Making Waves

Ulysse Nardin continues to swim against the tide with its newly appointed captain CEO Patrick Pruniaux, who tells melainne chiew its the voyage that interests him

A BRAND LIKE Ulysse Nardin doesn’t beg to be heard across entire oceans; its presence is simply felt. Freak, which launched in 2001, propelled Ulysse Nardin onto the horological radar with its unconventional design aesthetic. Bereft of conventional hands, dial and crown, it featured a flying carrousel, a movement that revolved on its own axis every hour, and a separate indicator for hours. More importantly, it was also the first watch to boast ultra-resilient, amagnetic silicon parts, with its Dual Direct escapement paving way for even more technological advances in years to come.

“Ulysse Nardin is a brand for people in the know, for connoisseurs,” says Patrick Pruniaux, who joined the Kering Group in September 2017 as chief executive officer of Ulysse Nardin. “I’d say it’s for someone who aspires to have one of the best watches in the world, while finding the balance between having that status symbol without being too showy or in your face.”