Ulysse Nardin launches Freak ONE, a tribute to the original Freak
There seem to be two strategies for product listings on Watches & Wonders. The first, and the more common one, is the non-stop replica watches on sale, onslaught on members of the media. Sometimes, too much to even begin to understand what the real version stands out from. Another tactic that is less common, but which may be gaining in popularity, is to focus on one watch and really delve into its details. That's the approach Ulysse Nardin took this year with the Freak ONE, a new product in the Freak ecosystem that sits in between the Freak X and is designed for the most casual Freak-curious clientele (I mean , which has a crown and is actually a normal watch), and the absolutely ludicrous Freak S, the pinnacle of Freak design and the most complicated watch made on that platform in Ulysse Nardin's 20+ year history.
History is at the center of the conversation about the new Freak ONE. It pays tribute in some subtle ways to the first Freak watch, which Ulysee Nardin presented at the show for comparison. The gold accents in the Freak ONE are the most obvious connection aside from the general layout, which is common to all Freaks. But the gold here is perhaps more than just a 'decoration', as we not only see a gold bezel (for setting the time), but also a solid gold movement at the center of the piece. The visible movement is key to the Freak luxury replica Watches, as it revolves around a dial (which isn't actually a "dial" in the traditional sense of the word), acting as a minute hand. There is something intoxicating about seeing the gear train lined up and running in such a way that it quickly leaves you wondering how they managed to pull it off.
For more information on the technical side, it's best to take the advice of the pros, luckily we were able to do just that when Blake reviewed the Freak X a few months ago. But the concept behind the original Freak, and one fully embraced by Ulysse Nardin, is so simple it boils down to the Freak’s battle cry: no dial, no hands, no crown. What looks like a dial at the top of the movement is actually part of the same movement, the rotating disc with the hour hand that reads the time. The minute "hand" is of course the movement itself, and the Freak ONE is crownless, just lift the small latch at 6:00 and turn the bezel to set it. The watch is wound by the ultra-efficient Grinder system, which is as headache-inducing as the Freak's chime in its own way. The grinder is designed to detect the smallest movements, the rotor is attached to a frame on which four blades are mounted, providing twice the angular travel.Buy replica watches
The Freak ONE is a weird, edgy watch that isn't to everyone's taste, but in the context of the Freaks, it's pretty down-to-earth and approachable. At least, it's easy to wear, tell the time, and use it. Measuring 44mm, the DLC-coated titanium case fits the contours of the wrist to hide most of the bulk, yet is light enough not to be compromised by its size. The sheer size of the movement makes reading the time easy, while interacting with the bezel must be one of the best tactile experiences in all of watchmaking. It's so smooth, it feels so refined, and when it's locked by the latch, it feels like it can't move. It makes you wonder if this type of bezel execution could be achieved on a more traditional watch for timekeeping purposes.
The Freak ONE is a lot of fun, but the price feels reasonable given the Freak’s long history and the experimental watchmaking revolution it revolutionized a generation of independents. Other haute horlogerie shows us the mechanisms that came after the Freak, and while some of these Best replica watches are quite complex, nothing is as precise as the Freak, which requires the movement to actually move. When you start to really think about this, you start to realize how special and unusual a watch like this is.
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