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beWatch

BY MICHELE DEMATTEIS

Ulysse Nardin
North Sea Minute

Repeater

In a powerful homage to the oil industry, the Ulysse Nar-
din North Sea Minute Repeater marks the latest addition
to the unique timepieces in the Classic Collection.
Finely crafted in gold and champlevé enamel, this ti-
mepiece is an incredibly realistic depiction of the mi-
ghty off-shore drilling rigs that dig deep for the wor-
ld’s precious “black gold”. The glimmering champlevé
rig, seen from a low angle, rises majestically from the
black sea, with its delicately wrought waves in the
foreground. A dramatic red sky highlights the stun-
ningly detailed structure, while in the background,
another golden rig works industrious-ly away.
Three 18-Karat gold cranes - the Jaquemarts - move
and sound when the minute repeater is activated
indicating the hours, quarter hours and minutes.
Known for its crystalline chimes as well as for its
impressive mechanical timekeeping, the minu-
te-repeater complication is highly respected in the
horological industry and by connoisseurs as one of
the most difficult to achieve. The champlevé ena-
mel technique is a genuine rarity and this one is a
fine example of this ancient art. First intro-duced in
the 12th century, the champlevé enamel technique
is mastered by only a handful of craftspeople wor-
ld-wide.
www ulysse-nardin.com

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