In The Freak Zone

When Patrick Pruniaux returned to the world of mechanical Swiss watchmaking, as CEO of Ulysse Nardin, one of his first tasks was to oversee the expansion of the Freak family—that now includes its first automatic, he tells Brian Cheong.

- Brian Cheong

ULYSSE NARDIN was owning the term ‘disruptive’ before it even became trendy,” remarks Patrick Pruniaux when asked about the significance of the Freak model for the Swiss manufacture. “To be disruptive wasn’t something we just decided to do, it’s who we are.”

This year, Freak welcomed its first commercially produced automatic model, an engineering breakthrough that was first realised in last year’s InnoVision 2 Concept Watch. Called Freak Vision, the watch is an evolution that has been 17 years in the making.

When it was introduced in 2001, Freak pioneered the use of silicium, a hardy yet flexible material, for its movement components. It also reimagined a more efficient transfer of energy from the mainspring to the balance spring with its groundbreaking Dual Direct Escapement.

The Freak Vision then has an auto-wind system, using a Grinder that transforms the slightest kinetic energy into potential power.

“Freak was a revolution when it was launched and it’s still revolutionary today.

Personally, I’m passionate about the Freak range because it’s what Ulysse Nardin stands for,” says Pruniaux. “It is super innovative and has evolved in a very interesting manner, especially in its boldness of exploring non-traditional materials.”