The Collection of a European Nobleman
Geneva, May 11, 2008
LOT 274
The Freak Ulysse Nardin, Le Locle, "The Freak", No. 073, Ref. 016-88. Sold on October 1, 2002. Very fine and highly unusual, 18K pink gold wristwatch with 60- minute revolving movement, Ludwig Oechslin's dual direct escapement, 7-day power reserve and Ulysse Nardin 18K pink gold deployant buckle. Accompanied by an Ulysse Nardin certificate and booklet .
CHF 30,000 - 40,000
EUR 19,000 - 25,000 / USD 30,000 - 40,000
Sold: CHF 43,200
C. Three-body, solid, polished, stepped curled lugs, ridged bidirectional rotating bezel to set the time, transparent rotating case back with brushed steel panel beneath and aperture for viewing the mainspring, the band with an applied brushed plaque engraved ?073?, sapphire crystals. D. Matte dark blue, sapphire crystal chapter ring with silver radial Arabic numerals. Movement parts with brushed and polished white gold hour and minute pointers as hands. M. Cal. UN 01, brushed gilt bridges, with blued steel screws, rotating from the center, the lower bridge indicates the hour while the upper bridge, fitted with the linear wheel train and escapement assembly, revolves once every hour indicating the minutes, the center axis pivoted in the sapphire crystal, 28 jewels, dual direct escapement with 2 crystal silicon impulse wheels, monometallic balance, shock absorber, self-compensating flat balance spring, mainspring underneath the movement spanning the case diameter. Dial and case signed. Diam. 43 mm. Thickness 11 mm
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AAA |
Excellent |
Case: 2 |
Very good |
Movement: 2* |
Very good Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 1-01 |
As new HANDS Original |
Notes
This model is the brainchild of Dr. Ludwig Oechslin, interpreted by Ulysse Nardin's research and production team. The Freak is a tourbillon of 7-day duration without hands or winding crown. In most tourbillons, the balance wheel assembly rotates once per minute in a cage. In the Freak, the whole movement rotates once per hour, the drive wheel meshing with teeth around the whole circumference of the dial, a similar arrangement mounted below driving the hour wheel. The mainspring is located underneath the movement and spans the entire diameter of the case. The extra large size of the mainspring provides the watch with a power reserve of one week. Winding is accomplished by turning the back of the case anticlockwise.