Ulysse Nardin’s newest addition to its Classic Collection, the North Sea Minute Repeater, honors the oil industry, with a dial depicting of an off-shore drilling rig.
The Swiss watchmaker used a gold and champlevé enamel to render the stunning image on the dial, with the golden rig rising out of a sea of crude, and set against a red skyline that offers another smaller golden oil rig out in the distance.
When the minute repeater is activated, three 18k gold Jaquemarts move and sound off a perfect chime for the hours, quarter hours, and minutes. The Ulysse Nardin minute repeater is known for its resonating chime and precise timekeeping.
It is rare for timepieces to receive a champlevé enamel. The esoteric artisinal process, which dates to the 12th Century, is kept alive by only a few devoted craftsman today. It’s a tricky and painstaking method of fusing enamel and precious metal within fine relief.
The North Sea Minute Repeater comes with a rose gold case and a black leather strap.