Announced already at the Basel watch show in early 2002, now two new Ulysse Nardin watches hit the stores:

1. Ulysse I Chronometer

Since the classic "San Marco" was discontinued, Ulysse Nardin's watch program lacked a beautiful, elegant and round-cased gold watch. The new "Ulysse I" is now launched to close this gap.

Much more substantial than the "San Marco" it succeeds, the "Ulysse I" is a rather heavy and large watch. Its diameter is about 40 mm. Together with the massive lugs and the wide bezel, the watch leaves an impression radically different from the cleanly profiled "San Marco". However, the "Ulysse I" is elegant, no doubt. The large art-nouveau numerals on the silver or black dials make it a real eye-catcher. Especially the black-dialled version with a pink gold case looks striking. The golden case is rated watertight to 50 meters.

The domed sapphire crystal features an anti-reflective coating on both sides, which greatly enhances the legibility. Even so, it sometimes is a bit difficult to read the golden hands against the black background from some viewing angles.

The solid back, which features the embossed arms of Ulysse Nardin, hides the COSC-certified cal. UN-27 movement, which is based on the proven ETA 2892A2. Basically, this is the same movement as the cal. UN-26, which is used in the Marine Chronometer and the Marine Diver, but the "Ulysse I" has a different power reserve display. The so-called 'authentic' power reserve has been used in pocket watches made by Ulysse Nardin already since 1912.

The power reserve display consists of a hand and a revolving disk. When the movement is wound, either manually or automatically, the disk rotates, until the hand is located over the largest segment depicted on the disk. When the mainspring is losing tension (when it is not worn), the hand moves counter-clockwise, until it reaches the smallest segment; the watch stops. Fully wound, the movement has a power reserve of 42 hours.

2. Perpetual Ludovico

Immediately after the release of the tonneau-shaped "Michelangelo Big Date", this elegantly designed watch proved to be a major seller within the Ulysse Nardin program. A version with the patented GMT-mechanism followed, as did the chronograph, and it was only a matter of time, when UN's unique perpetual calendar mechanism would be fit into the beautiful tonneau case.

Of course, the watch's name derives from Italian-born Ludwig Oechslin, the inventor of the unique mechanism, which is the only perpetual calendar, adjustable forward as well as backward.

While missing the roundcased perpetual's GMT function, the "Perpetual Ludovico" certainly offers a stronger statement of a watch. The boldly shaped Roman numerals perfectly complement the case. Water resistance is rated to 30 meters, and the watch is available in pink and white gold, with silver or black dials:

Without doubt, these two new watches will again be successful. Especially the "Perpetual Ludovico", which combines a legible and easy-to-use perpetual calendar with a striking, even gaudy design, will quickly find its fans.