Ulysse Nardin 1823-1876. First trained by his father, Léonard-Frédéric, he was apprenticed to William Dubois, one of the leading precision watchmakers of his day. It was in 1846 that Ulysse Nardin founded the famous watch manufacture at Le Locle, in the Canton of Neuchatel. The first watches made were exported to Central and South America through a Paris go-between, Lucien Dubois, who was Nardin's only customer for two years. But, by 1852 watches were exported directly to Argentina, without any European intermediary. In 1860 Ulysse acquired a high precision astronomical regulator to rate his pocket chronometers. This is the well-known regulator made by Jacques-Frédéric Houriet in about 1768 and which the Ulysse Nardin company used continually. In 1905 its grid-iron pendulum was replaced by one made of Invar and it is today kept in the "Château des Monts", Le Locle. 1860 saw the first exports to the U. S. A. and the maker's reputation was carried far and wide. In 1861 the company began taking part in chronometry trials, held annually by the Observatory of Neuchatel. In 1862, at the London International Exhibition, the company received the highest possible award, "The Prize Medal", in the category "Complicated watches, pocket chronometers". This award put Ulysse Nardin in the lead internationally among pocket chronometer makers. In 1867, at the Paris Universal Exhibition, Ulysse obtained a "Silver Medal" for his new pocket chronometer with split independent seconds. In 1873 he received the "Progress Medal" at the Vienna Universal Exhibition, for his pocket chronometer fitted with a new form of keyless winding without an external push-piece. In 1874 the company decided to compete in Observatory Trials with marine chronometers. Soon after, in 1876, Ulysse Nardin died and was succeeded by his only son, Paul-David 1855-1920. Later, Paul-David had fif een children, who in turn had several children, and therefore the company remained a family-run business for nearly 140 years. However, 1876 was also the year in which Paul-David Nardin obtained the "Prix d'Honneur" and the only "Gold Medal" ever awarded at the "Concours international de réglage de Genève", organized by the "Société des Arts de Genève". The company continued to flourish, receiving further prizes and honors both for pocket and marine chronometers. In 1886 the company name was changed to "Paul-D. Nardin, au Locle". In 1893 the company was honored with the "Gold Medal" at the 1893 Universal Exhibition in Chicago in commemoration of the 400th Anniversary of the landing of Christophorus Colombus in America. And, at the 1900 Universal Exhibition in Paris, it was awarded a "First Prize" and a "Gold Medal", which the company received for the remarkable advances made thanks to the collaboration with Charles-Edouard Guillaume. From 1904 marine chronometers were supplied to both the Russian and the Japanese admiralties and Japan became one of the company's main customers. In 1905 the company name changed again, this time to "Maison Paul-D. Nardin, successeur d'Ulysse Nardin, au Locle". When Paul-David Nardin died in 1920 the family business continued under the direction of his sons, Alfred 1884-1970, Ernest 1887-1940 and Gaston 1890-1966. The company became "Ulysse Nardin S. A." when its status was changed to a "Limited Liability Company" in 1922. It celebrated its centenary in 1946 and the business continued in the hands of the Nardin family until 1983. The manufacture created by Ulysse Nardin in 1846 became the largest maker of marine chronometers in Switzerland. For more than a century over 50 navies and commercial fleets relied on marine chronometers made by Ulysse Nardin to conquer the seas. Altogether, between 1846 and 1975, 10 "Gold Medals", 14 "Grand Prix" First Prizes, the "Prize Medal" and the "Progess Medal", 2 "Prix d'Honneur" and 2 "Silver Medals" were awarded in International Exhibitions to Ulysse Nardin and his successors, honoring the company for its achievements in perfecting precision. In 1983, Ulysse Nardin S. A. was purchased by an Investment Group headed by Rolf W. Schnyder. The Ulysse Nardin company continues to be internationally recognized today, both for its glorious past and its modern productions.