Ulysse Nardin  Freak  Watches

Ulysse Nardin Freak Watches: Out of This World

As the horology industry’s most eccentric and innovative creations, the Ulysse Nardin Freak timepieces are simply out of this world. They are the only watches in existence that indicate time through their exposed calibers or carousel tourbillons rather than the typical hour, minute, and second hands. These eccentric movements feature a rotating central bridge that doubles as the minute hand. There is a rotating arrowhead on the disc underneath the bridge that works as the hour hand. Time is adjusted using the bezel for crownless Freak watches. For non-automatic models, manual winding is done by turning the rotating case back. 

In addition to all that, Ulysse Nardin Freak watches are also the first timepieces to integrate internal mechanisms made of silicon. The models have their escapement wheels, which regulate the caliber, made from lightweight yet tough and magnetic-resistant silicon, a marvelous innovation that is rarely used in other watches. 

Price List at a Glance

How Much Are Ulysse Nardin Freak Watches?

Ulysse Nardin Freak watches are easily some of the most unique timepieces in the market, so you can be sure that the prices are in the high-end range. Buyers will have to spend $20,000 to $200,000 USD for a Ulysse Nardin Freak timepiece, depending on the style, its rarity, and the innovative features it possesses. Listed below are some Ulysse Nardin Freak fan-favorites and how much they cost. 

Prices for the Ulysse Nardin Freak X

Launched in 2019, Freak X watches are the most popular models of this collection because of their more affordable pricing and enhanced user-friendliness. Retail prices for the Freak X start at $23,700 USD, the lower end of the range you can get for a Ulysse Nardin Freak timepiece. In order to make these watches easy to use even for first-timers, Ulysse Nardin retained the conventional crown in the design of the Freak X. This means, however, that the rotating bezel wearers can turn to adjust time is not present in this watch. As such, unlike other models in this collection, Freak X pieces cannot be adjusted in this novel way.

Nevertheless, Freak X timepieces still look exactly like you would expect of the exceptional and eccentric Ulysse Nardin Freak range that has so wowed the world. If you’re a newcomer to the Ulysse Nardin Freak, then the Freak X watches are a comfortable middle ground that make for fantastic starter choices. 

The hot-selling Ulysse Nardin Freak X Ref. 2303-270/03, for example, features the latest caliber UN-230 that has fascinated the watch community with its sheer mechanical complexity. This automatic movement doubles as the watch’s minute pointer, an unusual design conception much like its predecessors. It provides 72 hours of power per winding cycle, beating at a speed of 21,600vph at 3Hz.

The Freak X Ref. 2303-270/03 also features a signature leather strap that comes in the same color as its rich blue caliber movement and a sleek titanium case that frames the movement nicely.

Prices for the Ulysse Nardin Freak X Marquetry

This collection also includes some limited edition Freak X models that are highly sought after, dubbed by Ulysse Nardin as the Freak X Marquetry. One of the most notable models is the Freak X Silicium Marquetry, which retails at a slightly costlier price of $31,100 USD. Ulysse Nardin released two different versions of this timepiece, the Ulysse Nardin Freak X Ref. 2303-270LE/BLACK-MARQ and Ref. 2303-270LE/03-MARQ. In total, there were only 18 pieces of each variant sold, making the Ulysse Nardin Freak X Silicium Marquetry a very rare collector’s item indeed.

What makes the Freak X Marquetry releases different from other Ulysse Nardin Freak watches is their X-shaped design. That symbol underneath the caliber bridge and the wheel is typically made using silicium marquetry. This technique involves the careful placing of silicon segments to form eye-catching mosaic-like designs.

Prices for the Ulysse Nardin Freak Out

The Ulysse Nardin Freak Out watches pay homage to Freak timepieces of the early 2000s. Released in 2018, these watches adopt the brand’s classic Dual Ulysse Escapement, which was the same mechanism that powered many of the retro Freak models. The escapement features two main silicon gears that help drive the smaller gears for smooth movement of the central flying carousel tourbillon. The tourbillon’s bridge, which serves as the minute hand, is a skeletonized anchor, and symbolizes the Ulysse Nardin brand’s roots in maritime timekeeping.

Freak Out watches go for $50,600 USD apiece and come in a diverse variety of quirky styles. Bestsellers include the Ulysse Nardin Freak Out Ref. 2053-132/03.1, which features a silver-toned titanium case and deep blue sailcloth strap to match its eye-catching blue dial. There is a predominantly black version of this model, the Ulysse Nardin Freak Out Ref. 2053-132/Black, that is also in high demand.

Prices for the Ulysse Nardin Freak Vision

First unveiled at the 2018 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH), Ulysse Nardin Freak Vision watches were truly groundbreaking. Retailing at prices from $95,000 USD to $97,000 USD, the Freak Vision timepieces, particularly the Freak Vision Ref. 2505-250, brought to the market the Grinder, an outstanding innovation first introduced in Ulysse Nardin’s 2017 InnoVision 2 concept watch. 

The Grinder is Ulysse Nardin’s revolutionary automatic winding system. It involves a mechanism that is made entirely from silicon, and can power watches with even the smallest of movements, unlike self-winding mechanisms made from other materials. 

Style-wise, the Ulysse Nardin Freak Vision watches were among the earliest models from the collection to feature the distinctive sailboat hull-style central bridge used to indicate minutes. 

Prices for the Ulysse Nardin Freak Diavolo

Out of all the vintage Ulyyse Nardin Freak watches, the Freak Diavolo Ref. 2080-115 is likely the most sought-after model. The watch owes its popularity to being a Ulysse Nardin 75th Anniversary timepiece, which makes it a prized piece for many watch collectors. It features rotating horn-like hour and minute carousel tourbillon pointers that add a splash of sharp red to the watch. Moreover, the watch is presented in an exquisite 18K white gold case that is attached to an elegant black alligator leather strap. The Freak Diavolo also appeals to watch connoisseurs with its caliber UN-208, which has enough power to last a whopping 192 hours, which is more than a whole week

The first Freak Diavolo watch came out in 2010, and an upgraded model was released in 2018. The vintage model is hard to find nowadays, so it is not surprising that it is priced at upwards of $150,000 USD today.

New Ulysse Nardin Watches of 2021: Freak X Razzle Dazzle

Through its 2021 releases, Ulysse Nardin tells its fans that they have not seen its craziest creations yet, so there is more to be excited about. The latest series from the brand, the Freak X Razzle Dazzle, shows that the collection can continue to innovate, style-wise.

Freak X Razzle Dazzle watches feature something new in Ulysse Nardin Freak watches – optical illusion. It features black-and-white chevron-style arrow patterns on their faces, which seem to direct the eye into a whirlpool pattern. The spiral pattern makes the timepieces stand out even among previous Freak X releases.

The new models are the predominantly black Freak X Razzle Dazzle Ref. 2303-270LE-9A-RAZZLE/0A and the white Freak X Razzle Dazzle Ref. 2303-270LE-9A-RAZZLE/0B. Both are limited editions that would set buyers back by $27,300 USD, which is a fairly affordable price for an Ulysse Nardin Freak timepiece.

Are Ulysse Nardin Freak Watches A Good Investment?

Ulysse Nardin Freak watches are certainly good to purchase as an investment as they are wanted by collectors worldwide. That is because these watches are the pioneers of the avant-garde design revolution in the 21st century. Some of the Freak watches with the craziest designs are also limited editions, which only adds to the desirability and value of these pieces.

Ulysse Nardin Freak’s History: An Evolution Through Time

The Ulysse Nardin Freak has gone through many style evolutions since its first introduction in 2001. The first Freak watch, inspired by the tourbillon concept by watch expert Carole Forestier-Kasapi, surprised the industry for it had no dial, hands, or crown. The watch’s rotating central carousel tourbillon which could be seen from its deep cavity doubled as the minute hand, an innovation that was nearly unheard of at the time. It was also the first in the market to use silicon parts for its escapement.

The Freak timepiece was improved upon in 2005, in the form of the Ulysse Nardin Freak 28800. This watch adopted the Dual Ulysse Escapement instead of the Dual Direct Escapement used in the original model. The new mechanism allowed the caliber to oscillate faster at 4Hz instead of 3Hz.

In the same year, the Freak became more stylish. It was adorned with artificial diamonds on the case and pointers, However, this pricey build also made the model quite short-lived. Just two years later, Ulysse Nardin used diamonds as a coating on the silicon components instead, as reflected in the 2007 Ulysse Nardin Freak DiamonSil watch.

In 2010, the Freak Diavolo was released in tribute to the brand’s 75th anniversary. This watch was the first commemorative model to feature a flying tourbillon. It was also unique because of its subtle red horn-like minute and hour pointers.

In 2013 and 2015, the Freak deviated from its traditional bezel and cavity style. The watch’s bottle-cap style edges were replaced with wavy trims as featured in the 2013 Freak Cruiser while the 2015 Freak Lab showed off a new centered-oscillator. 

2017 was a landmark year for Ulysse Nardin because of the introduction of the InnoVision 2 concept watch. This prototype was more iconic than the InnoVision 1 of 2007 because it brought to the world of horology the all-silicon Grinder winding system. 

In 2018, the Freak Vision watch was launched. Based on InnoVision 2, the timepiece brought into actual production the Grinder system that made every Freak timepiece more efficient than a regular automatic watch.

Even though 2018 was also full of innovations for the Freak collection, Ulysse Nardin did not forget to look back to its roots. While the Freak Vision was a modern timepiece with cutting-edge technology, the Freak Out models released in the same year went back to the basics with the same escapement mechanism as the Freak watches from 2001 to 2005.

By 2019, Freak watches were becoming more affordable for the market. The Freak X series did not have the full features of a Freak watch – it was the first line of watches from the Freak collection to retain a conventional crown and do away with the Freak’s usual winding bezel for time adjustment. Nevertheless, its budget-friendly prices still made the Freak X quite a hit with Ulysse Nardin audiences.

Ulysse Nardin also made a series for fans of the technical prowess of Freak watches, which they dubbed the Freak Next. Those 2019 timepieces feature oscillators with flexible silicon blades and speeds reaching an impressive 86,400vph at 12Hz.

5 Reasons to Buy Ulysse Nardin Freak Watches

The crazy designs of Ulysse Nardin Freak watches might not be to everyone’s tastes, so why do these timepieces continue to attract so many enthusiasts? Here are five reasons why these Freak watches are just so in-demand:

1. Although odd, the quirky watches are great conversation starters or statement accessories.

2. The timepieces’ unconventional winding and adjustment mechanisms are fun to experience, even for watch collectors with years of experience in the horology community.

3. The watches are made of lightweight yet durable materials such as silicon and titanium, which makes them sturdy and easy to carry around

4. The timepieces’ calibers are both fascinating to look at and powerful enough to last almost a week per winding cycle.

5. The watches are truly milestone innovations in the history of timekeeping.

Ulysse Nardin Freak: Odd Is In

Ulysse Nardin Freak watches may have eccentric visages, but their popularity shows that odd is a style that is in. This trend is here to stay, and likely to grow more popular than ever because these Freak timepieces are continuously being innovated in ways no one could imagine. With the Ulysse Nardin Freak in the mix, you can be sure that the future of watches is bound to be exciting.