Ulysse Nardin The son of Leonard Nardin, Ulysse Nardin (1823-1876) was apprenticed to William Dubois, who was considered one of the foremost chronometer makers of this time. In 1846, he founded the famous firm in the canton of Neuchâtel. By 1957, the manufacture had won no fewer than 3884 Observatory of Neuchâtel prizes, including 1631 First Prizes. In 1861 the firm began to take part in the chronometry competitions held annually by the observatory. A few years later, Paul-David Nardin was the timer of the tourbillon chronometers that were entered in the contests. In 1862, the firm won a Prize Medal at the Universal Exhibition in London s well as the only Gold Medal awarded at the International Adjusting Competition held in Geneva in 1876. That same year, Ulysse Nardin died and Paul-David succeeded his father as head of the firm. He was one of the first to work with Dr. Ch.-E. Guillaume in the development and use of his intégral balance, and of Elinvar as a balance spring material for monometallic balances. The Ulysse Nardin firm became the largest maker of marine chronometers in Switzerland. Paul-David Nardin was succeeded by two further generations of the family.