples of the El Toro GMT± Perpetual watch. Each Ulysse Nardin El Toro is completed by a gracefully designed rubber strap with two vertically pronounced motifs, and the Ulysse Nardin brand symbol; naturally, the strap can be trimmed to obtain an exact fit to the wearer's wrist. Closure is provided by an elegant push-button folding clasp manufactured from a combination of ceramic and metal.
More about Ulysse Nardin:
Ulysse Nardin brand & timepiece collections
Ulysse Nardin news
Ulysse Nardin product blogs
Be the first one to comment on this article!
|