Introducing – Ulysse Nardin Classico Schooner America, with one crazy Cloisonne Enamel Dial tribute to the first America’s Cup

If there’s one thing that can be easily linked to Ulysse Nardin, it is the world of boats – and I mean everything related to this world, like Marine chronometers (they were the roots of this manufacture), yacht-oriented watches or a sponsorship of the world’s most famous nautical competition. While the latter partnership usually gives birth to modern and technical watches, such a this Marine Diver, tis time Ulysse Nardin pays tribute to the old-days of this race, with the Classico Schooner America, depicting on its superb dial, the first edition of 1851.

Usually, Ulysse Nardin watches linked to the America’s Cup are as technical and bold as the Artemis ship the brand sponsors for the coming 35th edition (which will occur in June 2017). For instance, last year, the well-known manufacture introduced the Marine Diver Artemis Racing Limited Edition for the 35th America’s Cup, a strong and modern dive watch made to be used in the rough conditions this race induces. The Ulysse Nardin Classico Schooner America on the other hand is all about classicism, something that feels appropriate considering that it pays tribute to the early days of the America’s Cup, back in 1851 (the year of the first edition). At that time, boats were not the the sea-F1 that we know, but schooners, large wood vessels, like the “America” that raced to victory with members of the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) in 1851. The watch in question today is classic and uses antique “métiers d’art” to depict this race on its dial.

The dial of the Ulysse Nardin Classico Schooner America is cloisonné enamel, one of the most complex techniques used to create dials. Handcrafted in-house at Donzé Cadrans, a member of the Ulysse Nardin group, the process of enamel cloisonné is extremely intricate and mastered only by a few. Each section is divided by fine gold wire, and it takes more than 500mm of the wire to make the cloisons. Once the areas delimited, opaque or translucent enamel powder is applied and “cook” in a method called “grand feu”, to obtain these colors and textures. Every cloisonné dial requires 50 hours of artisan expertise and 26 processes to complete. It is like a micro-painting done in one of the most resistant materials you can think of for a dial.

The Ulysse Nardin Classico Schooner America has a 40mm case, available in 18k white or pink gold, with the traditional design of the Classico collection, including these nice shaped lugs. On the cloisonné enamel dial are running 3 hands – hours, minute, seconds – including 2 leaf hands filled with luminous paint for the hours and minutes. Time can be easily read with the help of small gold dots, serving as hour markers. Inside the case ticks a COSC-certified automatic movement, the Calibre UN-815, based on an outsourced ébauche – the beauty of this watch is clearly on the dial. The Ulysse Nardin Classico Schooner America is a limited edition of 30 pieces, priced at 39,800 CHF (pink gold) and 42,900 CHF (white gold). More on www.ulysse-nardin.com.

Specifications of the Ulysse Nardin Classico Schooner America

• Case: 40mm diameter – polished 18k pink or white gold – sapphire crystal on the front and on the back – 50m water resistant
• Movement: Calibre UN-815 – automatic winding – COSC certified – 42h power reserve – 28,800 vibrations/h – Hours, minutes and seconds
• Strap: blue alligator leather with gold pin-buckle