Important Collectors Watches, Pocket ...
New York, Oct 17, 2008
LOT 98
Yellow Gold Freak Ulysse Nardin, Le Locle, "The Freak," No. 065. Made circa 2002. Very fine and unusual, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with 60-minute revolving movement, Ludwig Oechslin's dual direct escapement, seven-day power reserve and a Ulysse Nardin 18K yellow gold deployant clasp. Accompanied by the original box and papers. To be sold without reserve
USD 30,000 - 40,000
EUR 21,000 - 28,000 / CHF 33,000 - 45,000
Sold: USD 31,200
C. Three-body, polished, stepped curled lugs, ridged bidirectional rotating bezel to set the time, transparent rotating back for winding, applied brushed plaque engraved No. 065 on the band, sapphire crystals. D. Matte navy blue with white gold radial Arabic numerals. Brushed and polished white gold hour and minute pointers. M. Caliber UN 01, 13 3/4''', brushed copper-colored 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, 32 jewels, dual direct escapement with two crystal silicon impulse wheels, monometallic balance, self-compensating flat balance spring, shock absorber, mainspring underneath the movement spanning the case diameter. Dial and case signed. Diam. 43 mm. Thickness 10 mm.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: AAA |
Excellent |
Case: 3 |
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. It is a seven-day tourbillon 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 an hour, the drive wheel meshing with teeth around the dial?s entire circumference, with a similar arrangement driving the hour wheel. The mainspring, underneath the movement, spans the case?s entire diameter. Its extra large size provides the watch with a power reserve of one week. Winding is facilitated by turning the back of the case anti-clockwise.