Ulysse Nardin Alexander the Great Jaquemarts Minute Repeater

The new Ulysse Nardin watch is truly unique, complex, and aesthetically breathtaking. The dial depicts Alexander the Great in full armor, engaged in battle. In the spirit of true mechanical creations, the dial reveals a dynamic scene where in one moment the ancient ruler is on horseback armed with a spear, while in another moment he stands bravely with a bow and arrow. All of the figures on the dial are made by hand and from precious materials, set against the dark charcoal background of the hand-made diamond dial.

The dial is made from millions of small faceted diamond crystals that are set together to form a solid diamond layer, and a stage for beautiful jacquemarts’ performance. The decorative dial is highly resistant and it gently sparkles in a delicate glow, enhancing the color of figurines, crafted in gold.

A jacquemart is an animated mechanized figure of a person, which strikes the hours on a bell with a hammer. These figurines are typically used as a part of clocks or clock towers. Miniaturizing jacquermatrs to such a small proportions, to fit on the dial, requires the outstanding craftsmanship. Ulysse Nardin is one among the rare manufacturers in the world to use jaquemarts on the wristwatch dial.

The movement of the figurines is synchronized with the minute repeater indications. The sound of gongs animates the figurines to change their positions relative to the minutes, quarters and hours. On the far left, the warrior stands static, armed and ready for an attack. In another instance, the saber-wielding combatant makes a strike when the gongs sound on the quarters and hours; this is the only Jaquemart that moves on the hour. As a fierce, spear-thrusting horse rider and as a skilled archer, he makes his fighting move when the quarters are indicated. While shielded in red armor, he attacks on both the quarter and minute indicators.

Minute repeaters always hold a special place among the connoisseurs. These delicate creations were invented in the late 17th century, when there was no electricity and people needed something that could help them tell time even in the dark. However, it was not before the 19th century when watchmakers produced first wristwatch equipped with a minute repeating mechanism. The three gongs play three different sequences for the quarters:

1st quarter: Mi-Do-Re-Sol

2nd quarter: Mi-Do-Re-Sol/Sol-Re-Mi-Do

3rd quarter: Mi-Do-Re-Sol/Sol-Re-Mi-Do/Mi-Do-Re-Sol

Now please, take five minutes to enjoy the beautiful video that pays an homage to some of the most amazing Ulysse Nardin minute repeaters: the Safari Minute Repeater, the Genghis Khan Minute Repeater and the Circus Adventurine Minute Repeater. Simply breathtaking!

The watch is offered in two variations: crafted in 18-carat rose gold, and from 18-carat white gold. Both watches use the same UN-78 caliber manually wound movement with an approximate power reserve of 70 hours. This 44 millimeter wide watch is water resistant to 30 meters and mounted on black alligator leather strap. Produced in a special limited edition, only 50 pieces in white gold and 50 pieces in rose gold are going to be available worldwide.